IP Commercialisation and Technology Transfer Lead

About ARU:

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields.  We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities.  Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

About the role

ARU is recognised as a leader in higher education enterprise, having received the prestigious five-year Entrepreneurial University Award from the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE). We are home to the Anglia Ruskin University Enterprise Academy (AREA), which supports student-led start-ups, and the Arise Innovation Hubs, providing dedicated space and support for start-ups and SMEs across Essex.

As part of our continued growth, we are establishing a new Enterprise team to drive the University's enterprise and commercialisation ambitions. This team will oversee ARU's portfolio of intellectual property (IP), commercialisation and licensing opportunities, support the creation of staff spin-outs and start-ups, and develop consultancy and knowledge exchange projects.

Working closely with the Head of Enterprise and senior leadership teams, you will provide operational leadership for the University's enterprise portfolio, ensuring that activities are delivered in line with sector best practice and contribute to ARU's strategic objectives.

You will collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to develop and manage commercial opportunities across both STEM and SHAPE disciplines. You will also work alongside our successful Arise Innovation Hubs and wider commercial partners to maximise the impact of ARU's research, innovation and expertise.

A key part of the role will be fostering an entrepreneurial culture across the University. You will support staff and students through effective communication, networking opportunities and targeted training, helping to embed enterprise and innovation across our campuses.

We are looking for a highly motivated and proactive individual with experience of managing a diverse enterprise or commercialisation portfolio. You will have excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail, a higher degree and experience working within a university technology transfer, research commercialisation or enterprise environment. The ability to build effective relationships, manage multiple priorities and identify new opportunities will be essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping a growing Enterprise team and to make a significant contribution to ARU's innovation ecosystem, supporting the commercialisation of research, the creation of new ventures and the development of a vibrant entrepreneurial community across our campuses and innovation hubs.

Informal enquiries can be made to Beverley Vaughan, Head of Enterprise, at Beverley.vaughan@aru.ac.uk

Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.

We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK and will conduct Right to Work checks in line with UKVI’s Right to Work policy and our own institutional policy. Furthermore, we must note: 

• Applicants applying from outside the UK: At this time, ARU is unable to sponsor applicants applying from overseas for a Worker Route visa.
• Applicants already in the UK: ARU is unable to offer Worker Route visa sponsorship to applicants whose salary does not meet our minimum sponsorship threshold, which aligns with roles at Grade 6 and above.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.

Guidance Notes: 

Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.