York St John University
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the role of Director of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange at York St John University.
This post provides an opportunity to lead a thriving Directorate that makes a real impact at a time of challenge and opportunity for our University, our sector and indeed the whole world.
For over 180 years, our institution has responded positively and proactively to the emerging needs of the communities we serve. Since our founding in 1841, our social justice mission has ensured students from every background are supported and inspired to reach their full potential.
Originally a teacher training college for young people from local working families, today we welcome over 13,500 students and 1,100 staff from all over the world to our award-winning campuses in York and London. Our Director of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange will make their mark on shaping a new chapter in our story. Several years of growth, diversification and partnership development underpin a financially stable institution with people still firmly at its heart. Students and their outcomes are at the centre of everything we do – a commitment recognised by our The Times and Sunday Times accolade of University of the Year for Social Inclusion for 2025.
The efforts of the whole team have placed us on a positive trajectory – we achieved an overall positivity score of 83.5% in the latest National Student Survey (NSS). We are exceptionally proud to be TEF Gold for student experience, and Silver overall. Our focus on excellence has supported our upward trajectory on key quality parameters, including entry standards, continuation, outcomes, and progression. Applications to study at York St John from undergraduate and international students have grown year-on-year and we are building our research capacity after our best-ever REF outcome in 2022.
Underpinning these achievements, this is a place with an incredible sense of community, where people really do work together. This helps students, staff and visitors alike feel they are welcomed, valued and belong. Our University for Social Impact Strategy guides our future journey. It articulates who we are and what we do as an institution, reflecting our long history of creating positive social change. Most importantly, it is inspired by the work of our staff community to create positive social impact.
Underpinned by a series of strategic frameworks, School Roadmaps and Enabling Plans, the Strategy guides the work we do and sets out the type of University we want to be in a rapidly changing world. We hope you will join us to achieve the aims and direction that hold true to all the things we care about and can be proud of at York St John. Working alongside me and the Executive Board, our Senior Leaders across the Schools and Directorates ensure our Strategy remains relevant and fit for purpose as we respond to the challenges of an ever-changing higher education landscape. You will bring our Strategy to life, making it real and relevant for our staff and student community. Your drive, insight and ideas will maintain the momentum we have established.
We have a London campus and five academic Schools at our York site, reflecting a diverse breadth of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. A huge amount has been achieved by the University in recent years, particularly against the backdrop of the complex political and regulatory environment. There is great strength here and a real passion to do work that makes a difference and promotes social justice. We continue to build a team that shares that passion.
I look forward to welcoming a new Director of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange who, through their experience, leadership and credibility, will support the Directorate to drive forward our ambitions, champion our community spirit, and ensure York St John University moves to the next stage of its development.
I hope the information provided in the following pages gives you a greater understanding of who we are, what we have achieved, and our aspirations for the future.
Our history
York St John University can draw on a proud history of innovating and modernising to meet contemporary needs and challenges. As the oldest higher education institution in the City, our roots go back to 1841. Originally the York Diocesan Training School for teacher education, we opened the door to the children of local working families. In 1846 the female Teacher Training School was also founded and ever since then, our mission to widen access to education has been at the heart of everything we do.
Our community
Our role in the city of York is one we take seriously. We are accredited to the Good Business Charter for our responsible business practices and are proud to work with individuals, charities, groups and schools to serve our local community. Our staff and students engage directly with the community through a range of research projects and initiatives. From prison partnerships to allotments for refugees, military rehabilitation to free creative courses for mental health service users – we fight to remove the hurdles that prevent participation in education. Our London campus is based in the Export Building at East India Dock, ideally placed for access to east London’s rich and diverse amenities. Close to Canary Wharf, the campus is an integral part of London’s creative, technology and business ecosystem. Many of our students and academics are also activists, taking on the challenges of the modern world head on. Our community takes an active stand against climate change, prejudice and inequality and we will only ever increase our efforts.
A place for everyone
We work proactively to create an environment that feels friendly, inclusive and supportive for all our staff, as well as our students. As a Stonewall Diversity Champion, we were proud to have been one of the very few UK universities in its Top 20 Trans Employers list for 2020, and in their Top 100 Employers list five times. The University is committed to continually improving diversity among the student body and staff workforce and has been awarded both the Race Equality Charter and Athena SWAN Charter bronze award status. We have strong staff network groups that ensure colleagues from different backgrounds can benefit from mutual support and effect change.
A place for you
We know the importance of work-life balance and understand that the best working arrangements suit individual needs as well as the job. Our staff benefit from generous holiday allowances and flexible working. Staff wellbeing is a consistent priority at York St John. In addition to a new Wellbeing Strategy, our ‘Your YSJ’ staff benefits package includes policies and paid leave to support work- life balance; financial wellbeing and reward; learning and development and an inclusive and diverse workplace.
In York, employees have access to YSJActive fitness facilities and support for a healthy lifestyle. Colleagues working at our Lord Mayor’s Walk or Haxby Road campuses will see the benefits of our biodiversity projects to expand our green spaces and create wildlife habitats.
