Location
London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

Hours
Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary
£69,080 per annum

About the Role
Too much good science stalls before it reaches patients, not for lack of ambition but because the people and organisations needed to move promising research forward are not always aligned early enough. Researchers, funders, the NHS, industry, regulators, investors and charities may each hold part of the solution, but not always a shared plan for delivery. The Academy of Medical Sciences is uniquely positioned to change that. Its independence means partners trust it to act for patients rather than any one institution. Its Fellowship spans every discipline and it can convene people who rarely share the same room. The Translation Catalyst Programme is how the Academy turns that position into action, and this role leads it.

The Translational Partnerships Lead will build the operating system around UK science — the alignment and shared infrastructure that let research succeed — and over time, create a national asset. This is a building role as much as a delivery one. The function is new, its scale not fixed in advance, and much of the role involves bringing in partners and external funding from industry, venture capital, research councils, health charities and others. Success is measured by what changes in the system, not by announcements.

Reporting to the Director of Translation and Enterprise, you will lead a defined portfolio of translational activity where coordinated action could help the UK build translational advantage, such as genomic and precision medicine, advanced therapies, clinical trials innovation, health data and AI, or other priorities identified with Fellows and partners. You will translate analysis into delivery plans, secure partner commitment, manage risks and dependencies, and provide clear advice and reporting to senior colleagues.

This role operates at the interface of biomedical science, policy, programme delivery and stakeholder engagement. It requires substantial professional experience of the UK research and health system, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the judgement to apply specialist knowledge to complex organisational and policy challenges. The role combines partnership development with practical delivery, ensuring opportunities are well evidenced, well governed and aligned with the Academy’s charitable purpose and wider organisational priorities.

Key Responsibilities
- Lead a defined portfolio of translational activity with research and health system partners, ensuring workstreams are planned, governed and delivered to agreed objectives, timescales and resources.
- Manage day-to-day delivery, risks and dependencies, escalating issues and decisions to the Director as appropriate.
- Line manage and develop staff where required, fostering a collaborative working culture.
- Convene the system to close translational gaps through workshops and roundtables, identifying where the UK can build advantage.
- Develop practical solutions and commitments with partners to implement improvements.
- Use evidence and insight to inform discussions with government, funders, Fellows, regulators, industry, charities and the wider research community.
- Support design and development of Academy interventions that help promising science move from discovery towards development.
- Collaborate closely with the Grants and Programmes team to ensure new schemes are deliverable and well governed.
- Provide specialist advice on translational pathways, stakeholder needs and delivery risks.
- Build effective relationships with partners across the health system to identify opportunities for collaboration.
- Develop and support practical mechanisms for collaboration such as workshops, roundtables or partnership propositions.
- Analyse complex evidence to identify gaps and define focus areas for implementing solutions.
- Ensure partnerships are transparent, well governed and consistent with the Academy’s charitable purpose.
- Develop and maintain partnerships that bring in external capability and insight.
- Secure commitments and shared ownership while ensuring agreements are realistic and deliverable.
- Provide clear reporting on progress, performance, resources and risk to the Director of Translation and Enterprise.
- Collaborate with peers and Heads across the Academy to support wider organisational priorities and cross-Academy activity.

Experience
- Substantial professional experience in research translation or a relevant area such as biomedical science, policy, programme delivery, grants management, stakeholder engagement, translational research or life sciences innovation.
- Strong understanding of how promising research moves towards development, adoption or commercial application, and where that process can stall.
- Proven ability to analyse complex challenges and develop practical solutions.
- Credibility with stakeholders in the UK research, science, health, policy or life sciences environment.
- Experience building effective partnerships and turning shared ambition into deliverable plans.
- Experience delivering programmes, projects or workstreams to agreed objectives, timescales and resources.
- Ability to manage risks, dependencies and provide clear reporting.
- Leadership skills with the ability to operate autonomously and collaboratively within governance frameworks.

About You
- Analytical and problem-solving mindset with strong judgement.
- Credible and respected by external partners including government, regulators, funders, Fellows, industry, charities and the wider health system.
- Skilled in partnership development, negotiation and maintaining momentum.
- Collaborative team player who supports alignment with wider organisational priorities.
- Inclusive leader who can develop and empower people where applicable.

Qualifications
- No specific qualifications are mandated, but substantial relevant professional experience and expertise in translational research and partnership development are essential.