Assistant Director (Knowledge Exchange and Impact) in Essex

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:

We are now seeking to appoint an Assistant Director of Knowledge Exchange and Impact to play a leading role in the realisation of our collective aims and strategy. This is an exciting time to join ARU and an outstanding opportunity to drive innovation across the institution.

Reporting to the Director of Research and Innovation Services and working closely with other key senior colleagues and stakeholders, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across partnerships and deputise for the Director as required. You will lead and support ARU’s Knowledge Exchange, Research Impact, Enterprise, Industry and Civic Engagement agendas, driving high‑quality delivery and ambitious growth. You’ll head a multi‑disciplinary team, shape strategic partnerships, and provide expert advice to senior leaders to strengthen ARU’s national profile. You’ll champion innovation, steer service transformation, and ensure our KE and Impact activities operate efficiently, collaboratively and with clear strategic focus.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing knowledge exchange initiatives across large scale, diverse and complex portfolios. You will possess excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills, and will be able to build effective and collaborative working relationships, demonstrating a proactive and positive approach to contributing to the work of the team.

The role offers a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to play a leading role in the future success of the University and its wider impact across the region.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Andrew Massoura, Director – Research and Innovation Services, at andrew.massoura@aru.ac.uk.

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. 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.

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.