The University of Melbourne is seeking an experienced business development and management professional to lead our NorVicFoods project in the Hume, Victoria. The role will be at the interfaces between innovation, knowledge translation and industry development, and will require engagement with industry innovators, University tech transfer staff, and public sector leaders. The successful candidate will work as part of a nationally-leading agriculture and food innovation team, and enjoy all the advantages of a rural and regional location.

About the role

The Executive Manager is responsible for NorVicFoods’ consistent achievement of its mission and strategic objectives and will lead the development and implementation of the NorVicFoods strategy. The Executive Manager will take a leading role in stakeholder engagement within the Hume region to build and develop new and existing relationships.

The Executive Manager will lead the development and implementation of business development strategy for NorVicFoods and will lead engagement activities, connecting academics with industry partners and stakeholders to build and develop new and existing relationships. The position will be responsible for generating, negotiating and managing a portfolio of customised ventures with organisations in the Hume region.

The Executive Manager will interact with organisations that are key actors in the agri-food innovation and production systems of Victoria and southern Australia. Organisations will include global corporations, private companies, not-for-profit organisations, government entities and community groups. Working with the various supporters of NorVicFoods, the Executive Manager will seek long term impact through the project and seek other resources to support its growth and development.

The position will lead a team based in Shepparton, reporting into the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences and interacting with agri-food organisations. The team will also interact with other University staff and students who work through NorVicFoods, which includes:

• Exchanging knowledge and insights with agri-food organisations;
• Help train students for employment in the sector; and
• Assist in the commercialisation of the University Intellectual Property.

About NorVicFoods

NorVicFoods (NVF) is a knowledge translation, and industry engagement project of the University of Melbourne, that is funded under the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund in 2021. NorVicFoods will facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the University’s diverse and creative academic staff, to agri-food enterprises in the Hume region of Victoria.

The project will be headquartered in Shepparton, but project collaborations are expected to extend across the Hume region, and elsewhere as required.

The NorVicFoods project is governed by a Project Control Board, and in time will be guided by a regionally-based advisory committee. The project has several significant industry collaborators.

About you

Essential

• A relevant postgraduate degree essential in a relevant discipline coupled with substantial commercial experience in a business development position.
• Demonstrated understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by agri-food industry in a region like Hume.
• Demonstrated experience in effective financial and strategic planning with a key emphasis on external engagement in the agri-food or closely related industry sector.
• A strong track record in generating new business and/or forging partnerships with agricultural corporations, government and related sectors through identifying and meeting their organisation’s needs.
• Demonstrated experience in administration and reporting of complex projects.
• Proven experience in the development and project management of contract and sub-contract scheduled and/or with the practices and processes associated with protecting and commercialising intellectual property.
• Demonstrated experience in scoping, planning, negotiating and managing complex arrangements with commercial partners.
• Excellent relationship management skills evidenced by a well-established professional network in the Hume region within the agriculture sector.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously with independent decision making, informed by judicious consultation with senior University stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to represent the organisation at a senior level to external partners or stakeholders.
• Proven ability to constructively manage multiple and complex stakeholder relationships and competing priorities without losing momentum.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and facilitating teams and resources to respond to commercial opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively and cooperatively in a dynamic, ambiguous and changing work environment.

Desirable

• Proven experience working in a large, complex organisation similar to the University of Melbourne.
• Proven skills or awareness of the principles of selling and influential communication.
• Demonstrated experience working with students.
• Proven experience in working with community groups including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

To ensure the University provides a safe environment for children, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.

For information to assist you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria, please go to:
https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

Benefits

• Maximise your benefits through our Salary Packaging scheme
• Flexible family friendly policies, providing generous leave and working conditions
• The opportunity to work in a culturally rich environment
• A substantial discount to eligible staff and their immediate families in undertaking further studies at the University of Melbourne

To find out more, go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/staff-benefits  

Applications close: 24 Oct 2021 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Daylight Time