Facilities & Innovation Connector

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. 

Facilities and Innovation Connector

We are seeking an enthusiastic and relationship-focused professional to join the Newcastle Innovations Innovation Partnerships team and play a key role in growing engagement with the university's unique portfolio of scientific, analytical, cultural and creative, nutrition, and sport and exercise facilities. 

Working across faculties, technical services, facility teams and external partners, you will help create a seamless and responsive experience for organisations seeking access to Newcastle University's facilities and expertise. You will raise awareness of our facilities offer, identify commercial opportunities, support partnership development and help maximise the impact and income generated through our world-leading infrastructure.

As a trusted connector, you will build relationships with businesses, public sector organisations and other stakeholders, ensuring that opportunities are efficiently routed, developed and translated into successful projects and collaborations.

Working closely with colleagues across Newcastle Innovations and the wider university, you will:

• Act as a key point of contact for external organisations seeking to access and collaborate through the university's facilities

• Deliver an outstanding partner experience, ensuring enquiries are managed efficiently and opportunities are progressed effectively 

• Develop and deliver targeted outreach, marketing and engagement activities that increase awareness, enquiries and utilisation of university facilities

• Identify and develop opportunities for collaboration, commercialisation and external engagement, connecting organisations with relevant facility leads and academic expertise

• Build and maintain strong relationships with businesses, public sector organisations and other external stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and connector

• Support the development of new partnerships, proposals and agreements aligned with university and faculty priorities

• Represent Newcastle University at external events, networks and showcase activities, promoting our capabilities and strengthening our reputation

• Work with colleagues to improve systems and processes that support facility management, partner engagement and operational efficiency

• Maintain accurate records of engagement activity through CRM systems and provide reporting on trends, opportunities and impact

• Contribute to the measurement and reporting of partnership outcomes and performance indicators, including those linked to knowledge exchange and external engagement

About you

You will bring: 

• Experience of stakeholder engagement, partnership development, business development or customer-facing relationship management

• The ability to articulate the value and capabilities of Newcastle University's facilities and expertise to external audiences

• Experience of developing outreach activities to promote services and opportunities

• Strong interpersonal, networking and negotiation skills, with the confidence to engage a wide range of stakeholders

• The ability to manage multiple enquiries, projects and relationships simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

• A proactive and solution-focused approach, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively across complex organisations  

• An enthusiasm for innovation, knowledge exchange and creating meaningful connections between the University and external partners

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 

• Focused on delivering economic, social and environmental benefit 

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

For further details contact Karen Allenby karen.allenby@newcastle.ac.uk

To apply, please upload a copy of your CV along with a cover letter evidencing how your skills and experiences align to the person specification as outlined within job description found here