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- Tasks: Drive innovative partnerships with universities and research institutions in open access publishing.
- Company: Join Frontiers, a leading research publisher on a mission to make science accessible.
- Benefits: Enjoy wellbeing days, learning opportunities, and flexible hybrid work options.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming scholarly publishing and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and 2-4 years in business development or academic publishing required.
- Other info: Collaborative global team with opportunities for travel and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Overview
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.
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
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their mission and values.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills align with the role of Business Development Manager. Highlight your experience in B2B partnerships and open access publishing.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our mission.
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 B2B partnerships, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past experiences that align with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description. We love seeing how you've made an impact in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. This helps us quickly see why you’d be a great fit!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into our system smoothly. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team at Frontiers!
How to prepare for a job interview at Frontiers
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Frontiers' mission and values. Understand their approach to open access publishing and how it impacts the research community. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you align your answers with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that highlight your success in B2B business development or partnerships. Be ready to discuss how you've engaged with academic institutions or developed innovative models, as this is crucial for the Business Development Manager role.
✨Engage with Questions
Think of insightful questions to ask during the interview. Inquire about their current pilot programmes or how they measure success in institutional partnerships. This demonstrates your analytical mindset and eagerness to contribute to their mission.
✨Be Collaborative
Emphasise your ability to work cross-functionally. Share experiences where you've collaborated with different teams to achieve a common goal. Highlighting your teamwork skills will resonate well, especially since the role involves engaging with various departments.
