Head of Student Enterprise

Overview

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the University of Leeds community by nurturing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among students. This will directly support the University’s aspirations to be recognised as one of the top universities in Europe for student entrepreneurship by 2030.

The University of Leeds has a national reputation for student enterprise, having won a series of awards for its outstanding initiatives, including Spark and the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies. The University now seeks to build on this success through a new phase in developing student enterprise opportunities for all students and continuing to provide a wide range of targeted business support to student and recent graduate founders.

This role forms a key part of this ambition.

You will play a central role in shaping the future of company formation and student enterprise, manage the activities of Spark and the Discover enterprise programme, including incubation, and lead on creating opportunities for students across the University to take their first steps in developing impactful new ideas and initiatives, practically developing their entrepreneurship and leadership skills, whilst supporting founders throughout their business development and growth.

You will manage a small but dedicated team, provide business advice to prospective founders, advise students on their business journeys, lead a series of development workshops, competitions and events, and support public dissemination of successful projects and impact. You will manage a range of grant funding opportunities and build relationships with alumni and business donors. You will manage the financial aspects of the department, attend management meetings, and be involved in the ongoing development of the University’s enterprise strategy.

You will be responsible for the established Spark and Discover enterprise team, work with the Academic Lead for Enterprise, Advancement Team, makerspaces, faculties, Nexus and Research and Innovation Services to help embed enterprise into the University strategy and drive engagement.

You will be able to rapidly assess and alter provision in response to student, staff and industry feedback and evaluate the impact of the work undertaken by the students and communicate this impact locally, nationally and internationally as appropriate.

• 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.

If you have the drive to inspire and support student innovators, while working closely with staff supporting the university’s student enterprise strategy, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of entrepreneurship at the University of Leeds.