Business Development Manager

Description:

Founded in 1974, Deakin is a public university in Victoria with 61,000 students across five campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and the online Cloud Campus. We are a progressive and open-minded university, with the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world’s universities.

The Business Development Manager role is situated within Deakin’s Research portfolio and engages with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) regarding product development to advance their business. Whether your previous roles have provided you with exposure to technology, or whether you come from an engineering background, you will need to bring a technical aptitude to this position as the role entails articulating the vast array of ways Deakin can help a SME.

In this blended role, where you will split your time between visiting regional businesses and attending meetings or briefings on campus, you will establish linkages with industry and other public and private sector organisations. Regional areas of particular interest that you may have need to visit with some frequency include Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Geelong. The Business Development Manager will have an external focus, establishing productive relationships that engage new industry clients with Deakin programs and services.

Initially there will be emphasis on the Digital Futures and Manufutures Accelerate and Connect programs. The Business Development Manager will assist in developing new strategies and initiatives for growing University connections to industry and managing the programs to be delivered in the Southwest region.

Your key responsibilities:

• Establishing long-term partnerships between industry and Deakin university
• Developing a strong understanding of the “Digital Futures and Manufutures Accelerate” programs and working collaboratively with DRI staff to lead the growth of industry engagement with the university
• Leading or contributing to multi-disciplinary teams of researchers, enabling functions and external partners, to coordinate the development and implementation of initiatives for growing research and industry-based projects, attracting funds for research, fostering collaboration with industry and government, and supporting the commercialisation of research outcomes through the University’s Commercialisation and Translation team
• Promoting advanced manufacturing and digitalisation pathways for business improvement
• Positioning Deakin university as a major player in the advancement of regional businesses
• Program management of all activities to be conducted in regional hubs
• Taking personal responsibility for meeting objectives and progressing work.
• Showing initiative and proactively stepping in and do what is required, committing energy and drive to see that goals are achieved
• Acting as a coach and work with team members to facilitate growth and development by giving balanced, constructive feedback considering individual capability and team performance
• A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of qualifications and experience
• Demonstrated capacity to build relationships and represent with internal and external partners and customers across industry, government and university sectors
• Understanding of advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, and Industry 4.0
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to achieve quality customer service for clients
• Ability to negotiate and manage contractual arrangements and projects