At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of RAU's innovation ecosystem and build global partnerships.
- Company: Royal Agricultural University, a leader in land, food, and sustainability innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equal opportunities and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of agriculture and sustainability while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Higher degree and proven experience in leading innovation hubs or commercialisation units.
The predicted salary is between 76050 - 76050 £ per year.
Location: RAU Campuses, Cirencester
Salary: £76,050 per annum pro rata
Vacancy Type: 9 months fixed term, 24.5 hours per week (0.7 FTE)
Purpose
The Director of Commercial Innovation will lead the transformation of the Royal Agricultural University’s innovation ecosystem based at the Cirencester campus. This role is responsible for designing, building, and scaling a high-value innovation cluster that bridges the gap between research validation and commercial adoption across land, food, agriculture, sustainability, and rural enterprise. The Director will shape the Alliston Centre as Building 1 of the RAU’s Innovation Village by establishing global partnerships, commercial programmes, specialist knowledge hubs, and revenue-generating services that integrate RAU’s academic assets with industry demand.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Vision: Lead the repositioning of the Alliston Centre into a specialist, RAU-aligned innovation ecosystem. Develop and execute a unified commercial strategy that integrates memberships, CPD, consultancy, knowledge hubs, and strategic partnerships. Establish the Centre as the commercial crucible for the future Innovation Village, testing new institutes, business models, and impact metrics.
- Revenue Growth & Commercialisation: Oversee the consolidation of Farm491, Growth Hub, and other legacy brands into a single membership model.
- Ecosystem Building & Industry Partnerships: Recruit and manage Anchor Partners across agriculture, sustainability, food systems, and rural innovation. Build global institutional links and secure strategic partnerships with corporates, investors, and international research bodies. Position the Centre as a high-growth magnet within the Oxford Bristol Golden Valley innovation arc.
- Operational Excellence & Data-Driven Management: Implement a unified CRM and data pipeline to track lead generation, conversion, retention, and ecosystem lifetime value (LTV).
- Academic Integration & RAU Alignment: Ensure all commercial activity supports RAU’s core values: Academic & Student Value, Industry Value, Innovation Value.
Person Specification
Qualifications: Higher degree and/or professional qualification. Evidence of continued professional development.
Knowledge, Experience and Skills: Proven track record of leading innovation hubs or accelerators, research commercialisation units, or sector-specific clusters. Strong knowledge of agriculture, land management, sustainability and rural enterprise sectors. Evidence of delivering significant revenue growth through services, partnerships, memberships, or commercial programmes. Experience working with investors, venture funds, or innovation finance (not necessarily as a fund manager). Demonstrated success in securing corporate partnerships, anchor clients, or strategic alliances. Demonstrable understanding of university industry partnerships, KTPs, industrial bids, and translational research. Ability to design and execute a coherent commercial strategy across multiple revenue streams. Excellent communication and influencing skills, including public speaking and thought leadership. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data, margins, and performance metrics. Strong stakeholder management across academia, industry, government, and investors.
The RAU is an equal opportunities employer and we particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the RAU at this level.
Director of Commercial Innovation in Gloucester employer: Royal Agricultural University
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead the transformation of its innovation ecosystem at the picturesque Cirencester campus. With a strong commitment to employee growth, RAU fosters a collaborative work culture that values diversity and inclusivity, providing access to global partnerships and cutting-edge resources in agriculture and sustainability. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive environment that champions professional development and innovation.
Contact Details:
Royal Agricultural University Recruitment Team
