Science Knowledge Asset Manager, Natural History Museum

Closing deadline for applications 17th April 2024.

Job Summary
The Natural History Museum (NHM) is accelerating the impact of our science to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and create a future where people and the planet can thrive. The heart of our Vision and Strategy to 2031 creates solutions from, and for, nature. We can generate more impactful solutions if we establish ways to turn our scientific knowledge into scaled
products, services and data to produce real-world societal, environmental, and economic value.
The newly formed Innovation Unit at NHM aims to create a pipeline of science-based opportunities, taking ideas from proof-of-concept to market ready products and services. This will build on our existing science commercialization portfolio of consultancy, research contracts, and technical services by finding new and exciting ways to exploit our Intellectual Property (IP) assets and inhouse capabilities, for example via product development, data licensing or new venture creation.

Role summary
The Science Knowledge Asset Manager is a new position designed to play a lead role in the management and exploitation of the Museum’s Knowledge Assets (KAs).
KAs are non-physical assets such as intellectual property, skills, know-how, data and R&D outputs. These are key elements of the 2021 report “Getting Smarter: a strategy for knowledge and innovation assets in the public sector”, and part of a government priority to boost productivity and bring UK inventions into the economy. The post is funded by the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) as part of its KA Strengthening Pilot programme (KASP).
This is a rare opportunity to shape how the Natural History Museum supports an important area of work in innovation and commercialisation. The Science Knowledge Asset Manager will lead the design and implementation of a new strategy and end-to-end process for managing Science-generated Knowledge Assets from identification through to exploitation. There will be opportunities to be directly involved in the translation of early-stage scientific research through to market ready products and services, and to create positive impact by enhancing the Museum’s general understanding and use of its scientific intellectual property.
The postholder will work within the Innovation Unit at NHM, engaging colleagues across the Museum, particularly within the Science Group. The Science Knowledge Asset Manager will also have close links with GOTT, who will provide mentoring and access to appropriate learning and development. The post is funded for up to two years, with the potential for this to be extended.

Full details on the role and how to apply can be found here.