Science Innovation Manager
Chemistry
118254
£47,389 - £59,966 pa
24-Nov-2026 23:30
Hours of work: Full-time - 35 hours per week
Tenure: Fixed term for 2 years
NBIC-LIVE is a flagship project at the University of Liverpool and is funded via UKRI’s Local Innovation Partnership Funding (LIPF) programme. NBIC-LIVE will establish an international Open Innovation Centre of Excellence on Antimicrobial Surfaces and Biofilm Technologies within the Liverpool City Region (LCR) to help deliver the Metro Mayor's vision for innovation led growth in the region.
Possessing excellent technical knowledge and leadership skills, the Science Innovation Manager will be responsible for leading, managing and coordinating NBIC-LIVE's innovation projects, skills-training and outreach functions, by driving strategic collaborations with a wide range of organisations from multi-national companies through to small and medium sized entities (SMEs).
You will be responsible for translating industry needs into technically robust, commercially viable innovation projects for the NBIC-LIVE programme. Working at the interface of science and business, the post holder will develop customer relationships, shape technical innovation opportunities, connect companies with NBIC-LIVE's specialist expertise and facilities, and oversee projects from initial enquiry through scoping, contracting, delivery and close-out.
The role will build a strong understanding of priority regional clusters, industry requirements and unmet technical needs across LCR regional companies. It will convert these insights into an active pipeline of collaborative R&D, testing, consultancy and facility-access projects, while supporting the long-term sustainability of NBIC-LIVE.
You will have leadership and decision-making skills and will lead a number of activities including: regional technical-commercial engagement; run challenge workshops and sector-scoping activities; commission projects accessing NBIC-LIVE equipment and technical services; and coordinate industry position papers that articulate market needs, capability gaps and opportunities for intervention. You will work closely with academic leads, technical specialists, project officers, professional services and external partners to ensure that proposed solutions are feasible, costed and deliverable.
You will be responsible for the technical oversight and customer focus of the innovation pipeline, including creating statements of work, technical resource planning, project risk, quality of deliverables and timely technical sign-off.
This position will suit an individual with a strong scientific background and demonstrable experience in technical sales, commercial management, company engagement and delivery of collaborative academic-industry innovation. You must be credible with senior industrial customers and academics, able to communicate complex technical concepts clearly, and comfortable moving between market analysis, commercial negotiation, facilities planning and practical project delivery.
You will be expected to display an excellent level of personal initiative, judgement and responsibility and have the ability to work effectively with other members of the team and collaborators.
This is a full-time office-based job, working as an integral part of a team based at the University of Liverpool campus. You must be willing to work non-standard hours as reasonably required to fulfil the role (e.g. out of hours meetings offsite, conference calls with overseas partners).
Willingness to travel on business in the UK and overseas.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
