Director, Business Development & Innovation

King’s College London is one of the world’s leading universities, ranked amongst the top 40 globally and top 10 in Europe (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024). Founded in 1829, King’s has over 40,000 students from more than 150 countries and more than 10,000 staff across five campuses in the heart of London. Guided by King’s Strategy 2030, the University is committed to academic excellence, societal impact and service, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

We are seeking a Director, Business Development & Innovation to play a pivotal leadership role at a moment of significant opportunity and change. The post presents an opportunity to work with others to help shape and scale how a major research‑intensive university translates research and knowledge into real‑world impact, whether economic, social, cultural or environmental. Business development and innovation are increasingly central to growth, public value and solutions to global challenges, and King’s is now seeking to accelerate its ambition, reach and effectiveness in this area.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Research Management & Innovation, and working in close partnership with the Assistant Principal (Innovation), the Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for King’s Innovation Catalyst, the University’s central innovation and commercialisation function. The role sits at the intersection of academic ambition, institutional strategy and professional delivery, translating King’s Strategy 2030 into coherent, high‑quality business development and innovation activity, delivering measurable outcomes across all faculties and central functions.

The Director will lead and strengthen King’s end‑to‑end business development and innovation pipeline, supporting multiple routes to impact, from early translational research and collaborative partnerships through to intellectual property management, licensing and venture creation. Central to the role is building clarity, consistency and confidence across commercial pathways, extending effective models, strengthening later‑stage translation and ensuring that King’s innovation activity is visible, sustainable and internationally competitive.

The successful candidate will bring substantial experience in business development and innovation within a large, complex organisation. Expertise across intellectual property, licensing, partnerships and venture activity, alongside strong commercial and financial acumen is essential. Alongside credibility with academic and professional leaders, the successful candidate will bring team management experience and a clear commitment to impact‑driven innovation and service. Equally important is an appreciation for the ethos, culture and complexity of higher education.

For further information about the role please visit the job description and to apply for this role, please go to the King’s College London Job Opportunities page and submit the specified documentation. Informal enquiries may be made to the King’s Search Team; please contact Jamie Surgenor or Mary Thomas at kings-search@kcl.ac.uk.

The advert will close at 23.59 hrs on Tuesday 16 June. The selection process will include formal interviews, expected to take place in July/August 2026.

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