Venture Manager

This role is open to employees in the Commercial Team, within the Research & Innovation Service at the University of Leeds only

This role will be based on the university campus with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

The University of Leeds has a portfolio of over 45 active spinout companies and an extensive patent portfolio of over 300 applications.

This challenging role requires an energetic, self-motivated individual with an entrepreneurial attitude to work across the ventures ecosystem, from developing entrepreneurial talent and accelerator networks, managing investor relations and to building early-stage venture propositions securing investment into spin-out companies.

You will build sustainable relationships with the entrepreneurial talent, accelerator, academic and investor communities. Together with the venture team you will identify and build new opportunities and advance these for investment in line with the University’s strategy. The role will also include acting as non-executive director or observer for some portfolio companies, on-boarding executive management and securing follow-on investment.

You will have extensive experience of commercial partnerships and network building, an ability to influence senior stakeholders and bring strong planning and implementation skills to drive new venture opportunities that generate profile, impact and returns for the University.

You will carry out commercial due diligence on early-stage venture opportunities, lead on commercial development funding applications, guide IP protection strategies, be financially literate, ensure the commercialisation routes remain viable for spin-out investment and negotiate terms for spin-out deal closure.

You will be well-organised, have strong evaluation and planning skills with practical implementation ability to ensure spin-out opportunities are driven forward. The ability to effectively engage and influence internal and external stakeholders is essential as is acting as a key source of expertise.

You will have a background in either the Engineering and Physical Sciences or Life Sciences or Medicine and Health sectors with experience of technology commercialisation. You will have the ability to confidently build entrepreneurial talent and investor networks across the early-stage pre-seed, seed funding environment and to gain experience in the operational aspects of spin-out company formation and administration.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Arshad Mairaj, Deputy Director of Commercialisation (Head of Ventures)

Email: a.k.mairaj @ leeds.ac.uk

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Location Leeds - Main Campus Faculty/Service Professional Services School/Institute Research & Innovation Service Section Commercialisation & Contracts Category Professional & Managerial Grade Grade 8 Salary £51,753 to £59,966 per annum Post Type Full Time Contract Type Ongoing Release Date Wednesday 24 June 2026 Closing Date Wednesday 08 July 2026 Reference CSRIS1397

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