Cambridge Enterprise
Senior Academic Relations Manager
🇬🇧Cambridge, England, United Kingdom3 months ago
From £58,000SeniorFull Time
West Cambridge | From £58,000 | Full-time, permanent
Hybrid role (3 days per week in Cambridge)
Want to turn world-changing research into world-changing impact?
Cambridge Enterprise is looking for someone who can open doors, spark conversations, and help brilliant researchers see the commercial potential in their work. If you can walk into a lab, understand the science, and show academics how their discoveries could change lives - whilst building genuine relationships across one of the world's leading universities - this role is for you
Picture this: you're the bridge between groundbreaking research and real-world impact. One day you're running an energising event that gets a room full of academics excited about commercialisation. The next, you're the friendly first contact for a researcher who's just had a lightbulb moment about their work's potential. You'll become the go-to person across departments - the one who understands both the science and the business, who can explain complex IP concepts over coffee and help shape how Cambridge's innovations reach the world.
You'll have genuine autonomy to design and deliver outreach programmes that work, using data to refine your approach. You'll collaborate with commercialisation experts, work across the entire Cambridge entrepreneurship ecosystem, and see tangible results from your efforts - more high-quality disclosures, stronger relationships, and researchers who understand how to maximise their impact. About 80% of your time will be dedicated to this outreach mission, with the remaining 20% supporting specific commercialisation cases throughout their lifecycle. It's varied, intellectually stimulating, and genuinely meaningful work.
A PhD in a relevant scientific field (or equivalent industry experience) - you need the credibility to talk science with researchers
Proven networking ability across academia with a track record of building influential relationships in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
Demonstrable success in outreach, engagement, sales, or marketing programmes with tangible results
Strong communication skills - you can engage effectively with everyone from PhD students to Heads of Department
Analytical thinking - you'll use data to continuously improve how you work
Commercial experience, ideally in technical sales or marketing
Genuine interest in technology transfer and how innovation creates real-world change
An understanding of confidentiality requirements when working with third parties
These are our ideal requirements, but we know some people are less likely to apply for the role unless they are 100% qualified. At Cambridge Enterprise, we promote a diverse, inclusive and empowering culture, so please apply if you meet the majority of the job requirements.
If you have any questions about the interview process, or if you need any reasonable adjustments, please don’t hesitate to contact us at people@enterprise.cam.ac.uk
We are at the heart of Europe's most successful research and technology cluster and we're on a mission to bring innovation to life, making a difference to society, the UK economy, and the University of Cambridge. We connect the innovative minds of the University’s academics with the funding, start-up expertise and commercial relationships they need to help their ideas thrive.
30 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
Class-leading Bupa private medical insurance
Hybrid role with genuine flexible working – including work from abroad for up to 30 days a year in most roles
Generous University pension scheme
A commitment to personal development including LinkedIn learning
Family-friendly policies (including enhanced parental leave & childcare benefits, fertility leave, and pregnancy loss leave)
Mental health and well-being support including access to free counselling
Access to Bupa’s Menopause Plan for expert advice and support
Retail and travel discounts
Closing date: 22 March (midnight)
First interviews: w/c 6 April (online)
Final interviews: w/c 13 April (in-person)
If we get a strong response, we may close the role a little earlier than planned. This could mean the timelines or key dates shift slightly, so we’d recommend applying soon.