Spin-out Development Manager

The successful candidate will help develop an emerging pipeline of new spinout opportunities, to the point that they are validated, investment ready, and established. The Team have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of spinout processes and best practice and the Spinout Development Manager will have the opportunity to contribute to the implementation and the further development of UoBE's spinout methodologies.,

• We are looking for a talented, well organised and entrepreneurial individual, with proven experience and ability to develop new spinout companies.


• Reporting to the Senior Spinout Development Manager (SSDM) within the Enterprise Acceleration Team, the successful candidate will help develop an emerging pipeline of new spinout opportunities, to the point that they are validated, investment ready, and established. The Team have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of spinout processes and best practice and the Spinout Development Manager will have the opportunity to contribute to the implementation and the further development of UoBE's spinout methodologies.


Main Duties

Internally facing activities

• To 'project lead' the validation and development of new spinout opportunities, working very closely with the academic inventors. This will involve joining or setting up specific teams around relevant IP commercialisation opportunities (including academics, members of the IP Services team, and potential consultants/management), and leading those teams through the work that shapes and tests the underlying hypotheses around the business idea. The individual will steer, monitor and/or undertake further proof of commercial concept work such as consultation with key stakeholders and opinion leaders.


• To assist in recruiting specialist consultants/early stage management talent and raising proof of concept and other early stage funds or grants from internal and external sources.


• To lead or assist in the authoring of investment ready business plans and presentation pitches in relation to emerging new spinout opportunities, for both internal and external boards.


• To provide the Head of IPaC or SSDM with relevant information necessary to monitor emerging spin-out progress to enable the University to consider opportunities to invest its intellectual property and funds.


• To prepare appropriate reports for any relevant Advisory Boards or Governance Bodies established to monitor progress of emerging spinout opportunities. To prepare/assist with disclosure information (prior to seed investment).


• To assist the Head of IPaC and SSDM in negotiations relating to the formation of spinout companies, working with the University's in-house Legal Services team as appropriate.


• To assist the Enterprise Acceleration Team in further developing the entrepreneurial culture of the University, for example in acting as an internal ambassador in networking events, and participating in seminars and workshops.


• To assist the Reputation and Communications Development Manager in the preparation of case studies which will be used for internal communications and marketing to the academic communities, and for upward reporting.



• To provide technical advice and support from time to time to the HEAT and Equity Manager in relation to spinout portfolio reporting, and investment due diligence (for companies that have already spun out of the University). The role-holder may from time to time (for example during periods of peak activity), take on an existing spinout relationship and reporting role, under the guidance of HEAT and SSDM.
  
  In order to be considered for this exciting role, you will need to show us that you have hands-on experience in developing new companies, preferably in a range of science based sectors. This experience may come through one or more roles such as serial-entrepreneurship, early stage investment, or university/corporate technology transfer.


Individuals should be able to demonstrate competence in the development of realistic and compelling business plans, and ideally experience in supporting raising seed stage investment and/or commercialisation grant funding.,
• Demonstrable hands-on experience in developing new companies, preferably in a range of science based sectors. This experience may come through one or more roles such as serial-entrepreneurship, early stage investment, or university/corporate technology transfer


• Individuals should be able to demonstrate competence in the development of realistic and compelling business plans, and ideally experience in supporting raising seed stage investment and/or commercialisation grant funding.
  
  University of Birmingham Enterprise exists to catalyse the adoption of important innovations, developed by, with or at the University that can change lives for the better. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of the University, providing an end to end service for our academics, enabling their innovative ideas and expertise to be commercialised, typically through licensing, consultancy or through the development, growth and investment in our spinout companies. We also own and manage Birmingham Research Park, where our resident companies obtain support and facilities to help them grow.


Do you want to be part of our growing dynamic team at a prestigious organisation, helping us to create commercial impact?

Can you work closely with world-leading academic inventors to identify, develop, protect, market and commercialise intellectual property arising from their research?

An opportunity has arisen for a talented individual to provide cover for our fabulous Spin-out Development Manager, to develop an emerging pipeline of new spinout opportunities arising from research at the University of Birmingham.

Joining the existing successful team, you will be given full personal responsibility to drive and 'own' cases in our portfolio of spin-out candidates.

The University of Birmingham is one of the most ambitious academic institutions in the UK and is looking to rapidly grow its international reputation.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is really important to us and therefore we want somebody who has an appreciation of these issues and who is able to contribute to and really encourage diverse thinking.