Commercial Assistant Manager

£38,285 to £45,738 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £52,605 per annum)

Hybrid

We are seeking a Commercial Assistant Manager to join our Business Engagement and Employability department on a 12-month fixed‑term basis. This is a key role supporting the University’s Knowledge Exchange ambitions, with responsibility for two strategic portfolios: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and Research Commercialisation (spin‑outs and IP licensing). The main purpose of the role is to facilitate the successful delivery, growth and governance of these portfolios by developing contractual agreements, supporting collaboration between academic and external partners, and ensuring high‑quality project management and stakeholder engagement across a complex and fast‑paced environment.

Anticipated interview date: Wednesday 12th August 2026

You will act as a central point of contact for KTP projects, working closely with company partners, academic staff, KTP Associates, Innovate UK and other stakeholders to deliver an efficient, professional and customer‑focused support service. Alongside this, you will play a pivotal role in progressing the University’s intellectual property pipeline, supporting opportunities through to spin‑out formation or licensing agreements, and contributing to REF and KEF outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Support the continual development, improvement and implementation of processes and systems, and be able to take a lead on new initiatives. You will work closely with the current KTP Team, the wider Research & Knowledge Exchange team and colleagues across the University.
• Represent the University of Derby at KTP Local Management Committee meetings at company partner premises, delivering a high quality, professional support service to project stakeholders. The role will therefore demand travel to company partners within the UK. Occasional work outside of your normal working hours may be required.
• Support and guide a growing pipeline of IP‑based commercialisation opportunities across the University.
• Coordinate IP and IPR expert guidance from inside and outside the University.
• Work closely with academic, business and professional teams to ensure successful commercialisation of a pipeline of IP based opportunities process.
• Working with Legal Services, facilitate the development of contractual agreements for the successful management of the KTP and Research Commercialisation portfolios.
• Working with the Compliance and Monitoring Team to enable effective monitoring, reporting and evaluation of activity.
• Client relationship management, including the promotion of the University’s portfolio of business engagement activities which may include academic enterprise, innovation, applied research and employer engagement when working with organisations.
• Develop a broad range of materials for continuous improvement of the internal processes to improve the experience of internal and external stakeholders.
• Evaluation of existing processes to identify bottlenecks and overcome operational boundaries to rapid progression of key portfolio activities.
• Any other duties consistent with the nature and grading of the role as agreed.
• Qualified to degree level or comparable knowledge gained through professional experience.

Experience

• Relevant experience of the collaborative Research and Development (R&D) funding landscape, including the role of organisations such as Innovate UK.
• Experience and understanding of the submission processes used by Universities and funders.
• Experience of coordinating collaborative work.
• Relevant experience in a senior administrator role working in a busy office environment.
• Experience of self‑direction and ability to use own initiative.
• Experience of working in a role involving strict deadlines.

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Understanding of the Knowledge Exchange agenda and its relevance to the three key missions of Universities (teaching, research and Business and Community Engagement).
• Excellent communication skills including writing reports, making presentations and negotiating with customers.
• Highly organised, excellent time management and organisational skills, attention to detail.
• Well‑developed ICT skills particularly MS365 applications.
• Willingness to develop skills and capabilities aligned to the role.
• Excellent relationship builder.
• Willingness to engage and influence at all levels of an organisation.
• Inspirational, innovative and ready to make an instant impact within the team.
• Knowledge and experience of completing risk assessments and monitoring of commercial projects.
• Ability to successfully multitask with a large number of ongoing projects at different stages as well as demonstrate organisational and time‑management skills working efficiently to strict deadlines.

Business requirements

• Willingness to work flexibly and be responsive to business needs and client expectations (i.e. to attend breakfast meetings, evening dinners, with prior notice).
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University and external sites (including travel across the UK) in a cost‑effective and timely manner.
• Willingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends).

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of working with a range of private and public sector employers.
• Experience of coordinating an Intellectual Property Portfolio.
• Experience of business startups, scale‑up finance and research commercialisation.
• Experience of working with legal teams to progress contracts and new ventures.
• Experience of costing/pricing projects, including on a Full Economic Cost and commercial basis.
• Knowledge and experience of completing risk assessments and monitoring of commercial projects.
• Experience of working in the Higher Education sector.
• Business development and client relationship management experience, including use of Customer Relationship Management software.
• Relevant experience in administering the implementation and auditing of quality management systems.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata).
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers.
• Discounted onsite gym.
• Holiday purchase.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• A flexible working environment.
• A commitment to personal and professional development.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Sophie Beer, Knowledge Exchange Manager via s.beer@derby.ac.uk.

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title ‘Mx’. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University’s strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University’s objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Apply today to invest in your career with University of Derby.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody’s concern.

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