Business & Innovation Senior Partner (FMS)

Salary: £47,389 to £50,253 with progression to £56,535 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 16 August 2026

From Newcastle. For the world.

Help shape the next generation of innovation

At Newcastle University, we are redefining what it means to be a world class civic university. Through our Next Generation Newcastle transformation, we are making a generational commitment to shape a better future, delivering research, education and innovation that creates real-world impact locally and globally. 

This is a moment of exciting change. We are strengthening our focus on partnerships, place and innovation to unlock the full value of our research and talent, working with business, government and communities to tackle the challenges that matter most.

As part of this, we have transformed our Knowledge Exchange function and created Newcastle Innovations, bringing together expertise in commercialisation, partnerships and engagement into a more integrated, ambitious and outward-facing model. We are building a dynamic innovation ecosystem that accelerates the journey from discovery to impact, connecting our strengths in health, energy, data and creative practice with real-world needs and opportunities. 

If you are ambitious about innovation with purpose and want to shape how a leading university delivers growth, impact and societal benefit, this is your opportunity.

Interviews will take place Thursday 3rd Sept 2026

Business and Innovation Senior Partner

We are seeking experienced and highly credible professionals to join Newcastle Innovations in a pivotal role working at the interface of academia, industry and innovation.

As a Business and Innovation Senior Partner, you will act as a trusted advisor and delivery partner to the Faculty of Medical Sciences shaping and delivering innovation and engagement activity aligned with institutional and faculty priorities. You will play a central role in translating world-class research and education into real-world outcomes, driving partnerships, income growth and impact.

What will you do

Working closely with Faculty leadership, you will:

• Act as the primary relationship lead between the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Newcastle Innovations, designing and delivering innovation activity aligned to strategic priorities
• Support colleagues to translate research into application, delivering measurable economic and societal impact
• Build and manage high-value partnerships with industry, government, NHS and other stakeholders, including negotiation and oversight
• Develop a strong pipeline of innovation projects and investible propositions, embedding interdisciplinary and co-designed approaches
• Lead or support large, complex bids and business cases, aligned with UKRI, Innovate UK, Horizon Europe and other funding opportunities
• Drive contract research and clinical trial activity, working across academic, commercial and NHS partners
• Lead horizon scanning and funding intelligence, identifying new opportunities and shaping strategic responses
• Embed innovation capability across the University, including design thinking, co-creation and innovation skills development 

You will work closely with the Head of Innovation Ecosystem and wider Newcastle Innovations team to connect Faculty priorities into broader innovation programmes and partnerships, ensuring the University is positioned at the heart of thriving regional, national and global ecosystems.

About you

• You will bring:
• A strong track record in business development, innovation or knowledge exchange
• Deep understanding of the UK innovation and funding landscape
• Expertise (business or research) in disciplines related to medical sciences
• Experience of building and managing strategic partnerships and complex projects
• The ability to translate ideas into funded, deliverable opportunities
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills
• A collaborative, proactive and resilient approach, with the confidence to operate at senior levels

Why join us?

You will be part of a University that is:

• A trusted civic partner with global reach
• Committed to turning research into real-world impact
• Investing in a bold, integrated approach to innovation and partnerships
• Focused on delivering economic, societal and environmental benefit

Together, we are building the next generation of innovation, connecting people, ideas and opportunities to shape a better future.

For more information about this role feel free to contact Estelle Blanks, Director of Business Development & Enterprise at estelle.blanks@newcastle.ac.uk   

*Please note due to annual leave Estelle is not available from Friday 31st to vacancy closing Sunday 16th enquires will not be answered, but we do encourage your applications none the less.   

To apply please upload your CV and cover letter evidencing how your skills and experiences align to the skills, knowledge and experience criteria as outlined within the job description found here.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29398

#LI-SS1