Main Purpose of the Job

QI is a strategic partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, the University of East Anglia and BBSRC. QI seeks to conduct world-class bioscience on the impact of food on health and disease, with an emphasis on diet-and age-associated diseases. All QI partners have a vested interest in enhancing the generation of real-world impacts from research. The role of the Business Development Manager is to drive this impact by leading on the protection of the IP generated by QIB, promoting the Institute’s capabilities and prospecting relevant commercial partners. The Business Development Manager will engage with external organisations to seek out, define and deliver collaborative research opportunities and commercial income for QIB Group Leaders. A key part of the role will be to reinforce existing and establishing new relationships outside the Higher Education sector to increase knowledge exchange, identify opportunities for advancement of innovative technologies through to market adoption via collaboration with industry, access to translation funds, licensing or spin out.

Key Relationships

Report to the QIB Head of Business Development (BD), work with the BD team, Scientists, Managers and Administrative staff of all levels across QIB. Also liaise regularly with academics, the Entrepreneur in Residence, networks, investors, companies and government agencies.
 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Advocate the protection and exploitation of the Intellectual Property created at QIB including:
- Carry-out market research using on-line searching, search services and other market research techniques;
- Manage the disclosure process, initial review of submissions carrying out prelimirary commercial and patentability assessments;
- Patent filing and prosecution, acting as liaison between the inventors, QIB’s IP Committee and external patent attorneys;
- Internal communication of QIB’s processes.

20

Formulate commercial and marketing strategies for the optimal development and exploitation of new technologies in industry. Actively market inventions by reaching out to prospected partners at partnering/networking events, company visits, etc.  

15

Maintain and influence relationships with industry, public sector, business intermediaries and funding organisations to support QIB research groups. Engage with the relevant networks and partners to support the development of new opportunities for collaboration, developing a depth of sectorial expertise in specific industry sectors, as a source of knowledge for the researchers and as a better insights towards industry needs.

15

Support the review, negotiation and drafting of contracts relating to commercialisation activities of QIB research.

10

Support the submission of translational funding applications and business plans. This will include applications to Innovate UK, NBIC, the Research Councils and similar translational funding bodies.

10

Work with the Head of Business Development (BD) to deliver the KEC /BD strategy and report on agreed performance targets and achievements.

10

Promote innovation, enterprise and translational research within the Institute.

5

Promote the profile of the Institute by contributing to industry marketing, attending business conferences, networking events, business breakfast and other relevant events.

5

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post.

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Post graduate level qualification in a relevant scientific discipline (molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, food safety science, microbiology, metagenomics, sequencing). Alternatively, an undergraduate level degree in a relevant scientific discipline

Essential

Post graduate degree in business administration.

Essential

PhD in a relevant scientific discipline

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Knowledge of and interest in knowledge exchange/technology transfer.

Essential

Good organisation and project management skills, with the ability to prioritise time & workload effectively, working to deadlines.

Essential

Good analytical and practical problem-solving skills, with the ability of learning new technical subjects in short timeframes

Essential

Excellent IT skills with the ability to use business and sales tools.

Essential

Proven ability to negotiate, draft and conclude satisfactory commercial deals and contracts.

Desirable

An understanding of the academic environment, and in particular, university funding mechanisms and technology commercialisation, preferably gained through previous experience of working within HEI or industry

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Proven experience of operating in a business development/ technology transfer environment within the higher education sector or industry..

Essential

Experience of evaluating the translational potential of research outputs and identifying opportunities for commercialisation in a higher education or industry context.

Essential

Experience of pitching and presenting in a commercial and/or academic environment.

Essential

Record of income generation activity within the higher education sector (e.g. commercial licensing of IP assets).

Desirable

Contacts with key stakeholders in industry in the fields of work of the Institute

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

An excellent communicator, with excellent interpersonal skills and well developed presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively to senior audiences.

Essential

Excellent networking skills, able to build relationships with stakeholders.

Essential

Excellent team player, able to work collaboratively with colleagues in Business Development and across the Institute.

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Highly self-motivated.

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity.

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Ability to undertake travel (up to 20% of the time, national and international)

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Quadram Institute Bioscience

The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.

We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.

The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.

Department

Business Development

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Business Development Manager

Applications are invited for a Business Development Manager to join the Business Development department at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

QI is a strategic partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, the University of East Anglia and BBSRC. QI seeks to conduct world-class bioscience on the impact of food on health and disease, with an emphasis on diet-and age-associated diseases. All QI partners have a vested interest in enhancing the generation of real-world impacts from research. The role of the Business Development Manager is to drive this impact by leading on the protection of the IP generated by QIB, promoting the Institute’s capabilities and prospecting relevant commercial partners. The Business Development Manager will engage with external organisations to seek out, define and deliver collaborative research opportunities and commercial income for QIB Group Leaders.

The role:

The post holder will support Group Leaders and other researchers at the Institute to aid them in their interactions with industry supporting the establishment of partnerships with industry and guiding the protection and commercialisation of the Institute’s discoveries which could have a transformative impact on society.
 
This post requires a wide range of skills and aptitudes including diligence, patience and determination to see projects through. More specifically, the position requires an ability to understand the science involved in a range of new technologies in a variety of Life Sciences disciplines. It also requires an appreciation of how new technology creates customer value, can have wide market scale and how the Institute and its stakeholders could realise that value.

The ideal candidate:

It is essential for the successful candidate to have a post-graduate level qualification in a relevant scientific discipline (molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, food safety science, microbiology, metagenomics, sequencing). Alternatively, an undergraduate level degree in a relevant scientific discipline with a post-graduate degree in business administration.

The candidate will develop significant experience and ability in a wide range of competencies including relationship management, intellectual property protection, project management, engagement with commercial partners, negotiation of deals and contracts. Ideally, the candidate will have worked in a licensing and/or research partnerships role and had some experience of commercialisation of early-stage technologies and a good understanding of HEIs.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £44,500 to £55,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post offered on an indefinite basis.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society.  The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects all employees to share and display these values.  To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be 24 November 2024.

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.