The University of Edinburgh
Business Development Executive - Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

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Job Description
Grade UE08: £50,253 - £61,759 per annum
College of Science and Engineering / The Data Lab
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Fixed-term: 18 months contract
Where passion meets purpose. Be part of something bigger.
We offer careers and roles in just about every area you can think of. Whether you’re looking to take the next step in your current specialism, explore a new challenge, or broaden your experience, we offer opportunities where you can flourish and make a real difference. Our people come from a wide range of backgrounds, each bringing their abilities and experiences to our organisation, helping us thrive and innovate together.
The Opportunity
This is a high-profile role aligned to the North East of Scotland’s strategic ambition to lead a just energy transition and diversify its economy through innovation-led growth in Digital Tech and Green Energy. The role would suit an established, energetic team-player with broad industry experience and a passion for working collaboratively to deliver positive economic and social benefits to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and, by extension, Scotland as a whole.
The job holder will be based at our Aberdeen Hub and will hold a key position within the Business Development Team. Working closely with stakeholders across academia, industry and the third sector, the successful candidate will play an important part in supporting a cohesive ecosystem that delivers tangible economic and social benefits for the region.
The Data Lab is Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI. The Data Lab was founded in 2014 as part of Scotland’s Innovation Centres programme.
We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right meaningful flexibility that works for you.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
View the full job description (opens in a new browser tab)
How To Apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
- CV
- Cover letter
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 27th July 2026.


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About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
About The Team
The Data Lab is Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, hosted by the University of Edinburgh and part of the National Innovation Centre Programme funded by the Scottish Funding Council. Through hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, we foster innovation through collaboration, build skills and grow talent, and champion Scotland’s data science community. We help Scotland maximise value from data and AI and lead the world to a data-powered future. Our purpose is to change lives and make Scotland a more productive economy and sustainable society by transforming how we use data and AI. Specifically, we fund:
- Collaborative innovation between academia, industry, and the public sector.
- A skills and training programme designed to increase the talent pool in Scotland.
- Community building events to promote data science in Scotland.
Our remit is to work across Scotland and, in addition to our main office in Edinburgh, we have offices in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
For more information, visit The Data Lab website (opens a new browser tab).
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