UK

United Kingdom · Research and development · C-Suite (20+ years)

VP, Open Innovation & Alliances

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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  • Experience bandC-Suite (20+ years)
  • Reports toChief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) · Head of Strategic R&D Partnerships · Executive Director, External Science & Technology · SVP, Corporate Development & Innovation

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in Skills for Health and Care Professions (RQF) Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 1 of 1 standard
OCNLR Level 3 Award in Progression OCN London · Level 3 · covers 1 of 1 standard

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Research skills for health and social care NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
Research Skills Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and Employment (RQF)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner
Your Plan Illustration

Built for VP, Open Innovation & Alliances

2 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Research skills for health and social care NCFE · covers 1 of 1 standards Level 3
  2. Research Skills Open Awards · covers 1 of 1 standards Level 2
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a VP, Open Innovation & Alliances?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skill this role is being asked for

  • AI-Driven Strategic Foresight
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your VP, Open Innovation & Alliances plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

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3What this role really is

This job sets the direction for external innovation, deciding where R&D efforts outside the organisation should focus. It covers long-term strategy, partnerships with other companies, and keeping R&D ahead of market trends.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Salesforce (Strategic Architecture) Strategic

Overseeing the architectural design and strategic use of Salesforce (or similar CRM) to manage the entire lifecycle of enterprise-level partnerships, M&A targets, and innovation scouting, ensuring it provides actionable insights for executive decision-making.

Jira (R&D-wide PM Standards) Strategic

Defining and implementing company-wide project management standards and integrations for R&D projects, ensuring external partnerships are tracked efficiently and transparently across the entire organisation.

Confluence / Notion (Knowledge Management Strategy) Strategic

Driving the knowledge management strategy for the entire external innovation ecosystem, ensuring critical IP, partnership agreements, and research insights are captured, organised, and accessible for long-term strategic advantage.

PatSnap / CB Insights / PitchBook (Global Tech Scouting & Intelligence) Strategic

Defining the strategic use of these platforms for global tech scouting, competitive intelligence, and M&A target identification, managing subscriptions and ensuring the insights are integrated into enterprise strategy.

Tableau / Power BI (C-suite Reporting & Analytics) Strategic

Presenting high-level strategic insights from these platforms to the C-suite and Board, directing the analytics strategy for partnerships and innovation to support enterprise-level decision-making.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Enterprise Innovation Strategy N/A N/A N/A
M&A Target Identification & Execution N/A N/A N/A
External Partnership Agreements (Major) N/A N/A N/A
Organisational Design & Talent N/A N/A N/A
Budget Allocation (P&L) N/A N/A N/A

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

R&D Partnership Portfolio ROI
The return on investment across the entire portfolio of external R&D partnerships and acquisitions.
Target · Achieve a minimum 5x ROI over a 7-year rolling period.

If we've invested £100M in external R&D initiatives over the last 7 years, we'd expect to see at least £500M in attributable revenue or cost savings from those initiatives by the end of the period.

Percentage of R&D Pipeline Influenced by External Innovation
The proportion of our total R&D product pipeline that originated from or was significantly accelerated by external partnerships, licensing, or acquisitions.
Target · Influence >40% of the R&D pipeline within 3 years, growing to 60% within 5 years.

Currently, 25% of our pipeline comes from external sources. You'd be expected to increase this to 40% by securing more impactful partnerships and acquisitions that feed our product development.

IP Portfolio Value Growth
The growth in the estimated commercial value of our intellectual property portfolio directly attributable to open innovation and alliance activities.
Target · Increase IP portfolio valuation by 15-20% year-on-year.

If our IP portfolio (excluding core internal patents) is valued at £500M, we'd expect it to be £575M next year, thanks to strategic licensing deals and acquired patents.

Successful M&A Integration Rate
The percentage of acquired technologies or companies that successfully integrate into our R&D ecosystem and deliver on their strategic rationale.
Target · Maintain an 80% success rate for M&A integration within the first 24 months post-acquisition.

Of the five companies acquired last year for their R&D capabilities, four have fully integrated their technology and teams, contributing as expected to our pipeline, hitting the 80% target.

