The University of Sheffield
Commercialisation Manager (Health and Life Sciences)
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The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits and join us to become part of something special.
Overview
RPI supports University, Faculty and School priorities for research and innovation: income generation, research excellence, PGR experience, partnership development and knowledge exchange leading to income, impact and commercialisation of IP. Our focus is on delivering professional, value-add advice and support to the academic community. We are a well-connected team which understands the priorities of the organisation and our external stakeholders and customers and the external environment in which we operate. Team members collaborate, reflect, develop their skills and have a risk-appropriate mindset of continuous improvement to our processes, policy and approach.
You will be an essential part of delivering our Commercialisation Journey, a high-quality programme designed to empower researchers to explore the commercial potential of their work and potentially create spin-out companies, intellectual property licences or social enterprises.
You will be key to the University's strategy, contributing to job creation, impactful research, and regional economic growth. You will provide comprehensive support to innovators through dedicated one-on-one guidance and co-delivery of our training programs. You will support innovators to access funding, mentorship and valuable market research resources on their journey from idea generation to launching their commercial ventures. You will support commercial negotiations with third parties relating to intellectual property licences and will on occasion lead these.
Our dedicated team has a range of technical and commercial experiences and the team collaborates to ensure work is distributed equitably.
You will be supported by the commercialisation team to develop your skills in technical assessment, IP-landscaping, corporate finance and many other areas.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- Provide guidance, training, coaching & mentorship to innovators embarking on the Commercialisation Journey.
- Deliver Commercialisation Journey training to individual teams and cohorts. Maintain and develop training materials in collaboration with other team members.
- Develop and utilise commercial and technical knowledge to support innovators to translate their research discoveries into value propositions with market fit.
- Encourage innovators to undertake high quality market research and discovery and to critically assess their ideas.
- Support commercial negotiations relating to IP-licences, investment terms and shareholder rights while drawing on the experience of internal and external professional services.
- Be accountable for maintaining accurate records in internal databases and systems for the purposes of project management and annual reporting.
- Support innovators to secure internal and external funding and monitor deployment of internal funding.
- Complete project due diligence with respect to IP-ownership, historic funding, third party rights and regulatory compliance under the approval/guidance of senior staff.
- Proactively identify and recommend potential improvements to the Commercialisation Journey and collaborate with the commercialisation team to create new content.
- Support innovators through external pre-accelerator and accelerator programmes.
- Promote and market The Commercialisation Journey as a mechanism for delivering impact from academic research to continue to build a culture of ambition and entrepreneurial motivation within the University.
- Support our partnership with Northern Gritstone by establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with investment directors and other staff.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
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Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential Or Desirable
Stage(s) assessed at
-
Clear enthusiasm for commercialisation of academic research outputs and a motivation to build new products and services
Essential
Application/interview
-
Experience of undertaking health and/or life sciences research, preferably to postgraduate (or equivalent) level
Essential
Application
-
Evidenced ability to prioritise, plan and progress work activities across a diverse project portfolio with competing pressures and demands
Essential
Application/interview
-
Ability to conduct independent research (technical, market, commercial) to inform a position or decision making process
Essential
Application/interview
-
An appreciation of the methods used in identifying and securing intellectual property rights
Essential
Application/interview
-
Examples of using initiative and taking ownership of tasks
Essential
Application/interview
-
A proven track record of delivering engaging and informative training programs
Essential
Application/interview
-
Previous experience of developing technology-rich products within a start-up, spinout or larger business
Desirable
Application/interview
-
Experience of using market discovery methods to successfully identify and adapt value propositions, preferably based on new technologies
Desirable
Application/interview
-
Experience of reading, reviewing or negotiating legal agreements - preferably IP-licences or corporate agreements
Desirable
Application/interview
-
Strong numerical skills, preferably with experience of budgeting and financial management
Desirable
Application
Further Information
Grade
7
Salary
£38,784 - £47,389. Potential to progress to £51,753 through sustained exceptional contribution
Work arrangement
Full-time
Line manager
Commercialisation Lead
Right to work in the UK
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Our website
For informal enquiries about this job contact Andy Hogben, Head of Commercialisation on a.j.hogben@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 1st or 2nd October. This will consist of an interview, a scenario discussion and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 21st September. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact the Head of Commercialisation - Andy Hogben at a.j.hogben@sheffield.ac.uk
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
What We Offer
- A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- access to menopause support in the workplace
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
- More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Baseline personnel security standard
This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.
Closing Date : 15/09/2026
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.
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