Industry Associate

Salary: £35,608 – £37,694 per annum, with progression to £46,049, and benefits including a generous holiday package, pension schemes, and health and wellbeing initiatives.

Closing Date: 23 January 2026.

The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides expert guidance to applied health, public health and social care researchers on design, delivery and funding of research. The service is delivered through hubs and specialist centres. The RSS is expanding its reach to industry and SMEs in the Health and Life Sciences sector, and the Industry Associate will support the interface between academic research and industry.

Position:
Industry Associate

Location:

Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University

Hours:

Up to 1 whole‑time equivalent (37 hours per week)
Term:
Fixed‑term until 30 September 2028

• Serve as a point of contact for industry‑focused project queries within RSS, responding independently and exercising judgment on daily unforeseen problems with limited guidance.
• Support researchers, particularly SME partners, by identifying and mapping SME funding opportunities across applied health and care medicines, health tech, and med tech.
• Conduct market assessment research for projects and SME collaborators, including competitor analysis, gap analysis, regulatory landscapes and potential market‑entry barriers in the life sciences sector.
• Translate researchers’ briefs into actionable industry research support, gathering, synthesising and presenting evidence to support funding applications (not writing the applications themselves).
• Work with senior RSS methodologists to provide an industry lens across disciplines, deploying appropriate commercial terminology, references and frameworks; support methodologists in researcher meetings and other interactions to achieve clear actionable outcomes.
• Attend and represent the RSS at relevant industry conferences, networking events and innovation forums, gathering and reporting insights and foresights on the competitive landscape and evolving trends in health and care and life sciences.
• Research, analyse and report on industry strategy, government policies, regulatory changes and new standards, ensuring the RSS team remains informed and compliant.
• Prepare regular project and industry briefings for colleagues – trend analysis, innovation updates and horizon scanning – across target health sub‑sectors.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as regulatory authorities, standard‑setting bodies, government agencies and industry associations as required, representing RSS and projects with professionalism.
• Organise and contribute to cross‑sector project management groups (e.g. advisory boards, interdisciplinary working groups) to foster collaborative innovation and operational effectiveness.
• Develop best practice in industry engagement, contributing to process improvement and the SME service delivery output for RSS.
• Day‑to‑day management and coordination of project support staff where required (e.g. customer relationship management support).
• Participate in departmental meetings and contribute to RSS strategic planning activities.
• Assist with monitoring project milestones and financial targets for assigned industry‑facing projects.
• Maintain up‑to‑date awareness of current research methodologies, funding regulations and policy changes affecting industry‑academic collaboration.
• Willingness to undertake continuous professional development and attend training as required.

• Experience of research project and programme coordination, with a clear track record of industry and health/life sciences sector engagement, including drafting project plans, escalating risks and monitoring delivery against agreed timescales, objectives and budget.
• Sound working knowledge of UK health innovation, including NIHR, funding structures, SME funding opportunities and the regulatory environment.
• Demonstrable ability to synthesise large volumes of information on the health and care and life sciences sector market and innovators, and to communicate findings in impactful written reports and presentations.
• Excellent…