Strategic Partnerships Director in United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Not Specified

£Competetive

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Strategic Partnerships Director

About The Role

Strategic Partnership Director

NCC

Bristol based with Hybrid working

Salary: Competitive Salary plus up to 12.5% employer pension, private medical insurance and additional benefits package.

Closing Date: 22nd October 2025

Summary

We are seeking an experienced senior leader to lead, develop and diversify NCC’s Strategic Partnership portfolio and offerings in sectors adjacent to our core markets of aerospace, defence and energy. This includes harnessing the potential of digital and deep tech to transform industries, working closely with innovation, industry and investment organisations (regionally and nationally), and expanding the ways we support companies of every size to scale and grow.

Part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, NCC is an independent, open-access technology centre focused on addressing some of the world’s most complex engineering challenges. You will join this dynamic organisation as it implements its 5-year strategy, one that is growth and impact focused.

Reporting to the Chief Business Officer you will be accountable for the development and leadership of strategic partnerships that expand and broaden our impact and reach. You will work across the company to set strategic direction and ensure this is informed by latest insight and intelligence. You will demonstrate strong leadership, embed a customer-focused approach to delivery and work in lockstep with industry to deliver even greater impact for the UK. Critically, you will also be committed to contributing to the corporate leadership of the organisation and to exemplifying its values and behaviours.

What you’ll be doing

Set strategic direction and implement a strategic partnership approach to accelerate and drive business growth through a portfolio of technology, capability, and service offerings.
Develop a network of senior leaders across innovation, industry, professional services and allied organisations and networks.
Raise NCC’s profile across this stakeholder landscape to ensure its capabilities and expertise are known and understood.
Expand NCC’s portfolio of innovative partnership constructs and commercial offerings; informed by latest external analysis, and market insight.
Represent NCC on relevant business and industry initiatives and networks and inform organisational thought leadership.
In partnership with the Director for External Affairs, inform national and sub-national strategy and investment decisions.
Work collaboratively with NCC Directors and teams to inform the development and delivery of impactful, targeted, and customer-focused external sector campaigns that grow the business and expand its customer pipeline.
Be committed to developing the talents of the wider organisation.
Alongside leading day-to-day activities, this role will be central to driving forward high-priority projects and securing the public and private sector funding needed to deliver them.

What we’re looking for

Evidence of a strong, senior network with leaders of national and or regional business, professional service and investment organisations and networks.
Experience of supporting companies to grow and scale through developing and or delivering business growth interventions.
Track record of convening diverse stakeholder groups to secure and or deliver major innovation initiatives.
Developed understanding of the UK national and regional innovation funding and organisational landscape.
Evidenced ability to use data, including stakeholder insights and wider intelligence, to inform strategy development and underpin business growth.
Proven track record in skilful navigation through senior stakeholders across the business and industry.
Leadership in acting as an ambassador and advocate for an organisation and or sector.
A track record of strong leadership, of delivering through others in a matrix organisation and of developing high performing teams

The post involves regular travel to Bristol and London.

What do we offer in return?

Hybrid and flexible working as standard, annual salary reviews, company paid private medical insurance, up to 12.5% employer pension contribution, great people, honorary staff status at the University of Bristol. With a genuine focus on wellbeing, EDI and learning and development this is a chance to build your career in a thriving R&D facility with a bright future.

Unsure if you should apply? Got a quick question you wanted to check beforehand? Please feel free to reach out to the recruitment team – [email protected]

We see your future in ours. Apply now.

About The Company

NCC is a world-leading innovation organisation that turns cutting-edge research and technology into industrial impact. We bridge the gap between academia and industry, helping companies of all sizes to capitalise on cutting-edge innovation to deliver more. We do this at every stage of their journey from the earliest concept to end-of-life.

The future of composites manufacturing relies on NCC, and we rely on the right individuals to make it happen, whether they’re engineers or not!

Why NCC?

We see our success in yours. Not sure you meet all the requirements? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs if they think they may not meet every qualification, when in fact they often do. At NCC we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We ensure that all hiring decisions are made without regard to age, race, national origin, sex, disability, gender, gender identity, religion, or any other protected characteristics, and will treat all applications with the strictest confidence. We’re always open to hearing how we can support flexible working in different ways, including part-time work. Please don’t be afraid to ask about what we can do to support your needs. All requests will be carefully and fairly considered. We wish you every success in your job search.

Diverse challenges – NCC isn’t just about aerospace. We’re working with over 16 sectors and a variety of customers, from private ventures to the global tier 1 companies, providing variety to your experience.

Innovation – a world-leading research and development centre, the work we do brings novel and innovative solutions to industry, with the future firmly in mind. So we need innovating thinking not just in Engineering, but across all support functions.

Development in composites, and you – if the scope of exciting work isn’t enough to sway you, our ethos of continued learning and development and flexible working patterns will.

We look forward to hearing from you. #fulltime

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