Job Description

Head of Innovation Partnerships - Lead the Future of Commercial Innovation

6-Month Interim Contract (with strong potential to become permanent)

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for turning cutting-edge research into real-world impact? We're looking for an experienced

Head of Innovation Partnerships

to drive commercialisation, IP management, and transformative business development. This pivotal role offers the chance to shape innovation strategies, forge powerful partnerships, and accelerate the journey from groundbreaking science to market-ready solutions.

Why This Role?

This is an exciting time to join--a period of transformation where innovation meets opportunity. You'll lead the commercialisation of pioneering scientific expertise, building pathways that deliver

environmental impact

,

economic growth

, and

game-changing technologies

.

From

licensing and IP management

to

industry collaborations, joint ventures, and social enterprise creation

, your work will ensure cutting-edge research finds its way into the hands of those who can use it to make a difference.

Your Mission

As the Head of Innovation Partnerships, you'll provide

strategic leadership

and drive initiatives that:

Transform research into market-ready products and services

, generating income and informing future research directions. Lead commercial innovation across

environmental data intelligence, environmental forensics, and environmental sensing

. Build a strong culture of innovation, connecting researchers, businesses, and stakeholders into a vibrant ecosystem of opportunity. Develop and execute strategic business plans for commercial ventures, ensuring growth, sustainability, and measurable impact. Implement and manage a

Commercial Innovation Fund

, leveraging private-sector investment to strengthen the innovation pipeline. Oversee IP and licensing functions, ensuring the successful dissemination, exploitation, and protection of intellectual property. Mentor and support teams, building capability and confidence across innovation functions. Engage with stakeholders at the highest levels--across governments, industries (water, finance, technology), and NGOs--forming partnerships that drive progress.
While day-to-day management is handled by team leads, you'll focus on

strategic direction, partnership building

, and driving commercial outcomes.

What We're Looking For

We need a

visionary leader

who combines commercial acumen with a passion for innovation. You'll bring:

Advanced qualifications or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field Proven expertise in

commercial opportunity development

and

IP management

within research-intensive or consulting environments Experience in

social enterprise

,

spin-out creation

, or

joint venture development

(highly desirable) A strong track record of negotiating technology exploitation agreements and maximizing ROI Extensive experience collaborating with researchers and innovators to translate science into commercial value A robust network and the ability to leverage relationships across sectors Strong leadership skills, with the ability to coach and empower teams Demonstrated success in managing large-scale partnerships across academia, industry, and public sectors Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and reporting skills

Why This Opportunity?

This

interim position

is more than a stopgap--it's a chance to

shape the future direction

of a growing commercial innovation function. The role is expected to evolve into a

permanent leadership position

, offering significant scope for influence, growth, and long-term impact.

If you have the drive to turn innovative research into

real-world solutions

and the leadership to build strategic partnerships that make it happen, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 6 months

Pay: 65,000.00-70,000.00 per year

Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Head-Wallingford