Strategic Partnerships Development Manager – Research

Strategic Partnerships Development Manager – Research – ICONIC GLOBAL BRAND
£51.92 per hour PAYE
Hybrid role, London, 12 months

Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Research Partnerships Manager to lead the development, negotiation, and delivery of complex research and commercial partnerships. This role sits at the intersection of science, partnerships, and operations, requiring someone who can both shape collaborations and execute them effectively.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience working alongside legal and contracts teams, but will not be a contracts manager themselves. Instead, they will be responsible for structuring, negotiating, and managing research partnerships end-to-end, ensuring successful execution and impact.

Key Responsibilities
Partnership Development & Management

• Identify, develop, and manage strategic research and commercial partnerships aligned with organisational priorities
• Build and maintain relationships with academic, industry, and other external stakeholders
• Translate scientific and strategic goals into structured partnership opportunities

Contract Negotiation (in collaboration with legal)

• Lead negotiations of research collaboration agreements, funding agreements, and partnership contracts
• Work closely with legal and contracts teams to draft, review, and finalise agreements
• Balance commercial, legal, and scientific considerations to reach mutually beneficial outcomes
• Ensure agreements reflect partnership intent while managing risk appropriately

Operational Delivery

• Oversee the day-to-day management and execution of partnerships
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (legal, finance, science, operations) to deliver partnership objectives
• Monitor performance, milestones, and outcomes of partnerships
• Troubleshoot challenges and ensure partnerships remain on track

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Act as a key interface between scientific teams and enabling functions (legal, finance, procurement)
• Ensure alignment across internal stakeholders throughout the partnership lifecycle

Candidate Profile
Essential Experience

• Proven experience in research partnerships, commercial partnerships, or collaborative programme management
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex agreements (e.g. research collaborations, funding agreements, multi-party partnerships)
• Strong experience working closely with legal/contract teams (without being a contracts manager)
• Experience operating in science, research, or innovation-driven environments

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational execution
• Excellent stakeholder management across technical and non-technical audiences
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of partnership value creation

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with academic institutions, research organisations, or industry R&D teams
• Familiarity with IP, data sharing, and research governance frameworks
• Exposure to multi-stakeholder or international partnerships

What We’re Not Looking For

• Pure contracts managers or legal specialists without broader partnership experience
• Candidates focused primarily on strategy without willingness to engage in operational delivery
• Sales-focused profiles without experience in research or collaborative partnerships