Partnerships Manager, Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness Ref: 40690

The Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness (SCRK) brings together an interdisciplinary team of academics and diverse community partners to explore, investigate, and illuminate kindness and its impacts on people and communities.

As the Partnerships Manager (PMSCRK), you will:

• Advance the priorities of the University, aligning with the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) for research partnerships, business collaboration, public and third sector engagement, skills, enterprise, local growth, IP, and community engagement.
• Enhance the practical applications of SCRK's work across sectors, curating external engagement programs that showcase Sussex's research and promote behavioural, perspective, and systemic changes.
• Diversify and increase income streams to make the role self-sufficient and enable expansion.
• Improve external engagement to drive social development, wellbeing, and economic growth, focusing on civic engagement and ensuring a coherent approach to project development and external relationships across the University.

The PMSCRK will be a proactive individual, dedicated to embedding best practices for promoting kindness across various organizations, influencing their policies, systems, cultures, and the social fabric of communities. You should have a proven track record in knowledge exchange, particularly in business engagement and/or community development. Effective and persuasive communication with managers in business and public sector organizations, along with the ability to analyze business needs and identify solutions, is crucial for this role. Experience in managing client relationships and liaising with individuals at different levels of seniority within and outside the University is essential, as is familiarity with academic research and knowledge transfer practices. You must possess demonstrable knowledge of the legal, regulatory, and economic frameworks governing operations with business, public, and third/charity sectors. Understanding the policy and regulatory framework for universities related to knowledge exchange and charitable work is necessary. As an experienced project manager, you should be able to plan, manage, and prioritize your workload, respond to changing priorities, and deliver innovative solutions within deadlines, maintaining a high standard of service to meet client needs. The role requires travel within the UK to visit business contacts and other partners.

The Research and Innovation Division is a leading developer of ideas and innovations that contribute to the global community. We contribute to new knowledge, ideas, and solutions, leading to real change in the world and making a difference in our lives. Our strategy focuses on People, Research Strengths, Interdisciplinarity, Integrity, Grant Capture, and International Reputation. Last year alone, we submitted 681 bids, received 230 awards, and completed the setup of 227 projects, illustrating how dynamic our division is.

Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs, offering a 150-acre campus. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk from campus, and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage staff to use them, supported by our cycle-to-work scheme. Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led international university, made possible by its dedicated staff. Whether faculty, professional services, or students, our people make us great, and we want you to be part of that.

The University of Sussex values diversity among its staff and students and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. The university requires that all work undertaken for the university is performed in the UK.