Investment Ecosystem Manager

This post is a co-funded job opportunity, between the University of Essex and Essex County Council – under their new Ambitious Essex brand. The role is based in the Research & Enterprise Office (REO) at the University of Essex and will play a key role providing a regional focus to businesses seeking angel investment.

This is the new business-facing front door for strategic investment, enterprise growth, and economic opportunity in Essex. It will:
• Act as the growth and investment arm of Essex County Council ( and potentially the future Greater Essex Mayoral Combined Authority)—driving economic development across the region.
• Support business success and sector growth by connecting startups and scaleups with the right opportunities, promoting trade, and attracting strategic investment.
• Promote Essex globally as a prime location to visit, work, invest, and innovate—offering joined-up business services across investment, innovation, skills, growth, and sustainability.

Duties of the role

This is an exciting three-year fixed term role which will increase regional business creation and access to investment. This will be achieved through increased and innovative university-business collaborations facilitated by the University of Essex, while working alongside the Economic Development Team at Essex County Council.

This role will connect regional entrepreneurs, and local/nationwide investors, to increase investment and fundraising into innovative and fast-growing businesses in Essex. It will also integrate the University into local start-up and scale-up ecosystems, designed to generate closer university-industry links.

The post-holder will work as part of the Essex Startups Team and work closely with the Business Engagement team (Business Development Managers), Knowledge Exchange Team, Communications and External Relations Team, Philanthropy, and others, and report quarterly progress to a board including both University of Essex and Essex County Council staff members.

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the jobpack.

This post is fixed-term for 3 years due to a temporary funding source.

Skills and qualifications required

The Investment Ecosystem Manager will oversee the Angels@Essex investment platform and have experience of enabling business growth, identifying new investment opportunities, and delivering innovative projects and programmes to time and within budget.
You will hold a degree or equivalent professional experience and ideally have a relevant business support qualification |(e.g. SFEDI) or equivalent experience.

You will have strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to map local and national influencers, bring people on board with new ideas, and facilitate meaningful change across the Essex region.

At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.

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