Role Type: Strategic Leadership / External Relations / Technology Transfer

Role Summary:

We are seeking a high-impact, execution-oriented Senior Manager Networks & Partnerships to anchor our knowledge dissemination, outreach, and ecosystem-building efforts. This is a central, externally facing leadership role focused on driving visibility and creating strategic business opportunities through robust partnerships across the Global South. You will bridge the gap between technical research and market adoption by managing a pipeline of high-impact technologies using Technical and Commercial Readiness Level (TRL/CRL) frameworks. From leading complex media campaigns to anchoring the SouthSouth Task Force, you will be responsible for nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of research institutions, industry stakeholders, and funding partners. The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator and researcher who can translate complex technology use-cases into compelling pitch decks and knowledge products that resonate with global ecosystem actors.

Responsibilities:

- Strategic Knowledge Dissemination: Lead end-to-end media campaigns across digital, social, and print platforms to position the domain as a thought leader in technology transfer.

- Partnership Ecosystem Management: Build and nurture long-term relationships with research bodies, external agencies, and industry stakeholders to drive collaborative growth.

- Technology Pipeline Governance: Collaborate with program teams to manage a high-impact technology pipeline, applying rigorous technical and commercial readiness-level assessment frameworks.

- Global South Engagement: Lead the coordination of SouthSouth Task Force activities, ensuring strategic alignment and active participation across regional partnerships.

- Communications Stewardship: Oversee all functional communications, ensuring high quality, consistency, and alignment with central knowledge management standards.

- Market Research & Insights: Conduct primary and secondary research into priority sectors to identify use-cases and industry trends that facilitate technology transfer initiatives.

- Digital Presence Management: Create, maintain, and continuously update project-specific websites and social media assets to maximize external engagement.

- Business Development Support: Develop high-stakes proposals, pitch decks, and strategic linkages to secure funding and expand the organization's impact.

- Inquiry & Client Coordination: Manage incoming business inquiries and client interactions, ensuring professional, timely, and effective communication.

- Vendor & Agency Management: Oversee external vendors for the design and production of high-quality knowledge products and technical publications.

Technical Requirements:

- Network Leadership: Proven track record in ecosystem building and managing high-level institutional partnerships.

- Technology Transfer Frameworks: Hands-on experience with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and Commercial Readiness Levels (CRL) to evaluate research maturity.

- Strategic Communications: Expertise in managing 360-degree communication strategies, including digital marketing and corporate PR.

- Research Proficiency: Advanced skills in sector-specific primary/secondary research and competitive landscape analysis.

- Proposal Engineering: Strong ability to synthesize technical data into strategic pitch decks and funding proposals.

Preferred Skills:

- Global South Expertise: Deep understanding of the socio-economic and technological landscape of developing nations and emerging markets.

- Cross-Functional Catalyst: Ability to align messaging and formats between specialized technical domains and central knowledge units.

- Execution Rigor: Strong project management skills with an "action-first" approach to building visibility and business leads.

- Stakeholder Diplomacy: Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills to manage complex multi-stakeholder environments.

- Content Innovation: Ability to lead the rollout of novel technology-based knowledge products and digital tools.