Manufacturing NI is seeking a Business Development Manager to represent the company in the E-DATA Programme.
E-DATA is a cross-border initiative funded through the PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by SEUPB, designed to accelerate digital adoption, innovation, and sustainability among SMEs across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland.
Led by Ulster University in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Innovate-NI, Sustainable NI, and Manufacturing NI, the programme aims to:
- Support 1,040 SMEs to enhance productivity, resilience, and competitiveness through digital transformation.
- Facilitate cross-border collaboration by establishing the E-DATA Collaborative Network — a shared innovation ecosystem connecting SMEs, academia, and industry.
- Provide mentoring and workshops that enable SMEs to explore technologies such as data analytics, automation, and carbon reduction systems.
- Develop and disseminate toolkits, case studies, and knowledge resources to embed learning and promote ongoing innovation.
- Contribute to climate resilience and sustainability goals, targeting a measurable 30% improvement in carbon performance among mentored SMEs.
E-DATA is structured into distinct Work Packages (WPs):
- WP1 – Business Support & Knowledge Transfer (Led by Innovate-NI): delivering SME workshops, mentoring, and toolkits.
- WP2 – Skills & Capacity Building (Led by Ulster University): building data and digital capabilities through training.
- WP3 – Innovation & Sustainability Pathways (Led by ATU and Sustainable NI): fostering green innovation and sectoral transition.
- WP4 – Management & Evaluation (Joint): ensuring effective coordination, compliance, and impact measurement.
Through these, E-DATA will promote a peaceful, prosperous, and digitally inclusive cross-border economy, aligning with PEACEPLUS’s objective of supporting sustainable growth and cooperation across the region.
Manufacturing NI is seeking a part-time Business Development Manager to support delivery of the E-DATA Collaborative Network. Working with the existing Business Development Manager and project partners, the postholder will promote programme opportunities and support E-DATA Collaborative Network activity.
- Support delivery of Manufacturing NI’s E-DATA objectives, outputs and milestones on time and within budget.
- Promote E-DATA opportunities to SMEs across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties through direct engagement, workshops, webinars, B2B outreach and business networks.
- Recruit and maintain active participation in the E-DATA Collaborative Network.
- Conduct and update stakeholder mapping and develop targeted outreach activity.
- Engage SMEs to understand their digital, data, AI, productivity and sustainability priorities and connect them with relevant E-DATA supports.
- Build relationships with business groups, councils, chambers, clusters, technology providers and other intermediary organisations.
- Support the planning and delivery of peer-learning webinars, workshops, company showcases and in-person events.
- Identify suitable businesses, speakers and case studies for E-DATA podcasts, video interviews, webinars and written content.
- Support podcast and video activity, including contributor liaison, research, briefing notes, scheduling, recording, approvals and follow-up promotion.
- Help turn business stories and programme learning into useful podcasts, videos, clips, case studies, newsletter content and social media material.
- Promote digital and sustainable practices and wider E-DATA programme activities.
- Maintain accurate records for audit, including attendance, engagement, consent, evaluation, outputs and referrals.
- Monitor and report SME engagement, outputs and satisfaction in line with SEUPB requirements.
- Contribute to periodic and final reports, KPI data collection and reporting to the Lead Partner.
- Support financial and claims evidence relevant to the postholder’s activity, as required.
The post is contracted for six working days per month over 25 months, ending on 31 July 2028.
Desirable criteria:
- Experience of EU-funded, publicly funded or cross-border programmes.
- Experience supporting podcasts, video interviews, webinars, case studies or digital content.
- Experience using CRM, webinar, email marketing or social media platforms.
- Existing relationships across the manufacturing, SME, technology or business-support ecosystem.
To apply for the role, please complete the following application form, and return it to the email in the application form by May 29th, at 12 noon. Interviews will take place on 4th June 2026.
Business Development Manager Application Form.
More information is found here: https://www.manufacturingni.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Business-Development-Manager-Programme-Synopsis-1.pdf