Business Development and Partnership Manager

Job Title: Business Development and Partnership Manager

Salary: £56,745 - £63,051 (gross per annum depending on experience. A Specialist Allowance of up to £5000 may be applicable for suitable qualified candidates)

Contract Type: Permanent 

Hours: Full-time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. 

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About Us:

The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is the UK’s national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of quantum computing.

Headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the NQCC works across government, industry, and academia to address the engineering challenges of scaling quantum computers and to build a quantum-ready economy. Its mission is to enable the UK to solve complex societal and industrial challenges by harnessing the transformative potential of quantum computing.
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The NQCC is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It sits alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and is part of the wider National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).

Our Benefits:

Our Benefits include a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), Defined benefit pension scheme and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits.

About The Role:

As the NQCC Business Development Manager, you will lead efforts to identify, develop, and secure collaborative and commercial opportunities that align with the NQCC’s strategic goals. You will build and manage relationships across the quantum computing ecosystem, translating stakeholder needs into actionable partnerships and projects.

You will be responsible for building and maintaining a dynamic pipeline of business opportunities, from initial engagement and lead qualification through to negotiation and agreement of terms. Working as part of a business focused team, you will collaborate closely with the NQCC’s technical and engagement teams, as well as with colleagues across STFC and partners within the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme.

Your business development efforts will be underpinned by providing stakeholders with access to some of the UK’s most sophisticated quantum computing facilities and expertise, continuing to position the NQCC as a key enabler of innovation and growth in the sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Engagement: Identify and pursue new business opportunities by engaging partners across government, industry, and the research community.
• Pipeline Development: Build and maintain a robust pipeline of business opportunities, ensuring alignment with the NQCC’s strategic priorities and long-term objectives.
• Bid Management: Manage the NQCC’s bid review process, ensuring proposals are strategically sound and compliant with broader governance and funding frameworks.
• Stakeholder Management: Establish and nurture strong relationships with key stakeholders, serving as a primary point of contact for business development activities.
• Opportunity Development: Scope and develop business cases and funding proposals in collaboration with technical and non-technical teams.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor developments and emerging trends in quantum computing to inform strategic direction and identify new opportunities.
• Reporting & Metrics: Maintain relevant market landscape data, track engagement metrics, and report progress to the senior leadership.
• Advocacy & Representation: Promote the NQCC’s mission, capabilities, and outcomes to external audiences, representing the Centre both nationally and internationally.

Person Specification:

(Please note the below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting or Interview stage as indicated)

• Educated to degree or HNC/HND level in a relevant technical, scientific or engineering subject area (or the equivalent industry experience) - S&I.
• Strong background in technical sales, business development or partnership management, with demonstrable evidence of generating value and measurable impact - S&I.
• Strategic mindset able to translate technical concepts into business opportunities, based on experience in technical research, scientific or deep tech environments - S&I.
• Highly developed interpersonal and networking skills, with a proven track record working collaboratively within a team and maintain relationships with external stakeholders - S&I.
• Excellent communication, bid writing and presentation skills, able to articulate value propositions to a range of different stakeholders / audiences up to director level - S&I.
• Excellent organisational skills including time management and task prioritization, with the ability to work to defined deadlines - S&I.
• Extensive IT skills, including experience in MS Office Suite - S&I.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the landscape for quantum computing and/or related technologies - S&I.

The post holder will be required to travel/work within the UK and overseas, when required.

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org. 

Join us and discover what’s possible!

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How To Apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.