Imperial College London has secured three years of Research England Development (RED) funding to provide support to climate innovations that are ready to scale. This project – EarthScale – includes partners from the universities of Cranfield, Derby, Exeter, Leeds and Nottingham, as well as agreements to collaborate with a number of external partners.
The project focuses on IP-rich university start-ups and spinouts with deep technology-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. Encompassing hardware, software and hybrid solutions, the project supports climate-focused businesses across a broad range of industrial verticals. Over the initial RED Fund period, this support will reach 60 IP-rich climate startups initiated within the UK higher education eco-system - from partner institutions and beyond. Each regional partner hosts events to showcase prototyping and manufacturing facilities and develop collaborations with local investors, policy groups and relevant businesses. The project includes work packages to deliver investment support, manufacturing advice, talent and governance navigation, business development support and peer networking.
The Imperial team is a partnership between Imperial’s Enterprise Lab and Undaunted, bringing together Imperial’s excellence in supporting innovation in general, and climate innovation in particular. The postholder will sit in Undaunted but have a close relationship with both teams.
We are looking for a talented fundraising manager to secure the future of the climate solutions collaborative, ensuring a lasting future for the network and structures created across the UK in this project.
The project funders, RED, emphasise the importance of ensuring this project, or its infrastructure and networks, are self-sustaining beyond this initial phase. We anticipate the benefits of this work to be felt across the UK. You will take an active role and liaising with businesses, funders and industry partners to facilitate this.
The project has been running since April 2025. It will be your job to take a strategic view of the project in its current form and work autonomously to take the lead in delivering multiple streams of activity that will increase the chances of a sustainable future for the project from a range of potential funding sources.
The job will be dynamic - as the project continues to develop, you will be delivering and implementing a range of financial sustainability pathways that have been developed for the project.
We expect you to be a self-starter, collaborating both with the other participating universities, and with other fundraising, corporate engagement, entrepreneurship and innovation activities in Imperial to coordinate efforts to secure funds for innovation and climate activities, ensuring responsible and effective communication with external funders.
Your strategic perspective will be essential to progress and refine ideas for financial sustainability and convert them into tangible funding opportunities to support the growth of young climate start-ups through their challenging early years, ultimately delivering green jobs in the UK and real environmental impact.
Relationship management and / or business development experience and/or fundraising experience creating new opportunities and negotiation through to funding conclusion
Creating a funded activity and/or fundraising for an activity in the climate change, sustainability or innovation domains
Understanding of the variety of routes to fund innovation and sustainability/climate/environment initiatives
Successful at working both in an informal team environment, as well as to provide leadership in or work within a formal structure
Strong relationship building skills with senior level executives, with the ability to interact in a manner that builds quick and sustainable trust and confidence in the person and the project
Strong, independently driven delivery focus, with the ability to manage multiple programme initiatives to completion through well-developed organisation, coordination and facilitation skills
The chance to deliver a new programme to draw galvanise and join up the ecosystem for early-stage climate start-ups to grow in the UK – and make a real impact on the world.
The chance to work in a thriving, impact and innovation-orientated institution, being inspired by new ideas and dynamic entrepreneurs every single day The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity Benefit from sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes) Get access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day 1, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and a cycle-to-work scheme
Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel Be part of a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work culture with various and resources designed to support your personal and professional .
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