The University of Manchester
Business Growth & Investment Director
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Business Growth and Investment Director – Cambridge x Manchester
We are seeking a strategic, commercially minded and highly collaborative individual to join the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership as Business Growth and Investment Director. This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in one of the UK's most ambitious innovation partnerships, helping to strengthen the flow of investment, opportunity and collaboration across two globally recognised innovation ecosystems. The role sits at the heart of efforts to drive innovation-led growth, support high-potential businesses and attract investment at scale, while helping to shape a new model of cross-city collaboration for the UK. You will work alongside founders, investors, corporates, academics and public sector partners to identify and unlock opportunities that deliver meaningful economic and societal impact.
You will be responsible for:
- Leading Manchester's business growth and investment activity within the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership, identifying and progressing high-value opportunities that support innovation-led businesses and strengthen the wider ecosystem.
- Developing compelling investment and growth propositions, supporting businesses to access funding, investment and commercial partnership opportunities, and helping to attract inward investment into priority sectors and projects.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships across the innovation ecosystem, working with founders, investors, corporates, academics and public sector partners to drive collaboration and growth.
- Working closely with Cambridge-based colleagues and partners to develop cross-city opportunities that strengthen connectivity between both ecosystems and create impact at scale.
- Leading strategic projects and initiatives, tracking outcomes and helping to shape the future direction of the Partnership in a fast-moving and evolving environment.
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About You
We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:
Essential Criteria:
- Significant experience in innovation, investment, business growth, ecosystem development or commercial partnership roles.
- Strong understanding of the investment landscape, including the needs of startups, scaleups, investors and innovation-led businesses.
- Experience developing and progressing high-value opportunities, partnerships, projects or propositions that support business growth, investment or innovation.
- Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to assess opportunities and operate effectively in complex environments.
- Excellent relationship-building, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage credibly with senior audiences across multiple sectors.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience working with or supporting startups and SMEs within sectors aligned to the Partnership's priorities.
- Experience working across university, civic, public sector, investor or corporate environments.
- Experience developing or delivering inward investment, innovation partnership or ecosystem-building activity.
- Experience working across geographically distributed or multi-partner teams and initiatives.
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Our benefits include:
- Generous employer contribution pension
- 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
- Ride to work and EV car scheme available
For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.
We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.
Enquiries About The Role, Shortlisting And Interviews
Name: Talent Attraction
Email: talent.attraction@manchester.ac.uk
General enquiries and administrative support
recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk
Technical and job portal support
https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home
Applications close at midnight on the closing date.
Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.
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