Job Description

Job Title: Business Development Manager - Facilities and Testing Services
Salary: £58,589 - £65,100 gross per annum (dependent on skills and experience)
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

This role requires SC Clearance- Please see end of role profile to see eligibility criteria

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

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 Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) is a flagship facility built and operated by RAL Space. The world class set of co-located and open-access facilities designed for testing of large satellite platforms is unique in the UK and directly aligned to the UK government goals of growing the UK space sector.

We are seeking a Business Development Manager to join our RAL Space business development team at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on the Harwell Campus, to lead business development for the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) and other environmental test facilities.

You will be part of a small team focused on supporting all aspects of RAL Space. This group in turn is part of the much larger Business & Innovation Directorate (BID) covering all three main STFC sites – we like to use three words to describe the behaviours of our Directorate: Trustworthy; Passionate; Collaborative.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and drive forward the business development vision, objectives and plan for the NSTF and other environmental test facilities at RAL Space.

• Work closely with the testing teams to be a trusted team member to provide a high-quality service to our customers.

• Respond to enquiries coming into facilities from a wide range of institutional and commercial sources.

• Manage internal and external strategic partnerships.

• Take on and grow an existing pipeline of opportunities to ensure the long term, sustainable operation of our test facilities.

• Promote our facilities through various channels; online, through engaging talks and tours, in productive meetings, through exhibitions and talks at major UK and international events.
  
  

Contacts and Communication

The position will require occasional travel to the other STFC sites across the UK, and other locations (some overseas) for conferences, events, business meetings, etc.

• Communicate regularly with staff in RAL Space, BID, wider STFC, and other external organisations in order to deliver customer work, identify new opportunities, encourage engagement and ultimately deliver impact.

Person Specification:

This role requires a broad range of skills, and the correct candidate will have a mixture of the skills listed below. The role will also require some travel within the UK and occasional travel overseas.

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Technical degree (or higher) in an engineering or physical sciences subject, or equivalent experience. (S)

• Business development experience, demonstrating excellent customer facing, communication, networking and influencing skills. (S,I)

• Experience of negotiating and/or reviewing commercial contracts. (I)

• Able to form good working relationships with staff from all teams and levels. (S,I)

• Record of working independently and delivering against targets. (I)

• Proven track record of developing senior level relationships and leveraging these to get results. (I)

• Knowledge of RAL Space’s testing capabilities and services. (I)

Benefits:

Working part of a committed team in RAL Space at the heart of the UK Space sector, a major part of the Harwell Space Cluster comprising over 100 organisations with over 1400 space professionals on site including the European Space Agency, UK Space Agency, Satellite Applications Catapult.

Being part of the UK Research and Innovation community with excellent career prospects, training options and equal opportunities. Key benefits include:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

Security Vetting:

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they are appointed. The required security clearance needed is SC

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the United Kingdom for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years as the role requires SC clearance. However, UK residency less than the outlined periods may not bar you from gaining National Security Vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed for further advice.

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, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. 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.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.