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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage strategic research partnerships, ensuring successful execution and impact.
- Company: Join an iconic global brand with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape impactful collaborations at the intersection of science and business.
- Qualifications: Experience in research partnerships and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career advancement potential.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 110000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Research Partnerships Manager to lead the development, negotiation, and delivery of complex research and commercial partnerships. This role sits at the intersection of science, partnerships, and operations, requiring someone who can both shape collaborations and execute them effectively. The ideal candidate will have strong experience working alongside legal and contracts teams, but will not be a contracts manager themselves. Instead, they will be responsible for structuring, negotiating, and managing research partnerships end-to-end, ensuring successful execution and impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Partnership Development & Management
- Identify, develop, and manage strategic research and commercial partnerships aligned with organisational priorities
- Build and maintain relationships with academic, industry, and other external stakeholders
- Translate scientific and strategic goals into structured partnership opportunities
- Contract Negotiation (in collaboration with legal)
- Lead negotiations of research collaboration agreements, funding agreements, and partnership contracts
- Work closely with legal and contracts teams to draft, review, and finalise agreements
- Balance commercial, legal, and scientific considerations to reach mutually beneficial outcomes
- Ensure agreements reflect partnership intent while managing risk appropriately
- Operational Delivery
- Oversee the day-to-day management and execution of partnerships
- Coordinate cross-functional teams (legal, finance, science, operations) to deliver partnership objectives
- Monitor performance, milestones, and outcomes of partnerships
- Troubleshoot challenges and ensure partnerships remain on track
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Act as a key interface between scientific teams and enabling functions (legal, finance, procurement)
- Ensure alignment across internal stakeholders throughout the partnership lifecycle
Candidate Profile
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in research partnerships, commercial partnerships, or collaborative programme management
- Demonstrated experience negotiating complex agreements (e.g. research collaborations, funding agreements, multi-party partnerships)
- Strong experience working closely with legal/contract teams (without being a contracts manager)
- Experience operating in science, research, or innovation-driven environments
Skills & Capabilities
- Strong negotiation skills with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational execution
- Excellent stakeholder management across technical and non-technical audiences
- Commercial awareness with an understanding of partnership value creation
Desirable Experience
- Experience working with academic institutions, research organisations, or industry R&D teams
- Familiarity with IP, data sharing, and research governance frameworks
- Exposure to multi-stakeholder or international partnerships
What We’re Not Looking For
- Pure contracts managers or legal specialists without broader partnership experience
- Candidates focused primarily on strategy without willingness to engage in operational delivery
- Sales-focused profiles without experience in research or collaborative partnerships
Strategic Partnerships Development Manager – Research in City of London employer: Career Moves Group
Contact Detail:
Career Moves Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Partnerships Development Manager – Research in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the research and partnerships space. Attend industry events, webinars, or even casual meet-ups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your negotiation skills! Prepare some real-life examples of how you've successfully navigated complex agreements. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your ability to balance commercial and scientific considerations.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in your approach! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like us at StudySmarter, and express your interest in potential opportunities. You never know what might come up!
✨Tip Number 4
Tailor your pitch! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, make sure to align your experience with their needs. Highlight your background in managing research partnerships and your ability to coordinate cross-functional teams effectively.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Partnerships Development Manager – Research in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in research partnerships and negotiation. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Since this role involves a lot of negotiation, it’s crucial to provide examples of how you've successfully navigated complex agreements in the past. We love seeing real-life scenarios where you’ve made an impact!
Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: This position requires working with various teams, so be sure to mention any experience you have in coordinating with legal, finance, or scientific teams. We’re looking for someone who can bridge gaps and keep everyone aligned.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Career Moves Group
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into the types of research and commercial partnerships the company has previously engaged in. Familiarise yourself with their strategic goals and how your experience aligns with their needs. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their partnership development.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since negotiation is a key part of this role, prepare by reviewing common negotiation strategies and techniques. Think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully navigated complex agreements. Be ready to discuss how you balanced various interests to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
This role requires collaboration across various teams. Prepare to share specific instances where you coordinated with legal, finance, or scientific teams to deliver on partnership objectives. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Demonstrate your commercial awareness by discussing how partnerships create value for the organisation. Be prepared to talk about the importance of aligning partnerships with organisational priorities and how you can ensure that partnerships remain on track to meet their goals.