External Engagement Manager

We are looking for an External Engagement Manager to lead on the development and delivery of our external engagement strategy. The postholder will build a comprehensive network of external partners from all areas of society to create a culture of genuine knowledge exchange and collaboration. Reporting to the Head of Leeds Institute for Societal Futures and working closely with the Deputy Director (Research & Engagement) and the Institute Partnerships & Engagement Officer, you will be responsible for shaping and developing our Institute External (& Internal) Engagement Strategy, developing and refining our partnerships development plan, co‑designing and co‑delivering our co‑production coaching and training service and leading our policy support & engagement service.

With a passion for connecting external communities with internal research activity, you will be an exceptional translator, motivator and facilitator, able to communicate across worlds in an engaging and impactful way. The postholder will also be expected to possess a strong understanding of the policy landscape and contribute to relationship building between the institute and policymakers to drive forward policy engagement, advise academic and external network members in policy development and influence and ensure effective collaboration with public and third sector institutions.

We are looking for an accomplished, experienced, and self‑motivated partnerships development expert. You will build close working relationships with diverse, cross‑disciplinary internal and external networks to ensure the activity of the institute is championed, disseminated and translated into real‑world societal change. You will also train, coach and mentor our networks to work together, design their engagement, innovation and impact strategies, and determine appropriate dissemination activities and funding opportunities.

You will be expected to actively pursue appropriate CPD and horizon scanning to ensure your expertise remains at the forefront of strategic, national and global government priorities and societal needs relevant to our remit, and to contribute positively to the development of a constructive, solution focused and empowering atmosphere both within the immediate Institute team and our wider networks.

You will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluating delivery in this area and reporting against strategic aims and KPIs, then refining the service to support a culture of continuous improvement. This appointment comes at a particularly exciting time to join our Institute. The University of Leeds Strategic Plan ) sets out an ambition to place the University at the heart of a global network, finding innovative solutions to regional, national, and global challenges.

Key to delivering this vision is the development and launch of two Futures Institutes (Societal and Climate), which will exemplify our strategy to combine research and innovation, knowledge exchange, and education, to deliver global impact. Leeds Institute for Societal Futures (LISF)  will generate additional academic outcomes that could not be achieved by individual faculties or schools, through a focus on interdisciplinary and trans‑disciplinary collaborations, and will enhance the University's external standing and impact in major global challenge areas.