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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive innovative partnerships with universities and research institutions in open access publishing.
- Company: Join Frontiers, a leading research publisher making science accessible to all.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, wellbeing initiatives, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a global team transforming scholarly publishing and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and experience in business development or academic publishing required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for travel and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Who we are
We are on a mission to make all science open, enabling the research community to develop the solutions we all need to live healthy lives on a healthy planet.
Frontiers is one of the world’s largest and most impactful research publishers, dedicated to making peer-reviewed, quality-certified science openly accessible. Our articles have been viewed 4 billion times, reflecting the power of research that is open for all.
Follow the links below to learn more about our work.
www.frontiersin.org/about/annual-reports
www.youtube.com/watch?v=87ejFfnQzko
What we can offer you
At Frontiers, our working model for new roles includes a balanced approach that fosters collaboration through regular engagement at our office hubs in key locations. While we value flexibility, we also believe that shared in-person time strengthens team culture, trust, and productivity.
We provide a range of benefits across our global locations, including but not limited to:
- 4 additional wellbeing days in addition to existing annual leave allowance
- Access to learning platforms and dedicated learning & development time
- A range of wellbeing initiatives, including free online yoga classes and an employee assistance plan
- Employees can dedicate three days each year to volunteer
- Additional benefits depending on your location (e.g. pension plan and private medical care)
About Frontiers Institutional Partnerships
Our Institutional Partnerships team is at the forefront of the rapidly evolving open access publishing sector, enabling Frontiers’ close collaborations with leading universities, funders, consortia, libraries, and other research organisations – making it easier for their researchers to publish open access. We are building for scale by transforming our traditional B2C strengths into a dynamic B2B strategy.
The role reports to:
Head of Institutional Business Development
Location: London, Madrid or Warsaw (hybrid) – work from home 2 days per week
Why Join Us?
At Frontiers, you will be part of a fast-moving global team committed to transforming scholarly publishing. This role offers the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of open access business models, to engage directly with leading academic institutions, and to see your work shape the broader research ecosystem.
This is a unique opportunity for a motivated professional to take a hands-on role in building and testing innovative partnership models that drive the global transition to open access.
Innovate with Purpose: Build and lead pilot partnerships that test new institutional models and redefine how universities engage with open access.
Own the Process: From stakeholder engagement and model design to outreach and pilot execution, you’ll manage the full lifecycle of 5–10 pilots each year – turning insights into scalable offerings.
Collaborate Globally: Work cross-functionally, while engaging senior stakeholders at top research institutions globally.
What You’ll Do
As Business Development Manager, you will manage a defined portfolio of institutional business development opportunities and pilot partnerships with academic institutions, consortia, and funders. You will design, launch, and evaluate pilot models that test new approaches to institutional engagement in open access publishing.
Working closely with colleagues in Institutional Sales and Account Development, Product, Finance, Legal, Data & Analytics, External Affairs and Marketing, you will ensure pilots and new offerings are customer-focused, commercially viable, and strategically aligned. You will report to the Head of Institutional Business Development, contributing to the innovation pipeline and gaining visibility across senior leadership.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Identifying and engaging institutions for pilot opportunities and developing tailored proposals and business cases.
- Designing and executing stakeholder events – workshops, focus groups, interviews, and roundtables – to capture market needs and trends.
- Leading outreach and relationship-building with universities, consortia, and funders.
- Managing pilot programmes end-to-end, from set-up through reporting and evaluation, and supporting go/no-go decisions for wider rollout.
- Representing Frontiers at international conferences and workshops, building long-term strategic relationships with institutional decision-makers.
- Collaborating with Institutional Sales and Account Development to integrate frontline market feedback into innovation projects.
- Acting as the institutional “voice” internally, providing structured feedback into model development.
- Coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure feasibility, customer satisfaction, and alignment with policy and strategy.
- Reporting to the Head of Institutional Business Development on outreach activities, pilot progress, and assigned innovation initiatives.
What success looks like
- Outreach to around 50 institutional targets per year.
- Launching 5–10 pilot partnerships annually.
- Delivering clear, data-driven reporting on pilot performance and ROI.
- Achieving strong collaboration across internal teams and high partner satisfaction.
- Converting pilot programmes into long-term commercial offerings.
What We’re Looking For
We are seeking a collaborative, analytical, and entrepreneurial professional who thrives in a mission-driven environment.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (required); Master’s preferred (e.g. Business, International Relations, or Library/Information Sciences).
- 2–4 years’ experience in academic publishing, scholarly communications, higher education partnerships, or a related business development role.
- Demonstrated success in B2B business development, sales, or strategic partnerships.
- Familiarity with open access publishing models, research funding policies, or higher education structures.
- Strong skills in business case development, project management, and data analysis.
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Salesforce CRM, Excel, and PowerPoint; knowledge of Tableau or Jira is a plus.
Additional Notes
- Travel ~10–15% (approx. 4 international events/year)
- Global scope, with evolving geographic focus
Apply now
Please click the \’apply\’ button on this page and submit your application in English.
Please inform us if you require any special accommodations to participate fully in our recruitment experience. You can contact us at careers@frontiersin.org for any additional support.
Equal opportunity statement
Frontiers actively embraces diversity and is a safe and welcoming workplace. Recruitment is free from discrimination – including based on race, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. With employees from more than 50 different nations, our diversity creates vibrant teams and constantly challenges us to appreciate multiple perspectives.
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Business Development Manager, Institutional Partnerships employer: Frontiers
Contact Detail:
Frontiers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager, Institutional Partnerships
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend conferences, workshops, and networking events related to academic publishing and institutional partnerships. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your experience in B2B business development and your understanding of open access models. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed projects or partnerships in the past.
✨Follow Up with Flair
After any meeting or interview, don’t forget to send a follow-up email. Thank them for their time and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. This shows your professionalism and keeps you fresh in their minds!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Make sure to apply directly through our website for the best chance at getting noticed. We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly, so don’t hesitate to hit that 'apply' button!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager, Institutional Partnerships
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in academic publishing and partnerships, and show us how your skills align with our mission at Frontiers.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your success in B2B business development. Use data and examples to illustrate how you've driven results in previous positions.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We want to get a sense of who you are and how you'd fit into our team culture. Don’t be afraid to share your passion for open access publishing!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team at Frontiers!
How to prepare for a job interview at Frontiers
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Frontiers and its mission in open access publishing. Familiarise yourself with their recent partnerships and initiatives. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your B2B Skills
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that highlight your success in B2B business development or strategic partnerships. Be ready to discuss how you've engaged stakeholders and managed projects, as this is crucial for the Business Development Manager role.
✨Engage with Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about Frontiers' approach to institutional partnerships and their vision for the future of open access. This demonstrates your analytical mindset and eagerness to contribute to their mission.
✨Practice Your Presentation Skills
Given the emphasis on communication and stakeholder engagement, practice presenting your ideas clearly and confidently. You might even want to simulate a stakeholder meeting scenario to showcase your ability to lead discussions and build relationships.
