Business Development Executive (The National Robotarium)

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.
Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

About our Team

The Business and Enterprise Directorate's vision is to shape a better future through collaborative industry partnerships and start-up facilitation, fostering a culture that promotes and celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship whilst growing a globally connected ecosystem that delivers significant value to our students, staff, partners and communities. By achieving this vision, we can unlock new opportunities for revenue generation and economic impact.

Business and Enterprise aims to drive new opportunities and outcomes aligned to the University's Strategy 2025 by providing the highest quality business development and commercialisation support that enables Heriot-Watt to build on its research strength and unlock new opportunities, funding and investment irrespective of geographical location.

Detailed Description

The appointment will be at Grade: 8, Salary: £43,414 : £51.805.

The Business Development Manager (Robotics, AI and Enabling Technologies) is a full-time role within Heriot-Watt University and will play a significant role in the development and growth of industry engagement, predominantly focused on R&D partnerships, consultancy, contract research and licensing deals related to the National Robotarium.

Based at Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh campus, the National Robotarium is supported by £21 million from the UK Government, and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. Robotarium will translate cutting-edge research into technologies to create disruptive innovation in an expanding global market, delivering sustainable economic benefit to Edinburgh, the UK and beyond.

The role holder will be responsible for growing a pipeline of opportunities, closing deals and managing relationships with key industry accounts. This is an exciting opportunity, where the role-holder will have the ability to shape the future direction of industry engagement across the University drive new revenue streams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Proactively driving business development and account management relating to R&D partnerships, consultancy and/or licensing activity aligned to robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
• Leading engagement with existing and potential industry partners, building relationships that lead to long-term value creation
• Cultivating high-impact opportunities in collaboration with leading academic groups across the University to identify and secure new income streams
• Management of the ‘sales funnel' and relevant support processes including CRM (Salesforce)
• Develop and maintain strong technical and commercial awareness of Heriot-Watt's capabilities and expertise in the area of robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Educated to first degree level (or equivalent qualification)

• Strong commercial and technical expertise (preferably in an R&D environment)

• Good at managing resources, workloads and changing priorities

• Demonstrable ability to work within a fast-changing innovation environment

• Proven experience of developing propositions and securing funding agreements

• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills

• Flexible and resilient

Desirable

• Chartered Member of relevant Professional Body

• Experience of universities and/or R&D collaboration

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on 15th March 2023.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.