Join to apply for the Head of Innovation role at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

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Join to apply for the Head of Innovation role at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) provided pay range

This range is provided by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Full or part-time considered (0.6 FTE)

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for innovation and impact?

UKCEH is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Innovation Partnerships to lead our commercialisation and IP function on a 6-month interim basis. This pivotal role will drive business planning, development and risk management, while playing a key part in shaping and supporting UKCEH’s wider research and innovation strategy.

As Head of Innovation Partnerships, you’ll lead the commercialisation of UKCEH’s scientific expertise through UKCEH Enterprise Ltd, our wholly owned trading subsidiary—accelerating the real-world application of cutting-edge research to deliver environmental impact, drive economic growth, and strengthen UKCEH’s competitive edge. Your work will ensure our science remains at the cutting edge, delivering innovations that meet commercial needs, generate income, and inform future research directions. By translating research into market-ready products and services, you’ll help shape pioneering tools and solutions, reinvest in UKCEH’s capabilities, and create the headroom to do what others can’t.

• Information product licensing
• Industry research and development contracts
• Science equipment sales & rentals and associated data and interpretation services
• Cutting edge contaminant analytical services and methodology development
• on social enterprise, spin-out and joint-venture creation
• Researcher industrial consultancy

Management and day-to-day leadership of the function sits with the respective team managers, allowing you to focus on providing strategic leadership, coordination, and drive for commercial innovation across the organisation. You’ll help develop and leverage strategic partnerships and conducting business development with a wide range of key stakeholders across UK and international Governments, diverse private sectors spanning water, finance and technology industries as well as a myriad of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Lead UKCEH commercial innovation, from development to exploitation, across UKCEH’s innovation pathways:
• Environmental Forensics
• Strengthen UKCEH’s innovation capabilities and culture, establishing a vibrant innovation community within and beyond UKCEH, from networks to formalised innovation partnerships.
• Working in concert with Director of Partnerships & Impact, develop and implement the UKCEH Enterprise, a wholly-owned trading subsidiary, strategic business plan.
• Develop, deliver and report progress to the UKCEH Enterprise Board against an annual plan for commercial innovation, budget and routine management accounts.
• Implement UKCEH Commercial Innovation Fund to strengthen UKCEH’s commercial innovation pipeline, leveraging private sector co-investment and opportunity development, and inform UKCEH innovation grant proposals.
• Working in concert across the Impact & innovation Directorate, integrate and coordinate commercial innovation day-to-day activities across IP & Commercialisation in partnership with Communications & Engagement, Business Partnerships & Development and Research Development & Impact Functions.
• Overarching responsibility for the Licensing and IP service, line managing the Licensing & IP Manager, encompassing non-commercial and commercial dissemination and exploitation of UKCEH IP, and in-licensing 3rd party IP to facilitate world-class research and innovation.
• Support the development of policies, services, staff and researcher engagement within the context of the Function and commercial innovation, through mentoring, training, provision of legal advice and strategic direction.
• Contribute to leadership of UKCEH at a senior level and deliver other duties commensurate with seniority of position as requested by the Director of Impact & Innovation.

In addition, you’ll also play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of UKCEH Enterprise Ltd, contributing to the development of a refreshed commercial approach at a particularly exciting and transformative time for the organisation.

While this is initially offered as a six-month interim contract, there is a strong expectation that a permanent role will follow, subject to internal review and future business needs. This interim period offers an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your impact and shape the role as it evolves. For the right candidate, it could lead to a longer-term position with significant scope for influence, growth, and leadership within the organisation.

For the role of Head of Innovation Partnerships, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A relevant advanced-level qualification (e.g. degree level) in a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Experience of commercial opportunity development, including intellectual property (IP) management and exploitation, within research-intensive and/or consulting environments, supported by a rigorous approach to project management.
• Experience in social enterprise, spin-out creation, or joint-venture development would be highly desirable
• Proven success in negotiating technology exploitation agreements and managing post-deal activity to maximise impact and return on investment.
• Extensive experience working closely with researchers and innovators, with a strong understanding of how to translate scientific expertise into commercial opportunities
• A well-established innovation network and a proven ability to build and leverage strategic relationships across sectors
• The ability to lead, coach and support colleagues, helping to build confidence and capability in innovation and commercialisation
• Demonstrable experience in managing large-scale partnerships, ideally across academia, industry, and the public sector
• Strong commercial acumen, with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills - both internally and externally
• Confidence working with contractors and a diverse, multidisciplinary team
• Proficiency in reporting, analysis, and preparing high-quality materials (e.g. dashboards and updates) for governance groups such as the Enterprise Board

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

If you have a passion for innovative business growth, a proven ability in commercialisation, and a commitment to sustainability, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact.

Working for UKCEH is rewarding

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)
• Peer reward and recognition scheme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...

Apply today!

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply by submitting your CV along with a covering letter that highlights any qualifications, skills or experience you believe are relevant to this role.

At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—please don’t hesitate to reach out. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.

Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Contract

Job function

• Job function

  Business Development, Management, and Strategy/Planning

• Industries

  Non-profit Organizations

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