Business Development Manager in Lincoln

The University of Lincoln is seeking an experienced business development professional to build relationships with researchers, uncover promising opportunities and connect them with potential customers, partners and licensees. We are also open to applicants who are earlier in their business development career but can demonstrate strong transferable skills and the potential to grow into the full scope of the role. For the right candidate, we may consider offering the post as a supported development opportunity, with appropriate training, mentoring and a structured development plan.

This is not an intellectual property or technology transfer role. We are looking for someone who can understand complex propositions, identify potential markets and start productive conversations with external organisations. You do not need previous experience of working in a university. You may currently work in technology, software, engineering, science, healthcare, professional services, innovation or another knowledge-led sector.

You will work with researchers and subject-matter experts to understand what they have developed, the problem it could solve and who might benefit from it. You will then research relevant markets, identify suitable organisations and lead early business development conversations. Our specialist Research Commercialisation team will lead on intellectual property assessment, commercial strategy, licensing and contracting. Your role will be to identify opportunities, develop the market and build the relationships needed to move them forward.

Contract and working arrangements

The role will involve travel to meet prospective customers, licensees and partners and to attend relevant industry events. The salary is dependent on candidate experience.

What you will do

• Build trusted relationships with researchers and technical specialists across the University;
• Identify ideas, technologies and research outputs with potential commercial application;
• Help turn complex or early-stage ideas into clear commercial propositions;
• Research markets, customer needs, competitors and potential applications;
• Identify and approach prospective customers, licensees and commercial partners;
• Lead exploratory business development discussions and test market interest;
• Gather external feedback to help shape and position opportunities;
• Work closely with colleagues in intellectual property, contracts and commercialisation.

Some opportunities may already be well developed. Others may begin as a prototype, piece of software, specialist method, dataset or early-stage idea whose potential application has not yet been fully explored.

What you will bring

You will be a proactive and commercially curious business development professional who is comfortable working with unfamiliar or technical subject matter. You will bring:

• Experience of identifying and developing new commercial opportunities;
• Confidence approaching prospective customers, partners and decision-makers;
• Strong relationship-building, listening and influencing skills;
• The ability to understand complex ideas and communicate their value clearly;
• Experience of researching markets and customer needs;
• Sound commercial judgement and an opportunity-focused approach;
• The ability to manage several developing opportunities at different stages;
• The ability to work collaboratively with technical, legal and specialist colleagues.

Experience of universities, research commercialisation, intellectual property or licensing would be useful, but it is not essential. We are primarily interested in the strength of your business development experience and your ability to apply it within a research and innovation environment.

What you will gain from the role

This role offers unusually broad exposure for a business development professional. You will work across a wide range of sectors, technologies and emerging ideas rather than focusing on a single established product, service or market. One day you may be exploring the potential application of a new technology; the next, identifying customers for software, a specialist method, a research tool or another innovative output.

You will gain experience of working with opportunities at a much earlier stage than in many traditional business development roles. You will help uncover possible applications, test whether there is market interest, identify prospective customers and shape how opportunities are presented externally. You will also work closely with specialists in intellectual property, licensing, contracts and commercialisation. Although you will not be responsible for those areas, you will gain valuable insight into how new ideas are assessed, protected and taken towards market.

The role will give you:

• Exposure to different industries, technologies and commercial models;
• Experience of working with researchers and technical experts;
• Involvement in opportunities from early identification through to external market engagement;
• Experience of identifying customers, licensees and development partners;
• Insight into intellectual property, licensing and research commercialisation;
• Opportunities to build networks across business, research and innovation;
• The chance to make a visible contribution to the University’s commercialisation activity.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants to broaden their business development experience and build a distinctive profile at the intersection of industry, innovation and research.

We strive for a diverse workforce with the very best employees and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. The University encourages applications from underrepresented groups inclusive of Black, Asian and other minoritised/marginalised ethnic groups, all gender identities and expressions from the LGBTQIA+ community, candidates with a disability, and those that practise different faiths and beliefs, to enhance our One Community where we strive to be kind, patient, and supportive of each other.

Please note: If you think you may require a visa to work in the UK, please refer to UK Visas and Immigration or UK Visas – Information for Prospective Staff before embarking upon an application, to ensure that you understand the requirements for sponsorship. You may be eligible to work in the UK via other alternative visa routes such as the Global Talent Visa or by having Settlement / ILR; please refer to the UK Visas pages above for further details.