Business Engagement and Partnerships Manager
Business Engagement and Workforce Development Unit
Ref: CVHD00079A
Full-time: 35.75 hours (1.0 FTE)
Grade: 8 (£45,641 to £57,666)
Fixed-term until 31 July 2029
Location: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (Musselburgh Campus)
Help shape a new approach to business engagement at QMU Queen Margaret University is establishing a new Business Engagement Unit to build stronger relationships with employers and organisations across the public and private sectors, and to turn those relationships into new opportunities for our students and staff. Funded through the Scottish Funding Council's Universities Transformation Fund, this is a chance to build a new institutional capability from the ground up and to help deliver QMU's Strategy 2026-31.
The primary focus is QMU's own region, extending across Scotland where there is a strategic reason to do so. We are looking for an entrepreneurial, commercially minded and collaborative leader who can connect academic expertise with the skills needs of employers and public services.
The Role The Unit will initially be established within the Strategic Planning and Policy Development team, reporting to the Head of Strategic Planning. Its permanent place in the University structure will be confirmed as QMU's transformation programme progresses.
You will lead the new Unit, establishing its operating procedures, service standards and priorities in agreement with the Deans, and building the external relationships and pipeline on which its future depends. Working closely with the Schools and Divisions, the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Unit and colleagues across the University, you will:
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with employers and organisations in the public and private sectors, in the areas most relevant to QMU's portfolio.
- Convert identified skills gaps into new graduate apprenticeships, earn-as-you-learn programmes, short courses, CPD and consultancy opportunities.
- Increase the number of placements and work-based learning opportunities available to students across all our programmes.
- Establish structured employer consultation and engagement, ensuring the intelligence it generates informs academic planning and portfolio review.
- Design and deliver showcasing and networking events that give students and staff a platform to profile their expertise to employers who would benefit from working with QMU.
- Lead the negotiation and contracting of agreements with employers, ensuring these are centrally recorded and monitored.
- Develop and manage a single institutional CRM, so that relationships and pipeline data are held by the University rather than by individuals.
- Lead a small team, and lead the Unit's route to financial sustainability.
About you You will bring substantial experience of business and employer engagement, commercial partnerships or a closely related relationship-led role, together with a track record of converting relationships into contracted activity or income. You will be confident with senior stakeholders and with negotiation, bring strong commercial judgement — including the judgement to decline opportunities that do not fit — and be able to build collaboration across different professional groups. Experience of higher or further education is valuable but not essential; relevant experience from business, professional services, skills development and other sectors is welcome.
Why join QMU? This is an opportunity to shape a new service at a significant point in QMU's development, creating partnerships and sustainable income while extending the economic and social impact of the University's teaching, research and expertise.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Gordon Mackenzie at gmackenzie1@qmu.ac.uk
The closing date for this position is 23.59 on 10th November 2026.
Interview dates will be advised in due course. Interviews will be held in person on the QMU campus.
Please note, this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a high volume of applications.
Should you wish to apply for the vacancy please visit our vacancies page download the
and complete an application online.If you have any queries regarding the application process or require special assistance, please contact Human Resources by email at recruitment@qmu.ac.uk This role does meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of migrant workers. Therefore, we can progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK.