Do you want to be part of a dynamic team at a prestigious organisation, helping us to create commercial impact?
The University of Birmingham is one of the most ambitious institutions in the UK and we are determined to be placed in the global top 50, with investment and strategic plans in place to enable us to achieve our objectives. The University has a portfolio of over 35 spinout companies, with a collective valuation of c. £200m. The University has committed significant additional investment to increase the support provided to the academic community for the translation of their research, and set aside an initial £5m in 2016 for investment in early-stage spinout companies.
We are now seeking talented individuals to fill our Spinout Development Manager and Equity Manager vacancies.
We are looking for a talented, well organised and entrepreneurial individual, with proven experience and ability to develop an emerging pipeline of new spinout opportunities, to the point that they are validated, investment ready, and established. We are seeking someone with demonstrable experience in developing new companies in science-based sectors. The successful candidate could have gained their experience from serial entrepreneurship, early stage investment, or have a technology transfer background.
Duties will include:
• Project managing the validation of new spinout opportunities. This will involve setting up specific teams around relevant commercialisation opportunities, and leading each team through the work that shapes and tests the business idea.
• The individual will steer, monitor and undertake further proof of commercial concept work such as consultation with key stakeholders and opinion leaders, to develop the intellectual assets that are protected by the University to their full commercial potential.
• Assisting in the recruitment of specialist consultants/early stage management talent and raising proof of concept and other early stage funds or grants from internal and external sources.
• Leading the authoring of investment ready business plans and presentation pitches in relation to emerging new spinout opportunities, for both internal and external boards, and pitching emerging opportunities to regional, national and international stakeholders from time to time.
• Assist in negotiations relating to the formation of spinout companies, working with the University’s in-house Legal Services team as appropriate.
In order to be considered for this role you will need to show us that you have a proven track record in developing realistic and compelling business cases, and ideally in seed stage investment and/or grant funding. This is a role that demands excellent interpersonal and communications skills, within and across teams. It also requires great project management skills: you will be conscientious, detail- and goal- oriented, resilient and tenacious with the ability to prioritise workload, to run a number of projects simultaneously, and to ensure that other team members contribute as required and on time.
To see the full job description and to apply for the role, please click here:
For informal inquiries please contact David Coleman, Head of Enterprise Acceleration, d.coleman@bham.ac.uk
Closing date: Monday 18th March 2019.
We are seeking someone with demonstrable experience of working with or in one or more science and technology based commercial organisations at board level, to proactively monitor the performance of our spinout portfolio, identify and assist with issues arising, and manage our investments into companies.
Duties will include:
- Representing the University as a shareholder in its portfolio of established spinout companies. This will involve developing and maintaining close trusting relationships with the spinout portfolio. In addition to acting as a trusted sounding-board for company management, this may involve acting as the University’s appointed Observer or Non-Executive Director from time to time.
- Spreading “best practice” throughout the portfolio, and establishing/fostering a community amongst our spinout companies’ management teams.
- Tracking potential investment opportunities from the portfolio in order to be ready to present investment proposals in a timely and effective manner. The individual will need to carry out due diligence, including consultation with key stakeholders and opinion leaders, as required, in order to develop funding proposals for investment.
- Regular reporting (to a professional fund standard) as required to monitor existing spinout progress, to enable the University to be aware of the value of its assets, and of any opportunity to invest further capital or otherwise assist / intervene. The individual will also be responsible for continuous improvement of the fund management and decision making processes of the University’s Spinout Investment Panel.
- Assisting in the recruitment of management talent and fundraising from external sources.
- To lead and/or assist in negotiations relating to the investment in spinout companies, working with the University’s in-house Legal Services team.
In order to be considered for this role you will need to demonstrate how you have previously identified and dealt with the performance of other companies and boards, as well as experience in developing realistic commercial plans that justify investment. This is a role that demands excellent interpersonal and reporting skills. Preferably, the individual will have experience in negotiating and structuring investment deals.
University of Birmingham Enterprise Limited offers a competitive salary and employment package. Employees are also eligible to use the University’s facilities such as the Sports Centre and Library.
To to find out more, please see the full job description here.
For informal inquiries please contact David Coleman, Head of Enterprise Acceleration, d.coleman@bham.ac.uk
If you are interested in applying for this Equity Manager post please email a 2 page CV together with a 1 page covering letter explaining why you would like to work for University of Birmingham Enterprise and showing how you meet the above job criteria to: s.j.grant@bham.ac.uk . Please quote Reference: EAT-EM in your email title.
Closing date: Monday 18th March 2019
Additional details about the University of Birmingham and its Enterprise activities can be found at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/enterprise