Responsible to: Director of Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology
Reports to: Sector Director
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Working with the Academic Director and other senior academics to clarify and update the unique selling proposition of Africa College and to develop a commercial vision and business plan that will secure the legacy and sustainability of Africa College. This comprises identifying opportunities and translating the Research & Development and technology capability into pragmatic business proposals that can be implemented in sub-saharan Africa. This will include collaboration with the partner organisations in Africa College, as well as other institutions both regionally and nationally, to capture synergies of expertise and/or resources.
Leading and managing the development of an industrial engagement and marketing strategy; engaging with the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs), Technology Strategy Board (TSB), UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and other professional bodies to co-ordinate and align activities to national priorities, establishing knowledge brokering events and activities to catalyse industry partnership and innovation.
Identifying industrial and societal problems where quick-win solutions are possible across the interface of First World commerce and sub-saharan Africa; building the team, identifying funding mechanisms, leading the academic and industrial team to obtain necessary financial support required for development, and delivery of a solution.
Facilitating the development of cross-faculty research teams to deliver research projects, liaising with and influencing key academic players to ensure the effective delivery of research objectives, ensuring effective communication and interaction with industry partners.
Leading the establishment of enterprise training and continuing professional development activities to meet the specific requirements of Africa College initiatives using the capabilities within the University, with input where appropriate from industrial experts.
Using personal industry expertise and experience to help identify, capture and exploit intellectual property; working with the University Research and Enterprise Unit to establish option and licence agreements and spin-out companies.
Establishing the viability of the position beyond 1 year by demonstrating its contribution and a viable business model.
Targets and Performance
Long-term vision
The ultimate indicator of success will be a clear demonstration of positive impact of technology development on people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Significant impact can only be achieved through effective fund-raising and leverage of resources through partnership with industry, community, charities and government. The expression of success for Africa College is predicted to be the establishment of self-sustaining micro-enterprise projects with supporting educational programs that improve the well-being of Sub-Saharan communities while allowing those communities to be independent in the long term.
Specific targets for the part-time post holder in year 1 are;
To clarify and update the unique selling proposition of Africa College.
To develop a vision and business plan.
To identify targets for fund raising and make grant applications.
To engage industry and community/government in the progression of business proposals, collaborative initiatives and grant applications.
To lead and implement (in conjunction with the Food Security SuperHub) enterprise and skills development initiatives in the University and to develop and execute a strategy to share the methods and benefits with partners in Africa College.
Career Expectations
The University of Leeds is committed to developing its staff. All staff participate in the Staff Review and Development scheme and we continue to work with individuals, supporting them to maximise their potential.
Progression to a higher grade is dependent on an individual taking on an increased level of responsibility. Vacancies that arise within the area or across the wider University are advertised on the HR website - http://jobs.leeds.ac.uk - to allow staff to apply for wider career development opportunities.
University Values
All staff are expected to operate in line with the universitys values and standards, which work as an integral part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together. More information about the universitys strategy and values is available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/
Person Specification
Essential
Candidates must be able to demonstrate an appropriate mix of strategic, commercial and knowledge transfer skills. Specifically;
An entrepreneurial mindset, visionary and ambitious.
Industrial experience at a senior level, highly credible with senior directors and board members.
Experience teaching and mentoring enterprise.
Experience establishing international technology-based partnerships in Africa and/or BRIC countries.
An ability to interact effectively with the university research community.
An ability to establish strong collaborative relationships with staff at all levels across a wide range of organisations and build performance based partnerships.
Experience of developing innovation strategies in complex organisations.
Excellent project management skills.
Exceptional presentation and influencing skills.
Experience of building and managing multidisciplinary teams.
Substantive experience of setting and implementing strategy.
Ability to interact with a broad range of stakeholders across the private, public and university sector in the UK and internationally.
Desirable
Extensive experience and knowledge of University innovation best practice.
Operational experience of University Knowledge Exchange activities, particularly in the biotechnology sectors. University of Leeds - 11 months ago
