International Relations Adviser (Europe)

About the role

Are you an entrepreneurial strategic partnerships professional who is passionate about building science and innovation collaborations between Imperial, a world-leading STEM-B university, and a range of excellent European partners, with an aim to build science partnerships that benefit us and our planet?  This role is for a one-year fixed term position, and the timing means that you would be joining when Erasmus+ is opening new opportunities for education partnerships, and a new Horizon Europe programme is taking shape to support science and innovation partnerships.  The position is located in the International Relations Office, and sits within the larger Strategic Engagement Division - a dynamic team which supports a range of exciting strategic initiatives including Imperial’s four new Global Hubs.

What you would be doing

The role is split between two main areas of work:

1. partnership development and regional strategy, and
2. events, programme and communications programme management. 

You will be planning and managing a busy portfolio of high-level inward and outward visits by high-profile international and Imperial senior leadership delegations, scoping strategic opportunities for new partnerships, manage a range of programmes and activities with existing European partners, and generally working with a range of internal and external stakeholders at various levels to support and develop Imperial-EU science and innovation collaborations.  You will also promote our work through various communications channels, manage events for Europe, as well as support events and initiatives across the team as needed.

What we are looking for

• Science and/or education strategic partnership experience, ideally in a higher education setting.
• Experience working in Europe and/or with European partners.
• Knowledge of UK-EU science and innovation landscape.
• Someone who is adaptable and enjoys working in a dynamic environment.  Our work is both strategic and responsive (the latter is often with short deadlines), so it requires someone who is comfortable with both ways of working.
• Excellent written English and the ability to prepare high-quality briefings and reports.
• Confident presentation skills.
• Proven ability to work successfully and positively with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, from varying backgrounds and at varying levels of seniority.
• Someone who is inspired by Imperial’s mission

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to shape a world-leading institution’s science and innovation engagement with European partners that has real benefits for students, researchers, and broader society.
• Meet researchers and other talented people working at the cutting edge of their fields and help promote their work and build connections with European partners.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

The International Relations Office is a busy, highly-visible central unit responsible for supporting the development and delivery of Imperial’s international engagement with academic partners and overseas governments.  The team functions as a ‘front door’ for international academic partners, providing strategic opportunity analysis, briefings, horizon-scanning, coordination, and practical support for partnerships with academic and related institutions.   

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week).

This role is for a fixed-term contract for 12 months and secondments are welcomed.

The position would ideally start mid/end of September 2026.

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Heather Kerst at h.kerst@imperial.ac.uk

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