Board and Investor Confidence in Innovation Strategy
The level of trust and confidence the Board and key investors have in the long-term innovation strategy and the leadership driving it.
  • Regular invitations to present strategic updates to the Board and investor calls
  • positive feedback from board members on strategic clarity
  • increased investor interest in R&D narratives
  • successful capital raises for innovation initiatives
  • proactive consultation on major strategic shifts.
Market Perception as an Innovation Leader
How the market (competitors, talent, customers, media) perceives our company's leadership in R&D and open innovation.
  • Positive mentions in industry reports and analyst briefings regarding our innovation pipeline
  • increased inbound interest from potential partners and top-tier talent
  • speaking invitations at major industry conferences
  • awards for innovation
  • favourable media coverage of our strategic alliances.
Organisational Alignment on External R&D Priorities
The degree to which internal R&D, Commercial, and other functions are aligned with and actively supporting the external innovation strategy.
  • High participation and engagement in cross-functional innovation steering committees
  • clear understanding of external technology roadmaps across departments
  • minimal 'not-invented-here' syndrome (a common R&D challenge)
  • smooth handovers of partnered technologies to internal development teams
  • active contribution to tech scouting briefs from various business units.
Talent Attraction & Retention in Innovation
The ability to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent within the open innovation and alliances organisation.
  • Low attrition rates within your direct and indirect teams
  • high engagement scores in internal surveys
  • successful recruitment of highly sought-after innovation professionals
  • internal talent actively seeking roles within your organisation
  • strong internal mobility pathways for high-potential employees.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Shaping the Future of the Enterprise

You'll spend your days engaging with cutting-edge research, meeting with visionary founders, and strategising with the CEO on where our company needs to be in 5, 10, even 20 years. Every decision you make has massive implications for our long-term trajectory.

Leading the acquisition of a small AI firm that completely redefines our core product offering for the next decade.

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

This isn't about short-term wins; it's about building something enduring. You'll be establishing frameworks, forging partnerships, and cultivating a culture of innovation that will outlast your tenure, fundamentally transforming the company's R&D DNA.

Creating a new 'Innovation Ventures' arm that successfully spins out three new companies in five years, each becoming a market leader.

Intellectual Challenge at the Highest Level

You'll be constantly grappling with complex, ambiguous problems that have no easy answers. This means deep dives into emerging technologies, navigating geopolitical shifts, and solving organisational puzzles that impact hundreds or thousands of people. It's a constant mental workout.

Developing a strategy to navigate the ethical implications of a new biotechnology, balancing innovation with societal responsibility.

What frustrates people
  • The sheer inertia of a large organisation when trying to implement truly disruptive change.
  • Having to constantly justify long-term, foundational research investments to a market focused on quarterly earnings.
  • Watching promising external technologies get bogged down or rejected due to internal 'not-invented-here' syndrome.
  • The incredibly slow pace of legal review for complex, multi-party agreements, often killing momentum.
  • Navigating the political landscape of a large company, where different business units have competing priorities for R&D resources.
  • Dealing with the public and investor fallout when a major, high-profile partnership or acquisition doesn't pan out as expected.
What this role does not give you
  • A predictable, routine work schedule with clear, immediate deliverables.
  • Direct, day-to-day management of scientific experiments or product development (that's for your teams).
  • The luxury of avoiding difficult conversations with the Board, investors, or senior executives.
  • A role where you can avoid public scrutiny or high-stakes decision-making.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes the company's long-term competitive advantage, market positioning, and overall enterprise value. You'll be responsible for identifying and securing the technologies that drive multi-billion-pound revenue streams in the future, influencing everything from product pipeline to market entry strategies. It's absolutely critical for our sustained growth and relevance in a rapidly changing world.

Inside the business
  • CEO and Executive Leadership Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
  • Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Legal Counsel (General Counsel)
Outside the business
  • Investors and Analysts
  • Strategic Academic & Research Institutions
  • Major Technology Partners (e.g., large pharma, tech giants)
  • Regulators and Industry Bodies
  • Media and Public Relations
  • M&A Targets and Venture Capital Firms

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A proven track record of leading large R&D, innovation, or corporate development functions within a complex, global organisation for at least 15 years.
  • Demonstrable experience in originating, negotiating, and closing multi-million-pound M&A deals and strategic partnerships.
  • Extensive experience presenting to and influencing Boards of Directors, C-suite executives, and institutional investors.
  • A deep scientific or technical background, allowing for credible engagement with leading researchers and technologists.
  • Experience managing a P&L for a significant business unit or function (£10M+).

