Innovation Development Officer (Project Development)

Interviews expected to be held week commencing 10 November 2025.

This role will be based on the university campus with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner.   We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you interested in driving innovation across sectoral/disciplinary boundaries and understanding complex challenges? Do you enjoy bringing people together with a purpose? Do you want to take the lead in developing new projects between the University and industry?

You will take the lead in developing new Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and other similar projects. You will use your outstanding people and communication. skills to motivate and enthuse project partners, working with leading academics and industry leaders, to build partnerships and refine projects to deliver clear objectives and meet funders’ criteria. You will lead and coordinate contributions from internal and external partners, pull together complex documents and prepare and submit high quality funding proposals.

Building on your track record of understanding and interpreting complex information at a high level, you will enjoy the challenge and versatility of learning about new developments in a wide range of disciplines from science and technology, social sciences, and arts & humanities. You will be unafraid to ask questions to build a comprehensive understanding of each potential project, developing a clear view of project objectives and how they will be achieved.

You will also relish the challenge of understanding the background and motivations of partner organisations, identifying gaps in knowledge and will be able to zero-in on key facts and figures from financial statements, market and competitor analyses, and business cases. You will learn the dynamics of industries that are new to you, and understand and address issues of importance to partner organisations such as commercial impact, socio-economic impact, sustainability, Intellectual Property, return on investment, business transformation, managing change and organisational culture use of negotiation and communication skills to generate coherent projects with commitment from the business and academic partners. 

In addition to working with academic and external project partners, you will be part of a high-performing and supportive KTP Office working centrally in the University. As a vital team member, you will contribute to wider University objectives around building industry partnerships and growing Innovation funding and ensuring that the University is seen by external partners as a strategic innovation partner in delivering lasting transformational impact.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Blessing Mukonoweshuro, Knowledge Transfer Manager

Email: b.mukonoweshuro@leeds.ac.uk

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