At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead growth strategy and secure partnerships across the UK & Ireland innovation ecosystem.
- Company: Join Oxford Innovation Space, a leader in the UK's innovation landscape.
- Benefits: Board-level influence, autonomy, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Diverse workplace welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Shape the future of innovation while driving commercial success.
- Qualifications: Proven track record in business development and senior leadership roles.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Board-level | National role (UK & Ireland) Home-based (UK) with travel across the UK & Ireland, including Oxford HQ Oxford Innovation Space. Shape the next phase of growth in the UK’s innovation ecosystem. We’re entering the next stage of growth at Oxford Innovation Space, and we’re looking for an exceptional Business Development & Marketing Director to join our Division Management Board. This is a high-impact, outward-facing executive role, bringing together commercial leadership, strategic growth and market influence. You’ll play a pivotal part in shaping how we expand our portfolio, build partnerships and position ourselves across the UK & Ireland innovation landscape. The role is home-based, with regular travel across the UK & Ireland and to our Oxford head office, reflecting the national scope of the position.
The opportunity
This is not a traditional functional leadership role. As Business Development & Marketing Director, you will:
- Lead the organisation's growth strategy across the UK & Ireland, shaping and delivering a strong pipeline of new business.
- Secure and develop innovation space contracts, partnerships and place-based opportunities.
- Align marketing, brand and communications with commercial priorities to directly support contract wins and market positioning.
- Operate as a Board-level leader, contributing to corporate strategy, investment decisions and overall organisational performance.
You’ll bring a clear, proactive approach to business development moving us from reactive bids to a more insight-led, opportunity-driven model, and ensuring we remain well-positioned in a competitive and evolving market.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Strategic growth & commercial leadership: Shape and deliver a compelling, evidence-led growth strategy. Identify, pursue and convert high-value opportunities across the UK & Ireland innovation ecosystem.
- Business development: Lead complex bids, partnerships and negotiations. Build and maintain senior relationships across public, private and academic sectors.
- Marketing, brand & reputation: Drive an integrated marketing and communications function aligned to commercial outcomes. Strengthen our market positioning, reputation and influence at a national level.
- Executive leadership: Contribute to Board discussions, strategy and decision-making. Lead and develop multi-disciplinary, geographically dispersed teams.
About you
We’re looking for a strategic, commercially driven leader who can operate confidently at Board level and deliver tangible growth outcomes. You’ll bring:
- A strong track record of winning complex, high-value contracts.
- Experience operating at a senior leadership or Director level, ideally across multi-site or partnership-led environments.
- The ability to integrate business development and marketing to drive measurable commercial results.
- Credibility with senior stakeholders across public, private and academic sectors.
- A proactive, insight-led approach to opportunity identification and pipeline development.
You’ll be as comfortable shaping long-term strategy as you are influencing key partnerships and closing deals.
Why join us?
- Board-level influence direct impact on organisational direction and growth.
- Scale and autonomy lead a national portfolio with real decision-making responsibility.
- Purpose commerciality deliver growth that supports innovation, places and communities.
- Market impact work at the centre of the UK’s innovation, regeneration and partnership ecosystem.
Ready to shape what comes next? If you’re looking for a role where you can combine commercial leadership, strategic influence and real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you. We’re building a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply you might be just the person we’re looking for.
Business Development & Marketing Director in Oxford employer: Oxford Innovation Space
At Oxford Innovation Space, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. As a Business Development & Marketing Director, you'll enjoy the flexibility of a home-based role with the opportunity to travel across the UK & Ireland, while contributing to meaningful growth in the UK's innovation ecosystem. We offer a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives, encourages professional development, and empowers you to make a significant impact at a national level.
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We think this is how you could land Business Development & Marketing Director in Oxford
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Development & Marketing Director in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Oxford Innovation Space, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford Innovation Space
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Oxford Innovation Space’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
