Senior Business Development Manager - Arrow Programme

The Role and Department

Durham University is seeking to recruit an experienced Business Development Manager to work on the Arrow innovation support programme which is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This post is fixed term (until 31st March 2025), with a start date from 1st September 2024 until 31st March 2025. S uccessful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 1st September 2024.

The Arrow programme provides a linkage between academia and businesses across the North East region; supporting enterprises via the delivery of a short-term innovation project (typically lasting 4-6 weeks). All Arrow projects focusing on developing an innovative project idea for the SME (across a process, product or service).

The Arrow programme is delivered by four partnering universities, Durham University, Newcastle University, Northumbria University and The University of Sunderland. All Universities have their own Arrow teams (with a total of 11 Senior Innovation Associates (IAs) employed across the 4 universities). All IAs have their own unique set of skills and expertise across a range of research and innovation areas. These include: Energy and Net Zero; Chemistry and Fundamental Sciences; Data Science; Ageing, Longevity and Caring; Business; Bioscience; Engi neering; Advanced Materials; Sustainable Chemistry and Advanced Manufacturing.

Through the work of a network of Business Development Managers (BDM) located in the four institutions, the Arrow model aims to provide a catalyst function identifying and linking innovative businesses to the most appropriate specialist Innovation Associate (who works with academic departments to help them to undertake collaborative research and innovation activities, supported by programme funding).

The Business Development Manager will generate, develop and deliver a portfolio / pipeline of project activities with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including leading on industrial engagement and business development, marketing, communications and event activities for the Arrow project.

You will have a key role in helping to develop and support North East-based SMEs to develop and commercialise innovation in products and services, which will help the University to develop a pipeline of projects with regional SMEs and contribute to raising the innovation and economic potential of SMEs in the North region.

Lead responsibility for the Arrow Project at Durham University lies with the Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team. The post holder will report to the Head of the Economic Development Team and will be a member of the Commercialisation and Economic Development group, whose remit is to drive spinout creation, licensing activity and major economic development projects.

This project is part-funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Durham County Council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority and is now administered by the North East Combined Authority.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. 

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