Position Overview

The Industry Liaison Expert will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between UniPod and the industry. She/He will be responsible for establishing strategic private sector partnerships, coordinating collaborations, and identifying opportunities for UniPod to engage with businesses, investors, government agencies, and other organizations. The expert will position the UniPod as a leading innovation hub by aligning with industry needs, fostering growth, ensuring sustainability, and building collaborations through enterprise services.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Develop and nurture strategic relationships with industry partners, investors government agencies, and other organizations to drive UniPod's mission.
2. Oversee joint initiatives, ensuring alignment with UniPod's goals and stakeholder expectations.
3. Develop systems for mapping the local innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, identify opportunities and synergies for the UniPod and leverage on gaps to attract regional and international partnerships.
4. Seek and secure funding or collaboration opportunities that advance UniPod’s objectives.
5. Act as the primary point of contact for industry engagement, ensuring smooth communication between UniPod and external entities.
6. Negotiate, draft, and oversee UniPod business deals, agreements, including contracts and MOUs
7. Connect UniPod innovators with relevant industry resources, expertise, and markets.
8. Represent UniPod at industry events, conferences, and networking platforms to raise awareness of its capabilities and opportunities.
9. Organize networking events to engage private sectors, funders, investors and innovators at local and international level
10. Assist the UniPod Supervisor in planning and decision-making related to industry engagement and growth.
11. Track and report the outcomes of collaborations and partnerships, ensuring they align with UniPod’s goals.
12. Support other UniPod activities and initiatives as assigned by the Head of Research and Innovation.

Minimum Education Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Economics, business administration, innovation, entrepreneurship, or any related field.
• Three years plus of experience in industry engagement, business development, resource mobilization or partnership management.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships.
• Strong project coordination and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in managing contracts, MOUs, or similar agreements.
• Knowledge of research commercialization, entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications together with copies of relevant qualifications and detailed curriculum vitae with two traceable referees should be sent by Friday 28th February, 2025 to talentsearch@mubas.ac.mw. Applicants should indicate the position applied for in the subject line of their emails and the application package should be merged as one document. Please note that hard copy applications are not allowed.