Overview

The Integrated Research & Impact Support team sits within the University’s Corporate Services directorate, which is led by the University’s Chief Operating Officer, and has responsibility for strategy and business planning, strategic projects and partnerships, governance, and compliance.

Purpose of the Job

As part of the Integrated Research & Impact Support (IRIS) team in Corporate Services, the role will have a particular cross-University focus on supporting the broad commercialisation agenda, specifically in relation to the identification and management of intellectual property rights (IPR), commercialisation portfolio, promoting and supporting the development and operation of start-up, spinout and incubation, ensuring the approach undertaken is aligned to the University’s strategy.

The postholder also leads and manages a Research & Impact Support team to deliver support to a designated College, ensuring alignment to the University’s strategy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Commercialisation

•  Manage the University’s patent and copyright portfolio, liaising with external patent attorneys, commercial and IP lawyers.
•  Assess IPR to identify appropriate protection, driving commercialisation, exploitation and post-deal management of IPR through licensing and spin-outs.
•  Manage commercial elements of the University’s Research Wales Innovation Fund strategy, ensuring delivery of commitments and contributing to monitoring reports.
•  Implement and review relevant University policies, such as IP and Consultancy.
•  Facilitate the resolution of commercialisation-related issues liaising with colleagues, including advice on IP and commercialisation clauses in contracts.
•   Raise the profile of University spin-out activity, supporting the formation, growth, and development of spin-out and research-related companies, monitoring their performance.
•  Provide expert advice to:

1. the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Panel;
2. academic staff on IPR for new funding applications, identifying and managing IP, developing commercialisation plans and investable business plans;
3. major sponsors/partners relevant to the commercial portfolio.

•   Devise communication tools and deliver training to a range of internal audiences.
•   Build and maintain professional working relationships and networks with external stakeholders, including early-stage investors, potential Officers and Directors of spin-out companies and represent the University at events/meetings.
•   Build and maintain working relationships with stakeholders, including the University’s Science Park and Pontio Innovation.

Research & Impact Support

• Lead a team to provide dedicated research and impact support and expert advice to a designated College.
• Work with senior research leads to:

1. develop College/School research and impact strategies, aligning these plans to wider Institutional strategies;
2. horizon scan to identify opportunities for funding bids, relevant to the College.
3. scope funding ideas, identify where future fundable projects may arise and align these to academic expertise;
4. advise on the development of impact narratives from the College’s research;
5. report and evidence project outcomes to relevant funders;
6. manage the identification and development of a range of research impact case studies.

• Provide expert strategic bid writing and development support for institutional and externally driven bids.
• Support the College Director of Research and attend the College Research Committee.
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of the expertise and specialisms of research groups/staff in the College.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Professional Services to ensure seamless business processes and support across research and impact activity, including:

1. the governance and legal team on research governance and contracts;
2. the post-award team;
3. the business intelligence team to develop analysis of internal and external research and impact performance data;
4. the business planning team and REF manager to set, monitor and review appropriate core and leading indicators for research and impact as part of the University’s annual business planning round and REF preparation.

•   Build and maintain professional working relationships with relevant external organisations.
•   Develop business processes and systems to support research and impact; contributing to the definition of requirements, procurement, implementation and development of systems as required.

Other duties and responsibilities

•  The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
•   The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
•  The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/her self and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions.  The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.

Person specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• Educated to at least degree level (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Professional qualifications relevant to the role
• Personal experience of the conduct of research

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• Good knowledge and understanding of commercialisation, knowledge exchange and exploitation processes and academic support requirements
• Experience of developing commercialisation and business plans
• Experience of intellectual property discovery and protection
• Good knowledge and understanding of the current issues in Higher Education including the policy and funding environment as they relate to research and impact.
• An understanding of grant application processes including costing and funder guidelines and Full Economic Costing.
• Experience of collating and analysing qualitative and quantitative data and information.
• Understanding and experience of providing and delivering an exceptional level of customer and/or support service.
• Previous experience of commercial activities in a Higher Education context, including patents, protection of IP, spin-out companies.

Desirable

• Experience of working in Higher Education either in an academic research role or a research support role.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and engage proactively and effectively with staff and stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise own work and deliver to agreed deadlines.
• Proven ability to interpret and adhere to detailed and precise requirements, and to advise on their impact effectively and appropriately.
• Proven ability to lead and manage the work of a team and to work effectively as part of a matrix team structure.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Excellent analytical skills including the ability to effectively interpret and summarise complex documents and requirements.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and an ability to deliver creative and innovative solutions.
• Excellent numerical, Digital and IT skills (Microsoft Office).

Other

Desirable

• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

All candidates must meet the requirements of UK ‘right to work’ requirements *** If you require Home Office permission to work in the UK, or need to switch your visa status in order to take this job  we recommend you use the following link to information about the routes into employment and to check eligibility requirements:  https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Please note that we are unable to employ anyone who does not have the right to live and work in the UK legally.   When applying for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will be able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.