Research and Innovation Development Associate

Research and Innovation Office

Full time, Open-ended and Hybrid

Are you passionate about enabling research to make a real-world impact? Do you thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy building partnerships that drive innovation?

Loughborough University is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic Research and Innovation Development Associate to join our Research and Innovation Office (RIO). This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the University’s ambitious strategy to grow research and innovation income and foster impactful collaborations.

About the Role

You will play a key role in identifying and developing funding and partnership opportunities, supporting knowledge exchange, and helping translate research into societal and economic impact. Working within our specialist SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts) Hub, you’ll collaborate with academic colleagues, external partners, and professional services to deliver strategic research and innovation goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and profile funding and collaboration opportunities across public, private, and charitable sectors.

• Support the development of new partnerships and research proposals.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and facilitate cross-functional initiatives.

• Maintain oversight of research and innovation projects, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.

• Organise and support events, funder visits, and training workshops.

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience in research, innovation, knowledge exchange, or partnership development, particularly in any of the health, well-being and clinical sciences disciplines.

• Strong communication and analytical skills.

• A collaborative mindset and ability to work across disciplines.

This role is ideal for someone looking to develop a career in research and partnership development within a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

For more information, refer to the full Job Description and Person Specification.

Closing date: Sunday 1st February 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 10th February 2026

If you have any questions about this role, please contact

Our Benefits

At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:

• Time off - generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme
• Where you work – access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
• Financial wellbeing – competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities
• Support for you and those close to you - through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options.
• Health and wellbeing – discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support
• Travel and sustainability - access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting.

Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.