Internal Applicants Only - Strategic Partnerships Manager at Cardiff University
Cardiff University · Cardiff, United Kingdom · Hybrid
- Senior
- Office in Cardiff
Advert
This post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only. Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.
Internal Applicants Only - Strategic Partnerships Manager
The main focus of your role will be to develop, secure and nurture the University’s relationships with external organisations from the private, public and third sectors. Your work will be fully aligned with Cardiff University’s strategy, Our Future Together.
Reporting to the Head of Business Engagement and Partnerships, your home department will be the Research Service. You will work as part of a team alongside colleagues who are already supporting established and emerging partnerships in building a portfolio of prospects at various stages of maturity. You will work collaboratively with senior leaders at the University such as the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, as well as directly with academics and researchers. Within the Research Service you will work closely with staff involved in the management of relationships with research and innovation funding bodies (largely public sector and charities) and with bid developers.
You should be confident and experienced in working effectively with businesses, the public and third sectors and regional partners. This role requires a proactive and ambitious individual with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to forge and maintain mutually beneficial relationships. You will be a strategic thinker who is quick to recognise emerging opportunities and able to manage multiple priorities. You will have the ability to work effectively with others within and exterior to the University, identifying areas of activity which will deliver value for all stakeholders and with the ability to capture these in writing in business cases which are clear and compelling.
The expectation is that the post holder will predominantly be based at Cardiff University. Your work location will be flexible in order to liaise with and support academic staff and researchers and to travel as required in the UK and overseas as necessary in order to spend time with external organisations. You may on occasion be required to work evenings or weekends on a flexible basis when there is a need to attend networking or similar events or otherwise in the course of business.
This is post is full time and fixed term until September 2026
Salary: £51,039 - £55,755 per annum (Grade 7)
Closing Date: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
External applications are currently not being considered for this post. If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Internal Applicants Only - Strategic Partnerships Manager
The main focus of your role will be to develop, secure and nurture the University’s relationships with external organisations from the private, public and third sectors. Your work will be fully aligned with Cardiff University’s strategy, Our Future Together.
Reporting to the Head of Business Engagement and Partnerships, your home department will be the Research Service. You will work as part of a team alongside colleagues who are already supporting established and emerging partnerships in building a portfolio of prospects at various stages of maturity. You will work collaboratively with senior leaders at the University such as the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, as well as directly with academics and researchers. Within the Research Service you will work closely with staff involved in the management of relationships with research and innovation funding bodies (largely public sector and charities) and with bid developers.
You should be confident and experienced in working effectively with businesses, the public and third sectors and regional partners. This role requires a proactive and ambitious individual with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to forge and maintain mutually beneficial relationships. You will be a strategic thinker who is quick to recognise emerging opportunities and able to manage multiple priorities. You will have the ability to work effectively with others within and exterior to the University, identifying areas of activity which will deliver value for all stakeholders and with the ability to capture these in writing in business cases which are clear and compelling.
The expectation is that the post holder will predominantly be based at Cardiff University. Your work location will be flexible in order to liaise with and support academic staff and researchers and to travel as required in the UK and overseas as necessary in order to spend time with external organisations. You may on occasion be required to work evenings or weekends on a flexible basis when there is a need to attend networking or similar events or otherwise in the course of business.
This is post is full time and fixed term until September 2026
Salary: £51,039 - £55,755 per annum (Grade 7)
Closing Date: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
External applications are currently not being considered for this post. If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Job Description
Key Duties
- Provide professional advice and guidance on the development of relationships with external organisations, guiding processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institution wide impact, and advising on the impact of proposals on strategic developments and plans. This includes the ability to work effectively with businesses and other external partners on bids and other activities. In doing so, to work effectively with senior staff in the Research Service, the Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise, College Deans of Research & Innovation and a broad range of academic staff and researchers plus professional services colleagues who manage University activities in relevant areas such as Continuing Professional Development CPD, skills and employability.
- Develop strategy for and provide professional advice and guidance on relationship development and management, including where appropriate the identification and evaluation of prospects and of the portfolio. Liaise with colleagues in other sections of the Research Service and the University more generally in order to ensure that activities are appropriately managed and governed in order to deliver best value for the University.
- Deploy professional customer relationship management principles and practices, including the use of CRM tools to support relationships in an integrated way across the institution. In the case of organisations which are moving towards strategic partner status: Build a detailed knowledge and understanding of the organisation and its strategic objectives; Identify and successfully establish relationships with key figures within the organisation who are senior decision-makers; Identify the full range of products, services, opportunities and relationships across the University that may be of interest to the organisation; Draw together all areas of existing activity and secure buy-in from University colleagues for a partnership development and management approach; Develop knowledge of the sector and research and innovation theme(s) within which the partnership sits and support other priorities in this space; Develop the value proposition for the strategic partnership in line with agreed partnership metrics and other strategic considerations.
- Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within where they fall within set role objectives, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action and ensuring complex and conceptual issues and solutions are understood by the audience
- Plan and deliver projects and activities that have an institution wide impact, managing the operation of project teams as needed, planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required.
- Investigate and analyse specific issues associated with partnership development, creating recommendation reports and economic and other assessments supported by evidence as required.
- Ensure that the provision of appropriate metrics for management reporting, an up to date pipeline of prospects and a process for their prioritisation is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements, contributing to the development of institution wide standards and supporting the development of best practice to inform future activities.
- Establish working relationships with senior staff and all relevant Professional Services departments, academic schools, key research institutes and centres, developing appropriate communication links with these as required.
Salary Range Max.
55,755
Grade
Grade 7
Salary Range Min.
51,039
Job Category
Business / Strategic Management
Additional Information
PERSON SPECIFICATON (continued)
Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria
Cardiff is an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. Our world-leading research was ranked 5th for quality amongst UK universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework and we provide an educationally outstanding experience for our 30,000 students. With an annual budget in excess of £500 million and around 6,000 staff, Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of the 24 leading UK research-intensive universities. The University has 24 academic schools grouped into three colleges: Biomedical & Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering and Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.
The University’s ambition is to rank consistently among the top 100 universities in the world. Cardiff is also developing its Innovation System through a focused programme of investment in people and infrastructure. Research funding secured from competitive, external sources exceeds £100 million annually and the University aims to grow this further through winning grants from a wide range of national and global sources.
Essential Criteria
- Ability to develop internal and external networks in order to deliver strategic outcomes and sustainable benefit, including supporting effective engagement with funding organisations, academic staff and researchers and a range of third party stakeholders
- Evidence of ability to use initiative in identifying opportunities and to carry out research and solve significant problems independently using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions.
- Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver projects, establish and lead short term project teams in a professional context, including delivery of tasks to strict deadlines and budgets, and experience of consultation, liaison and negotiation.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience and qualifications in formal project management.
- Experience in setting and managing budgets.
- Experience in building and managing effective teams and establishing outcome targets.
- Fluency in Welsh
Cardiff is an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. Our world-leading research was ranked 5th for quality amongst UK universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework and we provide an educationally outstanding experience for our 30,000 students. With an annual budget in excess of £500 million and around 6,000 staff, Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of the 24 leading UK research-intensive universities. The University has 24 academic schools grouped into three colleges: Biomedical & Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering and Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.
The University’s ambition is to rank consistently among the top 100 universities in the world. Cardiff is also developing its Innovation System through a focused programme of investment in people and infrastructure. Research funding secured from competitive, external sources exceeds £100 million annually and the University aims to grow this further through winning grants from a wide range of national and global sources.
Career Pathway
Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS
Person Specification
Key duties (continued)
When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for XXXXBR.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria
- Establish working relationships with a wide range of external organisations in the Cardiff Capital Region and beyond, developing appropriate communication links with these as required.
- To attend internal and external functions for the purpose of cultivating networks and prospects.
- Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve Departmental, College or Institutional objectives including the review of opportunities, existing and new relationships and partnerships.
- To demonstrate a high level of understanding of the University’s Strategy, Our Future Together and how it can be operationalised.
- To play an active role in applying for funding for collaborative research and development activity from different sources in conjunction with external partners, including the preparation and delivery of appropriate training to staff. To be informed by attendance at relevant briefing sessions offered by funders and ensuring that Cardiff staff and our external partners have comprehensive knowledge of funding rules and constraints.
- Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department
- Instruct and guide other employees across the University as required where presentation of ideas and plans are needed.
- Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
- Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
- Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.
When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for XXXXBR.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Demonstrable track record in initiating, developing and managing relationships which are sustainable and which benefit all partners. Working with external organisations in order to secure substantial third party funding and investment.
- Able to demonstrate expert professional knowledge of approaches to prospect development and relationship management, including the use of appropriate supporting tools.
- Proven experience in evaluating and improving processes, in developing new processes and procedures in order to deliver greater levels of success.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the higher education sector, funding for research, development and innovation and relevant Government policy.
- Ability to communicate both orally and written, conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of individuals at all levels within the organisation and externally. For example, writing and delivering cases for partnership development and for investment.
- Ability to influence senior decisions from a variety of stakeholders that have a strategic impact; finding a consensus way forward where there is discord.
