Strategic Business Development Manager

We are looking for an experienced individual to join the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) team at the Whittle Laboratory in  West Cambridge to take on the role of Strategic Business Development Manager.  In this role you will be required to manage strategic partnerships, research development, and business growth initiatives to enhance the AIA's impact and achieve long-term objectives. You will also oversee the management of research grants, collaborating with academic staff and funding bodies to secure external income and support the department's research and fundraising activities. 

Additionally, you will collaborate with software and technical teams to develop holistic systems models and tools that meet stakeholder needs. You will also support business strategy development, stakeholder relationship management and the dissemination of research outputs, ensuring the department remains at the forefront of industry trends and thought leadership. 

By maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, the role aims to drive business strategy, support change management, and ensure the effective dissemination of research outputs, ultimately contributing to the AIA's overall success and strategic direction. 

You will be Educated to degree/postgraduate level education/ level 7 vocational qualification or possess an equivalent level of experience. A PhD in Aerospace Engineering or a relevant engineering field would be desirable. You will possess specialist knowledge across a broad range of areas relating to the net zero transition, particularly aerospace and mechanical engineering with transport applications. You will be an experienced user of Microsoft Office with software skills in Python. Previous experience of research design, technical and economic modelling is required with proven team leadership and relationship management skills. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance. 

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University. 

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above. 

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application. 

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 13 May 2026.  

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office at the Department of Engineering: hr-office@eng.cam.ac.uk, +44 (0)1223 332615.  

Please quote reference NM49565 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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