Partnerships and Innovation Manager

Who we are

UniServices is a wholly owned company of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, that directly supports the University's ambition to be a global powerhouse of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

We achieve this through:

• Growing Research: We help researchers turn innovative ideas into impactful outcomes by identifying new market opportunities, building partnerships with industry and government, and securing funding opportunities to support the translation of knowledge to impact.
• Investing and Partnering: We manage the University of Auckland Inventors' Fund, a $40 million pre-seed and seed investment fund that works to transform University research into high-growth global companies.
• Commercialising and protecting ideas: We help researchers disclose and protect their ideas, start companies or license their technology. We help fledgling companies refine their business plans, access start-up capital and grow.

Strategic Growth Team

The Strategic Growth teams' drives growth and commercialisation of research at the University of Auckland, actively supporting the University's ambition to be a global powerhouse of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

The Partnerships & Innovation Team, a key part of the Strategic Growth function, collaborates with the University of Auckland's academic and research staff to identify, develop and scale research opportunities. This team works closely with government and industry partners to translate research into impactful outcomes, fostering connections between industry and academics, shaping a robust pipeline of ideas and opportunities, and aligning them with market needs and opportunities.

• Profile innovation and secure new research funding
• Portfolio: Optimal performance and health across the life course
• Develop leads and opportunities that support the translation of innovation to impact

The opportunity

We seek an action-oriented individual for this permanent, full-time role.  The primary focus is to grow relationships and revenue through engagement with industry and government partners.  To identify and respond to emerging research and service needs; and engaging with the faculties staff and researchers at the University of Auckland, to profile innovation and secure new research funding. Expertise in knowledge of Optimal performance and health across the life course would be advantageous but not essential.

Key responsibilities:

Connect Internally & Externally:

• Lead Departmental and Principal Investigator engagement
• Understand the University's capability and capacity, and articulate the value proposition to potential partners
• Scale the pipeline of ideas and talent within your designated sector
• Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders and connectivity with the assigned sector.
• Leverage market insights and relationships with industry and government partners to identify innovative solutions to address real-world challenges.
• Develop and execute client plans for designated or assigned areas of responsibility.

Transform & Accelerate Ideas to Funding:

• Connect industry needs with university ideas, talent, and facilities.
• Develop and articulate value Propositions of University of Auckland projects and engagement to potential partners.

Diversify Funding Sources and Talent:

• Increase the proportion of funding from diverse external sources. Primarily industry and international.
• Help new principal investigators and early career researchers expand their partnerships with industry and government and secure funded projects.

Grow Research Revenue:

• Use sector knowledge and connections to create and manage a pipeline of projects that align with industry needs and opportunities. Drive forward individual and PI-Led opportunities to generate new externally funded projects ($2-3 million annually).
• Contribute to cross team opportunities and projects to ensure their success.
• Identify, evaluate and develop new areas for potential growth.

Your skills and experience:

This is not an entry-level position. You will:

• Have a proven track record in business development and relationship management and can point to examples of your success at navigating the complexities within the private sector, public sector and ideally academia.
• Together with your commercial acumen, strong stakeholder management and ability to act as a trusted advisor, will put you in good stead for this role.
• Be adept at bringing together multiple stakeholders and unfased by uncertainties occasionally associated with operating in this sector.

Only applicants with the right to work in New Zealand will be considered.

Great benefits, including 5 weeks annual leave, up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme, eye-testing & glasses subsidies, access to discounts on health insurance & gym memberships, and long-service recognition.  We provide a culturally diverse team and supportive workplace with a blended approach to office and home-based work.  We offer flexible working arrangements and are committed to your ongoing professional development.

The Position Description can be found on the link below.

Please submit your application by 23 October Note we may interview prior to the close date.

Honoa te tangata ki te tangata, te tangata ki te taiao, te tangata ki te rangahau, rangahaua ki whai hua.

(Linking people to people, people to the world around us, people to research, research that brings ideas to life.)