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Quantum Computing & Advanced Materials Implications

Quantum computing promises to revolutionise drug discovery, materials science, and cryptography, while advanced materials (e.g., metamaterials, self-healing polymers) could redefine product capabilities. As VP, you need to understand the strategic 'when' and 'how' to engage with these nascent fields, identifying partners or acquisitions that position us for future dominance.

Quantum Supremacy & Algorithms · Materials by Design · Strategic Investment in Deep Tech · Intellectual Property in Quantum/Advanced Materials

  • This quarter: Attend executive briefings or online courses on quantum computing and advanced materials for business leaders.
  • Next 6 months: Task your tech scouting team to produce a comprehensive landscape analysis of key players and research institutions in these fields.
  • Next 12 months: Initiate exploratory discussions with 2-3 leading academic groups or startups in quantum/advanced materials for potential research collaborations.
  • Ongoing: Review and update our long-term R&D roadmap to incorporate potential impacts and opportunities from these technologies.

Quick win: Subscribe to newsletters from leading quantum computing labs or materials science journals. Have your team summarise key breakthroughs and their potential relevance to our business weekly.

Synthetic Biology & Bio-Engineering Strategy

Synthetic biology is moving beyond niche applications to offer transformative solutions in healthcare, sustainable manufacturing, and agriculture. For an R&D-focused company, understanding how to strategically engage with this field—from gene editing to bespoke organism design—is critical for future product development and market expansion.

CRISPR & Gene Editing Technologies · Biomanufacturing & Circular Economy · Bioinformatics & AI in Drug Discovery · Regulatory Pathways for Bio-Engineered Products

  • This quarter: Engage with industry experts and thought leaders in synthetic biology to understand the commercial landscape.
  • Next 6 months: Commission an internal task force to identify potential applications or disruptions from synthetic biology relevant to our core business.
  • Next 12 months: Explore potential M&A targets or strategic partnerships with companies at the forefront of synthetic biology research.
  • Ongoing: Ensure our IP strategy is robust enough to protect and capitalise on advancements in bio-engineering.

Quick win: Attend a virtual conference on synthetic biology or bio-engineering. Have your team prepare a 'state of the industry' report focusing on commercialisation trends and key players.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Active participation in global R&D and innovation forums, acting as a thought leader and speaker.
  • Mentoring rising talent within the company and across the industry.
  • Serving on the advisory boards of startups or academic institutions relevant to our strategic interests.
  • Continuous learning through executive education programmes, particularly in emerging technologies (e.g., AI, quantum, synthetic biology).
  • Publishing articles or whitepapers on open innovation strategies or R&D leadership in reputable journals.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Driven Strategic Foresight

The pace of technological change is accelerating. Relying on traditional market research is no longer enough. AI tools can now process vast, unstructured datasets to identify weak signals, predict technological convergence, and model future market scenarios with unprecedented accuracy. Leaders who master this will have a significant competitive edge.

  • Predictive Analytics for Tech Trends
  • Scenario Planning with Generative AI
  • Ethical AI in Strategic Decision-Making
  • Real-time Competitive Intelligence

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Assessment (Strategic)
  • IP Due Diligence & Enterprise Strategy
  • Global Technology Scouting & Landscaping
  • Open Innovation Funnel Management (Enterprise)
  • Business Case & Financial Modeling (Board-Level)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Director, Strategic R&D Partnerships

    3-5 years at Director level

    Skills to master

    • Mastering multi-year partnership strategy for a business unit, managing large teams (25-100+), P&L responsibility (£2M-£10M+), and presenting to C-suite.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently exceeding business unit strategic partnership targets.
    • Successfully leading significant M&A integration projects.
    • Demonstrable ability to influence C-suite decisions and shape business unit strategy.
    • Building and developing a high-performing team of managers and leads.
  2. 2

