At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of groundbreaking dementia research into real-world solutions.
- Company: Join the UK Dementia Research Institute, a leader in neurodegenerative research.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, private medical cover, and a flexible working environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on lives affected by dementia through innovative partnerships.
- Qualifications: Experience in technology transfer or business development in life sciences is essential.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Join us as Senior / Innovation Manager and take the lead in transforming ground-breaking neurodegeneration research into tangible solutions that change lives.
What you'll bring
- Drive commercialisation: Work with world-leading dementia researchers to commercialise new technologies in diagnosis, treatment, and care, including licensing deals, spin-out formation, and strategic partnerships with not for profit and industry.
- Strategic partnerships: Work with key UK DRI stakeholders to create, manage and deploy multi-disciplinary projects.
- Portfolio management: Work with the innovation team and manage the portfolio of innovation projects, from initial discussion to successful translational outcomes. Maintain accurate records of the portfolio using a diverse range of portfolio management tools and participate in reporting activities.
- Due diligence & project evaluation: Conduct IP and market evaluation on disclosures, working closely with Host Universities' Technology Transfer Offices.
- Contract negotiation: Lead negotiations for licensing, spin-out formation, partnerships and other collaboration contracts, working with the UK DRI Contracts Manager and external legal counsel.
- Stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships across the UK DRI centres, host university technology transfer and technology research offices, and key stakeholders and strategic partners.
- Legal & compliance: Ensure compliance with institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks, especially for IP and commercialisation. Ensure that agreements are in place to support opportunity development.
- External representation: Represent the UK DRI at external meetings, networking events, and conferences, deputising as required.
- Business development: Promote the UK DRI portfolio in partnering events, prepare and participate in showcases and connect potential investors and partners with UK DRI research.
- Strategic review: Conduct regular reviews of translation and commercialisation activities, identifying key advancements, stakeholders and opportunities in the dementia and neurodegeneration field.
- Funding support: Identify funding opportunities and assist in preparing applications for translational funding where appropriate.
What you'll need
- Proven experience: A strong background in technology transfer, life sciences commercialisation, investment, or business development, ideally within neurodegeneration or brain health.
- Commercial acumen: The ability to evaluate complex research, spot commercial potential, and navigate intellectual property, licensing, and spin-out processes.
- Stakeholder savvy: Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences—from scientists to investors.
- Project leadership: A track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously, balancing scientific rigour with business pragmatism.
- Communication excellence: Clear, compelling written and verbal skills, with the confidence to represent the UK DRI at all levels.
- Adaptability: Willingness to travel occasionally to UK DRI centres and partner sites across the UK.
What we offer
- Work-Life Balance
- Generous holiday allowance: 27 days of annual leave (plus UK Bank Holidays) to recharge and explore.
- Flexible holiday scheme: Buy or sell up to 5 days of annual leave to suit your lifestyle.
- Business closure days: Enjoy up to 6 additional days off each year.
- Private medical cover: Single medical insurance to support your health and peace of mind.
- Group Life Assurance: Protection for your loved ones with coverage up to 4x your base salary.
- Income Protection & Critical Illness Cover: Financial security when you need it most.
- Employee Assistance Programme: Confidential support for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
- Family-Friendly Support
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, neonatal and adoption pay: Because family matters.
- Season Ticket Loan: Save on your commute with an interest-free loan.
- Generous pension scheme: Contribute 6.1% as an employee, with an employer contribution of 15.9% helping you build a secure future.
- Plus
- Voluntary benefits programme: Access a wide range of discounts and perks tailored to your lifestyle.
- Hybrid working: We embrace a hybrid working model, with the majority of your time spent in our collaborative modern office environment in London. We offer the flexibility to work remotely for up to 1-2 days per week.
About the UK DRI
Today, over 1M people in the UK are living with dementia and related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease (MND). The impact of these incurable and progressive conditions on individuals and their families is devastating. Societal costs are staggering and growing as the population ages. Due to major advances in our understanding of the biology of these disorders the field is at an inflection point with the next decade promising to deliver transformative breakthroughs in therapies and a new era of predictive, preventative, and precision medicine. The UK is well placed to play a leading role in this revolution due to its strengths in science required for discovery and delivery, led by the UK DRI working with our world-class university-based centres.
To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter detailing why you wish to join the UK DRI, your salary, availability, and your experience for this role. Please also add a deal sheet, should you have this. No agencies please. By applying to this role, you understand and agree that your information will be shared within the UK DRI People & Culture team and/or any team members who will be part of the hiring process. UK DRI is committed to equal opportunities and embraces diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all of our people. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. This means ensuring our recruitment processes are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible to everyone. We will make adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition.
Senior / Innovation Manager in England employer: UK Dementia Research Institute
University College London (UCL) is an exceptional employer that values its staff through a supportive work culture and a commitment to employee development. Working on the vibrant Bloomsbury campus, you will enjoy a dynamic environment with opportunities for growth, while contributing to the safety and efficiency of campus logistics. UCL offers competitive benefits and fosters a sense of community among its diverse workforce, making it a rewarding place to build your career.
Contact Details:
UK Dementia Research Institute Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior / Innovation Manager in England
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like UK Dementia Research Institute.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like UK Dementia Research Institute.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior / Innovation Manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at UK Dementia Research Institute that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at UK Dementia Research Institute and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Dementia Research Institute
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at UK Dementia Research Institute, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show UK Dementia Research Institute that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At UK Dementia Research Institute, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
