Overview
RPI supports agreed University, Faculty and School priorities for research and innovation: income generation, research excellence, PGR experience, partnership development and knowledge exchange leading to income and/or impact and commercialisation of IP and student enterprise. Our focus is on delivering professional, value-add advice and support to our community of researchers and innovators. We are a well-connected team which understands the priorities of the organisation and our external stakeholders and customers and the external environment in which we operate. Team members collaborate, reflect, develop their skills and have a risk-appropriate mindset of continuous improvement to our processes, policy and approach.
You will be responsible for developing and delivering our Commercialisation Journey, a high-quality programme designed to empower researchers to explore the commercial potential of their work and potentially create spin-out companies, intellectual property licences or social enterprises.
You will be key to the University’s research and innovation strategy, contributing to job creation, impactful research, and regional economic growth. You will provide comprehensive support to innovators through dedicated one-on-one guidance and co-delivery of our training programs. You will support innovators to access funding, mentorship and valuable market research resources on their journey from idea generation to launching their commercial ventures. You will also lead commercial negotiations with third parties relating to intellectual property licences.
You will have excellent professional development opportunities. Previous members of the team have become spin-out founders themselves, joined investment companies or secured internal promotion.
Main duties and responsibilities
Lead activities relating to the Commercialisation Journey for a range of opportunities.
Line management of other members of the commercialisation team.
Provide guidance, training, coaching & mentorship to engineers embarking on the Commercialisation Journey.
Deliver Commercialisation Journey training to individual teams and cohorts, proactively maintaining training materials.
Develop and utilise commercial and technical knowledge to support innovators to translate their research discoveries into value propositions with market fit.
Lead commercial negotiations relating to IP-licences, investment terms and shareholder rights while drawing on the experience of internal and external professional services.
Oversee and be accountable for accurate record keeping in internal databases and systems for the purposes of project management and annual reporting (national and funder-specific).
Project manage high-value commercialisation opportunities, particularly IP-licences, where no entrepreneurial-lead can be identified from within the research team.
Support innovators to secure internal and external funding. Monitor budgets, ensure spend occurs to schedule and contribute forecasts to the annual budgeting process.
Report on the portfolio; lead bids to our internal investment committee.
Take responsibility for ensuring that adequate due diligence is undertaken on projects with respect to IP-ownership, historic funding, third party rights and regulatory compliance.
Identify improvements to the Commercialisation Journey through regular review of materials and develop team priorities in alignment with the faculty innovation plans.
Think strategically about the engineering intellectual property portfolio and justify decisions relating to patent protection. Develop expertise in common engineering IP strategies.
Support innovators through external pre-accelerator and accelerator programmes.
Promote the Commercialisation Journey as a mechanism for delivering impact from academic research to continue to build a culture of ambition and entrepreneurial motivation within the University.
Provide advice on innovation and commercialisation strategies.
Contribute to or lead the development of relevant university policies.
Support our partnership with Northern Gritstone by establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with investment directors and other staff.
Represent Sheffield in professional fora and share best practice with other institutions through formal and informal means.
Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Clear enthusiasm for commercialisation of academic research outputs and a motivation to build new products and services
Experience of undertaking technical research in Engineering or Physical Sciences, preferably to postgraduate (or equivalent) level
Experience of using market discovery methods to successfully identify and adapt value propositions based on new technologies
Demonstrate solid understanding of capturing value through identifying and securing intellectual property rights
Experience of leading successful commercial negotiations, preferably in establishing new businesses, securing investment or IP licensing
Provide examples of using initiative and taking ownership of tasks
Proven ability to manage a diverse portfolio of projects effectively
Ability to conduct independent research (technical, market, commercial) to inform decision-making and refine plans
Experience of working effectively with external experts (legal, financial) to achieve optimal outcomes
A proven track record of developing and delivering engaging and informative training programs
Previous experience in a leadership position within a start-up, spin out or small business
Detailed understanding of commercialisation methods applied in an academic environment
Further Information
£48,822 - £58,225. Potential to progress to £65,509 through sustained exceptional contribution
Head of Commercialisation
None at this time, with potential future line management responsibility
If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
For informal enquiries about this job contact Andy Hogben, Head of Commercialisation, on
[email protected] Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place between 6th - 8th October 2026. This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 28th September. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact the recruiting manager: Andy Hogben at
[email protected]Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().
What we offer
A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
Generous pension scheme.
A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
A range of generous family-friendly policies
paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
access to menopause support in the workplace
paid time off and support for fertility treatment
and more
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Baseline personnel security standard
This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.
