STAR Hub Engagement Manager (048625)

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the STAR Hub at the University of Surrey, for a self-motivated, pro-active, and highly organised individual to join our team. 

The University of Surrey are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee. Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively make a real difference.  

About the role

The STAR Hub (Start Health – Stay Healthy | Aligning Public and Planetary Health Through Precision Plant-Based Dietary Solutions across the Life-course) is a Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club (OIRC) innovation hub, which is funded by the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Hub is led by the University of Surrey in collaboration with the Universities of Reading, Newcastle, Ulster and Leeds. It brings together UK-based academics, businesses and wider stakeholders invested in the food and drink sector, to develop innovative and sustainable plant/fungi/algae-based products, services and systems targeted at specific life stages to improve and maintain health across the life-course. 

We are seeking a motivated Industry Engagement Manager, passionate about diet and health and, in particular, plant/fungi/algae-based foods, to manage and promote the STAR Hub's activities, build our Hub community, and broker new academic-industry partnerships leading to the development of new projects, external funding opportunities and investment. 

About you 

In order to be successful in this post you will need to evidence the following experience and skills;

An understanding of knowledge exchange and of the research, policy and market trends in diet and health or specifically plant/fungi/algae-based foods.  Excellent time management and organisational skills, experience of working on bioscience-based projects, and in developing partnerships between academia and industry. Ability to understand the perspectives of businesses operating in the food industry, and to tailor content and communication to an audience’s needs.

How to apply

Please attach a CV and Cover Letter with your application outlining your experience against the essential criteria in the JD and motivation for the role. 

For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Dr Kourosh Ahmadi, STAR Hub Principal Investigator (star.ukri-oirc@surrey.ac.uk).

Interviews will be held week commencing 20th October.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days’ holiday + 7 closure days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata)Generous pension, Hybrid/flexible working optionsSupportive, family-friendly benefits incl. an excellent on-site nurseryAccess to campus leisure facilities

Closing Date: 10 Oct 2025

Area: Professional Services

Salary: £33,803 to £36,839 per annum pro rata (0.8 FTE)
Fixed Term until 13/11/2027