    SVP, Corporate Development

    5-8 years in a similar SVP role

    Skills to master

    • Leading large-scale M&A, investor relations, corporate strategy, and managing diverse corporate functions beyond just R&D.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successful track record of identifying, negotiating, and integrating multiple M&A targets.
    • Strong relationships with investment banks, venture capital firms, and institutional investors.
    • Proven ability to articulate complex strategic narratives to the financial community.
    • Demonstrated leadership across multiple corporate functions, not just R&D.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to board level roles, venture investing, or positions as a recognised voice on innovation strategy.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how VP, Open Innovation & Alliances is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

The record names a next step, but the catalogue has no page for it yet:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) / Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Research skills for health and social care, worked against VP, Open Innovation & Alliances.

Research skills for health and social care Level 3

Applied to your work in VP, Open Innovation & Alliances

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to develop a comprehensive understanding of research principles and practices within the health and social care context. Learners will explore research approaches and methodologies, ethical considerations, and the key stages involved in planning, conducting, analysing, and presenting research. Furthermore, they will learn to reflect on the research process.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
VP, Open Innovation & Alliances
  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Assessment (Strategic)
  • IP Due Diligence & Enterprise Strategy
  • Global Technology Scouting & Landscaping
  • Open Innovation Funnel Management (Enterprise)
  • Business Case & Financial Modeling (Board-Level)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

VP, Open Innovation & Alliances is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

    5-10 years

    Enterprise-wide leadership, ultimate P&L and strategic accountability.

    • Holistic business unit P&L management (entire company)
    • Global market entry and expansion strategy
    • Shareholder value creation and maximisation
    • Regulatory and governmental affairs

  2. Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) / Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

    3-7 years

    Ultimate accountability for internal and external R&D strategy and execution.

    • Oversight of all internal R&D programmes and project portfolios
    • Scientific advisory board management
    • Publication and scientific communication strategy
    • Long-term technology roadmap for internal development
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, even at the C-suite, there's a mountain of information to process, reports to review, and communications to craft. AI isn't here to do your job, but it's brilliant at clearing the path so you can focus on the truly strategic, human-centric work that only you can do.

Imagine having a personal, always-on strategic assistant that can digest vast amounts of market data, summarise complex technical papers, and even draft your initial board briefing notes. That's the power of AI in this role. It means less time sifting through noise and more time making critical decisions and building game-changing relationships.

Automated Strategic Tech Scouting

Use AI platforms to continuously scan global patent databases, emerging startup ecosystems, and academic research for technologies that align with our 5-10 year strategic roadmap. Get daily digests of critical shifts, potential acquisition targets, and competitive intelligence, summarised and prioritised. This isn't just a list; it's an actionable intelligence brief.

AI-Powered Due Diligence & Risk Assessment

Feed AI models vast amounts of data on potential partners or M&A targets—financials, IP portfolios, leadership teams, market sentiment. The AI can quickly identify red flags, inconsistencies, and hidden risks, generating a comprehensive risk profile and even suggesting negotiation points. It's like having a team of analysts working 24/7.

Executive Research Summarisation

Got a 100-page technical whitepaper, a new regulatory proposal, or a competitor's annual report? Drop it into an LLM and get a concise, executive-level summary, key takeaways, and a list of potential implications for our strategy. This frees up hours of reading, letting you grasp the essence quickly.

Strategic Communications & Board Reporting

Use AI to draft initial versions of board briefing notes, investor updates, or strategic partnership announcements. It can pull data from various sources, maintain a consistent tone, and ensure key messages are clearly articulated. You'll then refine and add your unique strategic insights, but the heavy lifting of drafting is gone.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a VP, Open Innovation & Alliances?

Common routes in include Director, Strategic R&D Partnerships (3-5 years at Director level) and SVP, Corporate Development (5-8 years in a similar SVP role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a VP, Open Innovation & Alliances progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (5-10 years) and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) / Chief Technology Officer (CTO) (3-7 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a VP, Open Innovation & Alliances?

Increasingly, AI-Driven Strategic Foresight. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in research and development

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Skills in identifying, evaluating and commercialising R&D apply across science and technology industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, advanced materials, clean energy and deep tech. These skills open up roles where innovation drives business strategy.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.