Commercial and Partnerships Manager

Job Location:

Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department:
Research & Enterprise Office

Closing Date: 16 February 2026

Weekly

Working Hours:

37

Contract Type:
Permanent

Fixed Term

Contract:

End Date:
Not Applicable

Welsh Language:
Not Applicable

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to You Tube by clicking this link).

We are looking to recruit a Commercial Knowledge Exchange and Partnerships Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to join the growing Commercial Operations Team, whose aim is to support commercialisation of Open University research via knowledge exchange and transfer. The team focuses on delivery of the activities within the University’s KE Plan.

As a manager within the wider Research and Innovation Services, you will manage projects, operational and administrative support, provide professional support, advice, and guidance, and actively contribute to policy development and effective decision-making.

Specifically, you will support the delivery of the University’s KE Plan by facilitating the establishment of new relationships with industry, nurture and build existing partnerships, and enable income generation from commercial organisations and funding agencies across the whole of the UK. You will contribute to the identification, dissemination, and implementation of good practice as part a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of operational capabilities.

Working closely with academic teams across the University and professional services colleagues in the Research and Innovation Service, you will be responsible for:

Operations and Finance

Managing operations and compliance-related activity, providing advice and guidance, and being the main point of contact between the Service, Faculties, Schools, and other relevant central professional departments. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Leading on key team functions, managing research intellectual property and partnership development.
• Supporting development and delivery of commercial exploitation plans.
• Identifying partnering opportunities for engagement including management of membership groups (e.g. ASPECT, STC, Catapults) and links with OU Nations teams
• Supporting costing, pricing and approvals of consultancy and laboratory facilities paid for access.
• Supporting strategic use of HEIF to deliver strong HE-BCI and KEF returns.
• Acting as an administrative/operational link between academics, other areas of the University and external organisations.
• Establishing strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the Faculties, Nations, across the University and externally in industry.
• Providing expert advice and practical support to academics on relevant Service, Faculty, institutional and funder frameworks, policies, and processes.
• As required, contributing to the preparation of relevant business cases, resource bids and costings on behalf of Research and Innovation Services.
• Supporting the management of budgets including reconciling budget management spreadsheets, preparing forecasts and financial returns, ensuring optimum use of available budgets.
• Complying with University procedures for Legal, Finance and People Services.

We look for a diplomatic approach to communication with existing teams, with an ability to present to different audiences in small and large groups. The candidate must be a team player, with good communication skills and the ability to work well within the team and with partners.

• Degree level qualification (or equivalent) or relevant professional experience and a commitment to reflection and personal/professional development.
• Appropriate level of directly relevant operational, administrative or project management knowledge and experience.
• Project management and/or high-level planning and organisational skills and experience with the ability to plan, schedule, and manage…