Academic Commercial Services Associate

University of Birmingham Enterprise Ltd

Do you want to work at the intersection of academia and business, helping world-class research and expertise deliver real-world impact?

University of Birmingham Enterprise Ltd (UoBE) is the University of Birmingham’s enterprise and commercialisation company, dedicated to translating academic expertise into high-quality consultancy, services and trading activity that benefits society, industry and the economy. UoBE supports hundreds of academic consultancy projects each year and operates a growing portfolio of innovative trading models that enable academics to deliver sustained, high-impact commercial activity.

We are now looking for a talented and commercially minded individual to join our Academic Commercial Services (ACS) team as an Academic Commercial Services Associate.

The role

Reporting to the Head of Academic Commercial Services, this is a hands-on, commercially focused role supporting academics to translate their expertise into compliant, financially robust and well-governed commercial activity. You will manage a varied portfolio of consultancy and services projects, providing end-to-end support from initial enquiry through to contract completion.

A central part of the role is supporting our Operating Divisions, which are trading models that allow academics to deliver commercial activity at scale under the UoBE corporate structure. You will work closely with academics and colleagues across the University to assess the suitability of proposed operating divisions, support their establishment, and help ensure they operate effectively and compliantly over time. This includes advising on governance, contractual arrangements, financial models and delivery frameworks, and supporting academics to navigate the opportunities and responsibilities that come with operating at this level.

You will work in a fast-paced environment, providing clear, confident advice to academics, UoBE colleagues and external clients, and helping to shape creative solutions for both standard and non-standard activity.

What you will be doing

• Delivering a high-quality Academic Commercial Service, supporting academics undertaking consultancy and services activity from enquiry to delivery.
• Acting as a trusted adviser and point of expertise on academic consultancy and operating divisions, providing clear guidance on processes, requirements and best practice.
• Applying commercial judgement to fee setting and negotiation, ensuring equitable, consistent and financially sustainable outcomes.
• Supporting the assessment, set-up and operation of operating divisions, including advising on suitability, governance, delivery models and ongoing compliance.
• Negotiating and managing consultancy, services, facilities and equipment access agreements, progressing contracts efficiently and to a high standard.
• Identifying and mitigating commercial, legal, reputational and ethical risks, including appropriate consideration of intellectual property.
• Working with academics proposing innovative or non-standard activity to develop creative, compliant delivery frameworks.
• Contributing to reporting, monitoring and continuous improvement activity across consultancy and operating division portfolios.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across UoBE and the wider University to support engagement, briefings and business development initiatives.

About you

You will be a resilient, well-organised and commercially minded professional who enjoys working at the academic–business interface. You will bring experience of managing commercial contracts or proposals, strong communication and negotiation skills, and the confidence to work with a wide range of stakeholders. An understanding of how universities and enterprise or technology transfer organisations operate, and an interest in supporting trading models such as operating divisions, will be a strong advantage.

Salary and benefits

The role is offered on a full-time basis with a salary likely to be in the range of £40,000–£50,000 per annum, commensurate with experience, plus a discretionary performance-related bonus of up to 15% per annum, split equally between company and individual performance.

Next steps

For informal enquiries please contact Sam Hickman, Head of Academic Commercial Services.

If you are interested in applying for the Academic Commercial Services Associate role, please submit a two-page CV (including details of at least two referees) together with a one-page covering letter outlining your interest in working for University of Birmingham Enterprise and demonstrating how you meet the criteria for the role.

Applications should be sent to: via the ‘Apply’ button above (e: workwithenterprise@contacts.bham.ac.uk).

Closing date: Friday 6th March 2026