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

Are you an experienced and enthusiastic Research and Innovation professional looking to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive Universities? Do you have a background in developing and delivering high value and high-quality funding applications? Are you keen to help progress climate-related research and innovation through building excellent working relationships with academics, policymakers, and colleagues in industry? 

You will need to quickly establish a University-wide profile, forge strong links with key researchers, build networks across the University and work in partnership with other Research and Innovation Development professionals within the Research and Innovation Service and the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures team. You will need to work as part of multiple dynamic teams that can operate effectively in a complex and changing environment. 

You will work with colleagues from across the University to provide a coordinated service across the full range of research and innovation activity: including knowledge-led innovation support to businesses (contract/collaborative research and consultancy) and the promotion of skills development programmes, in addition to the provision of support across the full range of research funders (including the UK Research Councils, government departments, international funders and charities and institutionally held Impact Acceleration Accounts). 

Successful candidates will have the capability to develop research and innovation proposals in complex organisations. They will have excellent project management skills and the ability to build performance-based partnerships alongside experience of working with interdisciplinary academic teams in the development of successful external funding applications. 

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

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

Dr Lee Mason, Head of Research Development

Email: l.a.mason@leeds.ac.uk

Closing Date: 22 Jul 2026

Section: Professional & Managerial

Salary: £51,753 to £59,966 per annum

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.

Do you want to be involved in negotiating, reviewing and drafting commercially-focused research and innovation contracts? Are you pro-active and able to deliver to deadlines?

As a member of the Research and Innovation (RIS) Contracts Team, you will provide high quality, customer-focused research and innovation support contributing to the strategic objectives and research culture of the University.

Reporting to the Senior Contracts Manager, your day-to-day work will mainly support commercially-focused research and innovation contracts. You will lead contract drafting, review, and negotiation of such contracts; working closely with academics and professional support staff and the University’s Business Engagement team to assist in the provision of research and innovation support.  You will provide an expert opinion to those staff in contractual negotiations with external commercial partners and in the review of contract terms and conditions on behalf of the University, developing a specialism in particular types of contractual activity. 

You will have a law qualification and have excellent communication skills, a strong interest in the development of effective partnerships with internal colleagues and external organisations and have the ability to work on your own initiative. You will additionally have intellectual property and contract law knowledge. 

This is a challenging role, requiring an energetic and self-motivated individual with a can-do attitude. You will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport at all levels in the organisation and the ability to think logically and clearly, work to tight deadlines and to be flexible in your approach to work.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

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

Chris Marshall Regan, Senior Contracts Manager (Business Engagement)

Email: c.regan@leeds.ac.uk

Closing Date: 12 Jul 2026

Section: Professional & Managerial

Salary: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum

If you're passionate about applying your expertise to solve complex challenges in a commercial environment, this role is for you! Take the lead in developing an innovative wet-processing technology that transforms post-consumer leather and textile waste into high-performance sustainable materials, enabling large-scale circular manufacturing and supporting growth across transport, footwear and consumer goods markets.  

The University of Leeds has an excellent opportunity for you to ‘fast track’ your career in industry by leading a strategically important project to a successful conclusion. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), you will be working in partnership with Generation Phoenix Limited and School of Design at the University of Leeds, one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. 

Generation Phoenix Limited, based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, is the global pioneer of sustainable, engineered leather. Its revolutionary processes transform leather waste into advanced materials while achieving a significantly lower environmental footprint. Generation Phoenix partners with major global brands to bring these innovative, sustainable materials to market at scale, spanning aviation with leading international airlines, ground transportation, footwear including Dr. Martens, and consumer goods with Tapestry, Inc.

As a KTP Associate, you will be working closely with Generation Phoenix’s Technical team, based in Peterborough, and the academics in the School of Design to bridge knowledge gaps in developing performance sustainable products from leather waste. You will be integrated into Generation Phoenix’s Technical team, with the majority of the work being based in Gen Phoenix’s labs and pilot facilities This provides a unique environment for you to manage this project and undertake extensive research, testing and development throughout the duration of your project. This will be supplemented when necessary, during the project by utilising the "state of the art" facilities available at the University of Leeds. 

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

ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR

Professor Ningtao Mao

Email: N.Mao@leeds.ac.uk   

COMPANY SUPERVISOR

Dr Natalie Ishmael

Email: natalie.ishmael@genphoenix.com

INNOVATION SUPPORT CO-ORD (University of Leeds)

Katie Wallett

Email: K.Wallett@leeds.ac.uk

Closing Date: 08 Jul 2026

Section: Research

Salary: £34,965 to £39,205 p.a.
In addition to salary, a Personal Development budget of £5,000