Partnerships & Innovation Manager

Auckland - New Zealand

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 13-10-2025

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Profile innovation and secure new research funding
Portfolio: Optimal performance and health across the life course
Develop leads and opportunities that support the translation of innovation to impact

The opportunity

We seek an action-oriented individual for this permanent full-time role. The primary focus is to grow relationships and revenue through engagement with industry and government partners. To identify and respond to emerging research and service needs; and engaging with the faculties staff and researchers at the University of Auckland to profile innovation and secure new research funding. Expertise in and knowledge of optimal performance and health across the life course would be advantageous but not essential.

Key responsibilities:

Connect Internally & Externally:

Lead Departmental and Principle Investigator engagement
Understand the Universitys capability and capacity and articulate the value proposition to potential partners
Scale the pipeline of ideas and talent within your designated sector
Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders and connectivity with the assigned sector.
Leverage market insights and relationships with industry and government partners to identify innovative solutions to address real-world challenges.
Develop and execute client plans for designated or assigned areas of responsibility.

Transform & Accelerate Ideas to Funding:

Connect industry needs with university ideas talent and facilities.
Develop and articulate value Propositions of University of Auckland projects and engagement to potential partners.
Offer specialised knowledge to increase the chances of securing priority grants.

Diversify Funding Sources and Talent:

Increase the proportion of funding from diverse external sources. Primarily industry and international.
Help new principal investigators and early career researchers expand their partnerships with industry and government and secure funded projects.

Grow Research Revenue:

Use sector knowledge and connections to create and manage a pipeline of projects that align with industry needs and opportunities. Drive forward individual and PI-Led opportunities to generate new externally funded projects ($2-3 million annually).
Contribute to cross team opportunities and projects to ensure their success.
Identify evaluate and develop new areas for potential growth.

Qualifications :

Your skills and experience:

This is not an entry-level position. You will:

Have a proven track record in business development and relationship management and can point to examples of your success at navigating the complexities within the private sector public sector and ideally academia.
Together with your commercial acumen strong stakeholder management and ability to act as a trusted advisor will put you in good stead for this role.
Be adept at bringing together multiple stakeholders and unfased by uncertainties occasionally associated with operating in this sector.

Only applicants with the right to work in New Zealand will be considered.

Additional Information :

What we offer:

Great benefits including 5 weeks annual leave up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme eye-testing & glasses subsidies access to discounts on health insurance & gym memberships and long-service recognition. We provide a culturally diverse team and supportive workplace with a blended approach to office and home-based work. We offer flexible working arrangements and are committed to your ongoing professional development.

PD Partnerships and Innovation Manager Aug 2025

Please submit your application by 23 October 2025.

Honoa te tangata ki te tangata te tangata ki te taiao te tangata ki te rangahau rangahaua ki whai hua.

(Linking people to people people to the world around us people to research research that brings ideas to life.)

Remote Work :

Employment Type :

Full-time

Profile innovation and secure new research fundingPortfolio: Optimal performance and health across the life courseDevelop leads and opportunities that support the translation of innovation to impact The opportunityWe seek an action-oriented individual for this permanent full-time role. The primary ...

Profile innovation and secure new research funding
Portfolio: Optimal performance and health across the life course
Develop leads and opportunities that support the translation of innovation to impact