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Academic Lead for Innovation

The Medical Sciences Division (MSD) invites expressions of interest from academic colleagues for the new role of Academic Lead for Innovation. This strategic leadership opportunity is ideal for an academic looking to step into a divisional leadership role and shape how Oxford delivers on its translational research and innovation ambitions.

Working closely with the Associate Head of Division for Research and Innovation (AHD-R&I), the postholder will join a small academic leadership team contributing to divisional strategy, stakeholder engagement, and the development of innovation activities and support services across the Medical Sciences Division. The role involves close collaboration with the divisional Translational Research Office (TRO), Business Partnerships Office (BPO), the BioEscalator, and senior innovation stakeholders within the University and externally.

We are seeking a collegial, strategic academic with a strong commitment to advancing translational and innovation activity across a broad disciplinary base, both clinical and non-clinical, who is motivated to help shape Oxford’s innovation ecosystem and raise the profile of MSD’s innovation agenda.

Please see the role description below for further details. 

As Academic Lead for Innovation, the postholder will support the AHD-R&I to:

  • Strengthen strategic engagement with internal and external innovation stakeholders
  • Align innovation activities with divisional priorities
  • Enhance the visibility and coordination of MSD’s innovation support infrastructure

The role also includes representing MSD on key University innovation committees, contributing to the strategic use of innovation funding, shaping the direction of divisional innovation support teams, and acting as a visible academic ambassador for translational research and innovation across Oxford.

Applicants should hold an existing contract of employment with the University of Oxford and have the support of their Head of Department to take on this responsibility, which will be for a period of two years in the first instance, with periodic reviews. The expected time commitment of this role will be 4 hours per week on average. A Responsibility Allowance is payable (equivalent to Schedule V – currently £9,090).

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Heidi Johansen-Berg (Associate Head of Division for Research and Innovation) or Maxine Allen (Director of Business Partnerships).

The Medical Sciences Division supports the University’s commitment to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality and values diversity. We are eager to receive applications from a diverse pool of candidates.    

To apply for this role please send a covering letter (maximum 3 pages) and CV by email to divoff.jobs@medsci.ox.ac.uk by 12 noon on Monday 20th October  2025. 

Strategic Context

The Medical Sciences Division (MSD) supports a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem, underpinned by the Translational Research Office (TRO), Business Partnerships Office (BPO), and the BioEscalator. These activities fall under the strategic oversight of the Associate Head of Division for Research and Innovation (AHD-R&I), who leads on broader research and innovation priorities for the Division.

To strengthen strategic academic input and coordination across its translational and innovation activities, MSD is seeking to appoint an Academic Lead for Innovation This new role will join a small academic leadership team dedicated to facilitating MSD’s research and innovation agenda. The Academic Lead will support the Associate Head of Division for Research & Innovation (AHD-R&I) in driving strategic engagement with key innovation stakeholders, aligning internal and external translational initiatives with MSD priorities, and enhancing the academic visibility of MSD’s innovation support services.

The Academic Lead for Innovation will work across the disciplinary breadth of the Medical Sciences Division and so must be interested in and highly committed to the development of clinical and non-clinical research, including beyond their own area of expertise. The role will require consideration of risks and benefits across the whole Division, plus external drivers in the translation and innovation landscape, and the ability to work collegially to provide input to vision and strategy. 

The Academic Lead for Innovation will report to the AHD-R&I and will be supported by the professional services staff in the Medical Sciences Divisional Office. The Academic Lead will also engage with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Innovation), MSD senior leadership, Heads of Departments and central professional services teams.  

This appointment will be made for two years in the first instance, with periodic reviews. The appointment is open only to internal applicants holding an existing contract of employment with the University of Oxford who expect to be able to commit to the role for two years. All applicants will need the support of their Head of Department to take on this role which is expected to be undertaken alongside existing duties. The time commitment is expected to be 4 hours per week on average, with variation over the year. A Responsibility Allowance is payable (equivalent to Schedule V – currently £9,090).  

To apply for this role please send a covering letter (maximum 3 pages) and CV by email to divoff.jobs@medsci.ox.ac.uk by Monday 20 October 2025.

Key Responsibilities

  • Work with heads of MSD innovation support teams (BPO, TRO, BioEscalator) to provide steer on MSD support for translation, commercialisation, and business partnerships. This includes influencing the development of infrastructure and capabilities that enable MSD researchers, staff, and students to participate in innovation activities such as industry partnerships, translational research, access to funding and expertise, spin-out incubation and entrepreneurship training.
  • Provide strategic guidance on the divisional use of institutional innovation funding streams, including Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) and the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), to shape how MSD delivers effective innovation support.
  • Meet regularly (suggested: quarterly meetings with each head of function) with the heads of MSD innovation support teams (BPO, TRO, BioEscalator) to review plans, identify evolving needs, and align activities with divisional innovation priorities.
  • Advise on the metrics used to assess innovation success, translational impact, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Represent MSD on the University’s Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Subcommittee (KEISC) and the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) Review Panel. Through these (termly) committees, engage with university innovation leadership, including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, to advocate for MSD priorities and bids for resources, ensuring divisional activities align with the University’s broader innovation strategy.
  • Collaborate with the Academic Lead for Research Funding to align funding priorities and expand funding opportunities for research translation and innovation. Support coordinated engagement with government bodies such as the Office for Life Sciences and ARIA, and work with the Heads of the BPO, TRO, and BioEscalator to diversify innovation funding sources and develop sustainable funding models.
  • Serve as a review panel member for the MSD Medical and Life Sciences Translational Fund and act as the divisional host for the fund’s annual launch event. Collaborate with the Academic Lead for Research Funding and the Head of the Translational Research Office (TRO) to engage with translational funding teams at the MRC and Wellcome.
  • Act as a divisional academic ambassador for strategic business partners, occasionally hosting and supporting visits from major business partners. Support the Director of Business Partnerships in identifying and securing appropriate academic leadership to ensure major partnerships are optimally supported and aligned with divisional priorities.
  • Support MSD in aligning and applying for funding from major industry-related funding calls and regional initiatives (e.g., potential co-location of companies/innovation activities on campus, Warneford site, BioEscalator Phase 2).
  • Represent the divisional academic perspective in University initiatives supporting the regional innovation ecosystem, including the Oxford Strategic Innovation Taskforce (OSIT) programme and the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. This role will primarily be fulfilled through membership of the Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Subcommittee (KEISC), with occasional ad hoc participation in specific events related to these initiatives.
  • Participate in wider MSD co-ordination meetings (including termly meetings with Associate Head (R&I) and other academic leads as required).

This role offers an exciting opportunity for an academic leader to shape Oxford Medical Sciences Division’s translational research and innovation strategy, raise its profile, and strengthen engagement with key stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem.

 

 

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