About this job

At the Catapult, we Innovate for a Better World Empowered by Satellites and as our new Knowledge Exchange Manager, you will play an integral part in the Partnerships and Engagement team, focused on building strategic relationships between the Catapult, and our network of businesses, academic and research institutions, both in the UK and internationally.

One of the key roles in the Partnerships and Engagement team is to build strategic relationships between the Catapult, and our network of businesses, with academic and research institutions, in the UK and internationally. These reciprocal relationships enable future opportunities for commercial satellite and space applications and technology to be created, by communicating business and end user needs to the scientific research base. Equally, it is key to understand and map the latest research and developments from within the academic base. We can then connect the research with businesses and build collaborations to take new ideas forward.

As Knowledge Exchange Manager you will work within the Partnerships and Engagement team and be responsible for identifying, selecting and deploying a wide variety of Knowledge Exchange (KE) mechanisms, networking and research coordination mechanisms, to build collaborations between the Catapult, our business network, and external academic and research organisations across the UK and Internationally.

Responsibilities

Knowledge Exchange (KE):

• Managing and coordinating the Catapult interface with a wide variety of KE partners, including Universities in the UK and Internationally.
• Develop bespoke KE offerings for the Catapult’s Value Streams.
• Develop excellent working relationships with technology transfer, business development and knowledge exchange offices within research institutions.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure that projects include an appropriate academic partner.
• Scoping opportunities for collaborative bids and projects.
• Develop and build knowledge of world leading academic expertise across the UK aligned with the Catapult value streams.
• Maintain the Catapult’s strategic partnerships with Universities.
• Grow the KE Fellowship and Researchers in Residence programmes.
• Maintain and develop good relationships with other research and technology organisations in the public and private sectors.
• Organising workshops and events with stakeholders against clearly defined themes and managed outcomes and actions as appropriate.
• Work with university partners to support Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, PhD and Masters level students across the UK.
• Coordinate the delivery of bilateral training courses with university partners.
• Work with internal teams and UK Space Agency to understand, define and translate skills needs of businesses to the research base.
• Support the STEM activities of the Catapult (through developing a coordinated programme of support.
• Strengthen Catapult interface with UKRI, Innovate and other Catapult knowledge exchange teams.
• Manage contract negotiations with universities.
• Support the delivery of the Catapult Centres of Excellence network and Regional Engagement Programmes.
• Support the Business Engagement team as required.

Reporting and Communications:

Lead the management of KE Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to enable regular reporting to demonstrate the success of the KE activities. Ensure maximum impact upon the economy and society from the Catapult’s investments in KE.

• Produce reports and generate KE case studies on a regular basis.
• Website development for KE programmes to include an active contribution to a KE discussion forum.
• Writing and contributing to newsletters and blogs.

Profile

Required Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience of delivering a wide range of knowledge exchange activities.
• Experience of building and managing relationships with the research/science base.
• An ability in building and shaping an environment where academia and industry work effectively together delivering innovation.
• A good understanding of the relationship between innovation, development and economic growth.
• Ability to foster an innovative culture, encouraging non-standard thinking, promoting learning and avoiding short-termism.
• Ability to stimulate commercial innovation in the universities and research institutes.
• Knowledge of relevant UK and European government departments and agencies (UKSA, ESA, Innovate UK, UKRI etc.).
• A high level of individual drive and ambition and an ability to build long term relationships.
• Proven ability to analyse and present clearly complex information.

Desired experience:

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Existing relationships with the research/science base.
• Experience of successful delivery of ‘open innovation’ programmes.
• Experienced collaborative grant agreement contracts.
• Experience of internship programmes.
• Workshop organisation and facilitation.
• Knowledge and experience of the satellite applications sector.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an enthusiastic individual, seeking a challenging role to foster new collaborations between academia and businesses and to support the economic growth of the satellite applications sector.