Our presence in York and London
York St John University is located in the centre of the beautiful city of York. You will know York as a top tourist destination, thanks to its rich history, culture and year- round entertainment. What you may not know is that it is also regularly highlighted as one of the best places to live in the UK, with excellent schools, a safe environment and community spirit.
The University is easy to access on foot, by bike or on public transport. There are regular bus routes around the city, including Park and Ride services. York Train station is less than a mile away. This makes longer commutes manageable, with over 70 trains per day during the week to London (journey just over 2 hours). Regular trains to Leeds (25 minutes), Leeds Bradford airport (1 hour), Manchester and Manchester Airport (80 and 105 minutes respectively) and Edinburgh are also available. For staff moving to the city, relocation support is available. Parking is also available near to our campus. York is the largest city in the UK’s largest county, North Yorkshire. The county boasts the picturesque towns and villages of the North York Moors National Park and Yorkshire coast.
The University has strong links and partnerships across the region, including a leading role in widening participation in higher education. Our regional footprint is expanding, establishing York St John as a major influence on North Yorkshire’s social, economic and cultural evolution. Achieving a positive work-life balance, alongside ease of travel and a fantastic environment in which to work and thrive, is an important aspect of belonging to the York St John community.
Our campus in London is a postgraduate learning community with a commitment to educate, motivate and inspire a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. Our Master’s courses are shaped by our expert staff, directed by the latest research and informed by industry leaders. Set in the Export building at East India Dock, our campus is based in the rich and diverse East part of London. Close to Canary Wharf, we are part of a vibrant, dynamic and innovative hub of creative, technology, and startup businesses.
UNIVERSITY FOR SOCIAL IMPACT STRATEGY
At York St John we strive for what we believe in. Our strong values remain unchanged and underpin everything we do.
We are:
Our vision is that through our excellent education and research, we will be a catalyst for change that creates a fair future. Our University for Social Impact Strategy will ensure we can meet future challenges by guiding the innovation and energy of our University community.
These ten strategic aims describe the difference we want to make.
In the years to come, we will:
To deliver against these aims, we have designed a series of University-wide Strategic Frameworks together with relevant colleagues. These will be underpinned by local School Roadmaps and Enabling Plans detailing the specific actions we will take to move us closer to meeting our aims.
Read our Strategy in full on our website: University for Social Impact Strategy | York St John University
Key links
Our executive team
Our academic community
Our academic community is the intellectual heartbeat of our University. This is a community deeply committed to students, regularly going the extra mile to support those who need additional assistance, and with a strong connection to the values of widening access and promoting social justice.
As at all universities, it is also a community experiencing a changing working environment – adapting to the external regulatory framework, balancing the competing demands of teaching, research, student support and personal development, and working across multiple internal and external networks to play a part in the activities where our voice and expertise can make the biggest impact.
To position us as effectively as possible to achieve our ambitions for both inspiring teaching and impactful research, the University has five academic Schools and a London campus. Each School has a Senior Leadership Team consisting of Head of School, Associate Heads, Learning and Teaching Lead, Research and Knowledge Transfer Lead, and an Operations Manager, who provide leadership, and cultivate multi-disciplinary collaboration, and enhance the support available to academics.
The Pro Vice Chancellor: Education line manages Heads of School to ensure that all Schools achieve their full potential and contribute to delivering the University for Social Impact Strategy.
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST: Director of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange
DEPARTMENT: Business Development Office
REPORTING TO: Pro Vice Chancellor Research and International
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: As agreed with PVC Research and International, but likely to include:
LEADERSHIP OF YORK ST JOHN
As a member of the University’s Senior Strategic Leadership Team:
JOB PURPOSE
The Director will provide leadership of business development, knowledge exchange and innovation activity across the university to increase impact and income.
The role holder will:
Duties and Responsibilities:
Health & safety
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, whilst at work, members of staff must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of any other person who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
This is not a comprehensive definition of the post. Postholders are expected to undertake any work that comes with the remit of the post’s main objective. This job description will be kept under review and may be changed at any time subject to consultation with the postholder.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST TITLE: Director of Business Development and Knowledge Transfer
SCHOOL / DEPARTMENT: Business Development Office
The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. All of the following criteria are considered essential and assessed by application and interview.
Education & Training
The postholder should be able to demonstrate:
Knowledge & Experience
The postholder should be able to demonstrate:
Skills & Attributes
The postholder should be able to demonstrate
The Leading in York St John Framework
YSJ is my university, I choose to be here, and I show my commitment by contributing to its long-term success. This Framework is used in our Recruitment & Performance Development Reviews, please take these into consideration when making your application and in your role.
Self-Assured – I take personal responsibility. If not me, then who? If not now, then when?
Agile – I am proactive, creative and responsive in testing solutions. I continuously adapt my Approach.
Socially Aware – I contribute my knowledge, skills and time to the broader university community.
Tenacious – I confidently and passionately contribute my ideas and support others to do the same.
Open-Minded – I communicate with empathy and positivity, without prejudice.
Work-life balance
Financial wellbeing and reward
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday, 10 October 2025.
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Kiersten Avery at kiersten.avery@andersonquigley.com or Alicja Janowska at alicja.janowska@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7743 927 783.
www.yorksj.ac.uk 