Job Description

Head of Enterprise & Commercialisation / Professor of Creative Industries CoSTAR National R&D Lab / StoryFutures
Story Futures Strategic Business Unit
Location
Egham
Salary
74,753 to 109,453 per annum pro rata - including London Allowance
Part time
Post Type
Part Time
Hours per Week
21
Weeks per Year
52
Closing Date
23.59 hours BST on Friday 29 August 2025
Reference
0825-182
Right to work: Please note that it will not be possible for the University to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the successful candidate for this position. Therefore, the appointable candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK or have leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with the University, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
Part-Time, Permanent (3 days a week)
The Role:
This is a key role in leading the strategy, vision and delivery on Enterprise and Commercialisation for the flagship CoSTAR National R&D Lab, overseeing the delivery of programmes across the CoSTAR Network. This is an exciting role in shaping the future growth of the UK creative industries through inclusive innovation. The successful applicant will be appointed as a Professor of Creative Industries at Royal Holloway, University of London to deliver the role of Head of Enterprise and Commercialisation for the CoSTAR National Lab.
The Head of Enterprise & Commercialisation (E&C) will pioneer new programmes to support creative technology business growth across different life stages of companies' growth cycles. As Head of E&C, this role will work across the CoSTAR Network brokering collaborations and shared delivering of programmes with the Realtime, Screen, Live and Foresight Labs. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring E&C programmes are seen as industry-leading and align with the strategic priorities of the CoSTAR National Lab. They will foster a dynamic culture of entrepreneurialism and industry impact from within the National Lab and promote the Lab to industry as a space for de-risking innovation, accessing cutting edge technologies and world-leading research. They will work closely with the Lab Directors and Leadership to translate research and infrastructure into growth opportunities for the creative sector.
As a Professorial post, the successful candidate is expected to have significant standing in the Creative Industries, regarded as a leader in an identified field with clearly identifiable impact on the development of the sector. The post-holder will need to have an extensive network of creative industries contacts, spanning creative technologies, producers and content-makers as well as policymakers, finance and investment as well as other funders. They will need to have a good understanding of research funding and a record of promoting knowledge exchange between industry and academia (and vice versa). The professorial post is a substantive post at the University, with the Head of E&C role a 3-year renewable by mutual agreement.
About the National R&D Lab:
The CoSTAR National Lab is the largest ever investment in creative industries R&D by UKRI. A 51.1m programme led by Royal Holloway, University of London to develop a National R&D Lab to ensure the UK's screen and performance sectors have the innovation, infrastructure, skills, and expertise needed to compete globally. The National R&D Lab will place Equality, Diversity, and Environmental Sustainability at the heart of all we do: from our team culture to the research programmes we run, to how we collaborate with partners.
Our Lab will include dedicated Stage and Studio space at Pinewood Studios, advanced creative computing technologies including AI, virtual production, and 5G systems. Our consortium brings together world-leading research teams at Royal Holloway, University of Surrey, Abertay University; and National Film & Television School. Our industry partners include BT and Disguise, whose systems power some of the world's biggest live shows.
What You Will Be Doing:

• Iterate, develop, implement and deliver National Lab Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation strategy, reviewing our approach as we deliver against milestones and KPIs
• Devising workshops, programmes and events that support a creative industries approach to Enterprise and Commercialisation
• Liaising with industry to disseminate and network best practice from National Lab programmes
• Develop, manage and engage with a diverse array of stakeholders across academia, creative technology companies, research organizations, and creative practitioners.

You Should Apply If You:

• Can demonstrate excellent leadership and delivery of Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation strategy for the creative industries - working either from within industry, government or higher education.
• Have a passion for growing creative industries through inclusive innovation and a demonstrable interest in emerging technologies such as XR and AI.
• Have a positive 'can do' and creative problem-solving approach, able to juggle multiple stakeholders demands to produce compelling results.
• An ability to work with cross-functional management and with multidisciplinary teams

In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing.
• Free parking

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the University is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London, however, there is an expectation of significant working time at the CoSTAR National Lab based at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact James Bennett on
For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at:
Please quote the reference: 0825-182
Closing Date: 23:59, 29 August 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake a formal interview, meetings with CoSTAR Staff and deliver a presentation on their vision and strategy for Enterprise & Commercialisation programmes at the National Lab.
Candidates should prepare a 10 minute presentation to set out their vision for how to take the Enterprise & Commercialisation programme forward.
Shortlisted candidates will be provided with KPIs for the programme to help structure their thinking in advance of the interview date. Further details: