Business Development & Marketing Director

Business Development & Marketing Director
Board-level | National role (UK & Ireland)
Home-based (UK) with travel across the UK & Ireland, including Oxford HQ
Oxford Innovation Space

Shape the next phase of growth in the UK’s innovation ecosystem.

We’re entering the next stage of growth at Oxford Innovation Space, and we’re looking for an exceptional Business Development & Marketing Director to join our Division Management Board.

This is a high-impact, outward-facing executive role, bringing together commercial leadership, strategic growth and market influence. You’ll play a pivotal part in shaping how we expand our portfolio, build partnerships and position ourselves across the UK & Ireland innovation landscape.

The role is home-based, with regular travel across the UK & Ireland and to our Oxford head office, reflecting the national scope of the position.

This is not a traditional functional leadership role.

• Lead the organisation’s growth strategy across the UK & Ireland, shaping and delivering a strong pipeline of new business
• Secure and develop innovation space contracts, partnerships and place-based opportunities
• Align marketing, brand and communications with commercial priorities to directly support contract wins and market positioning
• Operate as a Board-level leader, contributing to corporate strategy, investment decisions and overall organisational performance

You’ll bring a clear, proactive approach to business development—moving us from reactive bids to a more insight-led, opportunity-driven model, and ensuring we remain well-positioned in a competitive and evolving market.

• Shape and deliver a compelling, evidence-led growth strategy
• Identify, pursue and convert high-value opportunities across the UK & Ireland innovation ecosystem

• Lead complex bids, partnerships and negotiations
• Build and maintain senior relationships across public, private and academic sectors

• Drive an integrated marketing and communications function aligned to commercial outcomes
• Strengthen our market positioning, reputation and influence at a national level

• Contribute to Board discussions, strategy and decision-making
• Lead and develop multi-disciplinary, geographically dispersed teams

We’re looking for a strategic, commercially driven leader who can operate confidently at Board level and deliver tangible growth outcomes.

You’ll bring:

• A strong track record of winning complex, high-value contracts
• Experience operating at a senior leadership or Director level, ideally across multi-site or partnership-led environments
• The ability to integrate business development and marketing to drive measurable commercial results
• Credibility with senior stakeholders across public, private and academic sectors
• A proactive, insight-led approach to opportunity identification and pipeline development

You’ll be as comfortable shaping long-term strategy as you are influencing key partnerships and closing deals.

• Board-level influence – direct impact on organisational direction and growth
• Scale and autonomy – lead a national portfolio with real decision-making responsibility
• Purpose + commerciality – deliver growth that supports innovation, places and communities
• Market impact – work at the centre of the UK’s innovation, regeneration and partnership ecosystem

If you’re looking for a role where you can combine commercial leadership, strategic influence and real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re building a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply – you might be just the person we’re looking for.