Main Purpose of the Job

This role presents an exciting opportunity for an Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager to join the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Team at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB). This role will be supporting the Business Development Managers in identifying, establishing, negotiating, and maintaining partnerships and defining the shape of potential future collaborations whilst understanding the framework of existing collaborations. There is potential for the post holder to develop in the role and assume more responsibility over time for the management of stakeholder engagement activities and outcomes at QIB, working across sectors including food, nutrition, food safety, microbiology, health and medicine, and biotechnology.

Applications from candidates with substantial prior experience in a similar role will be considered for the Alliance and Impact Manager post, at grade SC5. Candidates with limited or no experience in the role will be considered for the Alliance and Impact Officer post, at grade SC6.

Overall, the Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager will be responsible for supporting and fostering strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, partners, and industry bodies to ensure the benefits to stakeholders and QIB are realised. The post holder will ensure partnerships are resourced by supporting funding applications and project development that will lead to generation of impact from QIB research. The post holder will work with the QIB Impact Committee to support strategic planning and execution, develop engagement plans and track progress of relationships through evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of engagement initiatives. They will be required to assist in creating impact reports, case studies and other written materials to capture and share insights from external engagement across QIB. Furthermore, they will be supporting the management of partnerships post-deal ensuring that all parties are continuously aligned and meet their respective contractual obligations.

The Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager will fill a strong liaison role with the QIB Business Development and Communications teams to co- develop web, video, and social media content that supports their activities.

The post holder will enable the maximisation of opportunities for stakeholder partnerships across all QIB research areas by liaising with researchers at QIB and at other institutions. The role will include recording activity to support research dissemination as well as progress against defined objectives.

Key Relationships

Reporting to QIB Head of Business Development (BD), the post holder will also work with the BD team and Communications team, the chair of QIB Impact Committee, Directorate Manager, Programme Manager, and Contracts department and the Head of External Relationships and Engagement.

Other key relationships will be with QIB group leaders, research scientists, strategic stakeholders and counterparts based elsewhere on the Norwich Research Park (John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute, University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the Anglia Innovation Partnership).
 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Partnership development and management
Identify, cultivate, and maintain strategic alliances with key partners that align with the QIB’s objectives. Foster strong, long-term relationships with existing and new partners.

20

Alliance management post-deal
Support the management of and nurture relationships to yield maximum benefit to QIB. Monitor the compliance with contractual terms and ensure that all parties’ expectations are aligned.

20

Impact measurement and reporting
Implement a robust system for tracking and reporting on the social, economic and environmental impact of QIB’s science and KEC activities. Review impact metrics for alignment with organisational goals and KPIs from funders (e.g. REF) and that reporting is clear, accurate, and actionable.

20

Capacity building
Facilitate meetings and workshops that stimulate engagement between QIB researchers and stakeholders.

15

Impact communication and advocacy
Communicate impact results effectively to both internal and external audiences, partners, and the public. Support the preparation and share communications materials including impact reports, case studies and presentations that highlight QIB’s achievements and learnings in delivering positive impact.

10

Cross-Functional collaboration
Work closely with internal teams (e.g. Finance and Communications teams) to ensure smooth communication and alignment on partnership goals and deliverables.

5

Training
Train and support teams across the organisation to understand and apply impact measurement practices. Foster a culture of accountability and impact-driven thinking within the organisation. For senior (SC5) appointments only.

5

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

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Bachelors degree, or equivalent, in a science discipline

Essential

Relevant post graduate qualification (essential for SC5 appointments)

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Skills in implementing strategic engagement plans and ensuring high-quality deliverables.

Essential

Ability to track progress and measure the outcomes of projects.

Essential

Ability to read and understand contracts and financial reports (essential for SC5 appointment)

Desirable

An understanding and awareness of current trends and challenges in QIB-relevant stakeholder sectors.

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Relevant experience in alliance management, partnership development in collaborative projects (including research projects) in a for-profit company or non-profit institution engaged in life sciences or healthcare

Essential

Experience of writing/coordinating strategic reports.

Essential

Significant relevant experience in multiple alliance management, partnership development, or in a similar role in a for-profit company or non-profit institution engaged in life sciences or healthcare (essential for SC5 appointments)

Desirable

Experience of organising large and small multi-stakeholder events. (e.g. workshops; problem definition exercises)

Desirable

Experience of managing collaborative projects or programmes (essential for SC5 appointments).

Desirable

Experience of working in a Technology Transfer Office in academia or a Business Development function in a corporate environment

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Ability to engage with stakeholders through interpersonal skills that motivate project partners and team members.

Essential

Experience in developing and delivering presentations to stakeholders.

Essential

Capable of working with staff at all levels and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Essential

Ability to tailor messages for different audiences.

Desirable

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Highly organised with strong attention to detail.

Essential

Excellent time management and organisational skills.

Essential

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

Essential

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

Essential

Occasional, pre-agreed flexibility in working hours during busy periods.

Essential

Ability to undertake travel up to 20% of time, national and international (Reasonable adjustments will be considered)

Essential

Self-starter, ability to work autonomously in a supportive environment.

Essential

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Experienced user of CRM tools and/or project management software

Desirable

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

Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager

Applications are invited for an Alliance and Impact Officer (SC6) or Alliance and Impact Manager (SC5) to join the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Team at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

This role presents an exciting opportunity for an Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager to support the development and management of stakeholder engagement activities and outcomes at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Norwich. QIB’s mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food.

The Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager will sit within QIB’s Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation team and will work across sectors including food, nutrition, food safety, microbiology, health and medicine, and biotechnology. The role will support our partnerships to deliver against QIB’s strategic ambitions for research, impact and innovation.

The role:

The Alliance and Impact Officer/Manager will be responsible for supporting and fostering strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, partners, and industry bodies to ensure the benefits to stakeholders and QIB are realised. Such relationships will be supported through a variety of different funding mechanisms and will be targeted to generate maximum impact from QIB research.

The post holder will work with the QIB Impact Committee to support strategic planning and execution, develop engagement plans and track progress of relationships through evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of engagement initiatives. They will be required to assist in creating impact reports, case studies and other written materials to capture and share insights from external engagement across QIB.

You will be a self-starter with an ability to thrive in a dynamic environment with a high level of flexibility, an ability to multi-task, and experience in working with diverse teams. The role requires strong communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to build and maintain relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.

Applications from candidates with substantial prior experience in a similar role will be considered for the Alliance and Impact Manager post, at grade SC5. Candidates with limited or no experience in the role will be considered for the Alliance and Impact Officer post, at grade SC6

The ideal candidate:

The successful candidate will have a bachelors degree or equivalent in a scientific discipline and skills in implementing strategic engagement plans and ensuring high-quality deliverables. A relevant post graduate qualification is essential for the Manager (SC5) post.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to track progress and measure the outcomes of projects and will have relevant experience in alliance management and partnership development in collaborative projects (including research projects) in a for-profit company or non-profit institution engaged in life sciences or healthcare. Significant experience is essential for the Manager (SC5) post.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £36,540 to £45,350 per annum for SC6 and £45,450 to £56,750 per annum for SC5. All salaries are depending on qualifications and experience.

This is a full-time post on an indefinite basis.

We anticipate interviews will take place w/c 8 September 2025

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute values of Respect, Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence are at the heart of all we do, and we expect 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 17 August 2025

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