Senior Innovation Manager
Digital Catapult is a UK deep-tech innovation organisation accelerating the practical application of advanced digital technologies.
Projects
About Digital Catapult
Digital Catapult is an independent, not-for-profit member of the Innovate UK Catapult Network. It bridges industry, government, investors and academia to help deep-tech businesses scale, improve industrial supply-chain resilience and advance data-driven open future networks through collaborative R&D, specialist facilities, innovation programmes, ecosystem support and membership services.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will lead the delivery of the UKPN Wayl-ease SIF Beta and 6G HOLONET projects. You will coordinate multidisciplinary contributors, apply innovation methodologies, manage delivery risks and dependencies, and keep stakeholders informed of programme progress, challenges, and impact. You will mentor junior colleagues and maintain effective programme documentation and governance.
Requirements
- Proven experience managing concurrent, complex innovation, R&D or accelerator programmes
- Understanding of innovation across sectors
- Stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experience engaging senior partners across industry, academia and the public sector
- Experience driving adoption or business growth outcomes
- Experience managing programme risks and milestones and reporting results
- Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams without formal line-management authority
- Ability to maintain programme documentation and information-management practices
- Technology management, innovation, business strategy or related degree-level education, or equivalent experience
- Business Situation Analysis (BUSA) at SFIA level 4
- Innovation Management (INOV) at SFIA level 5
- Knowledge Management (KNOW) at SFIA level 4
- Performance Management (PEMT) at SFIA level 4
- Requirements Definition and Management (REQM) at SFIA level 4
- Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT) at SFIA level 5
- Successful completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance before employment
Responsibilities
- Manage delivery of the UKPN Wayl-ease SIF Beta and 6G HOLONET projects, ensuring milestones and deliverables are met
- Apply Design Thinking, Lean Startup and Agile methodologies to coordinate multidisciplinary teams
- Engage partners across industry, academia and government and champion SME participation and adoption
- Identify, monitor and resolve programme risks, gaps, dependencies and required actions
- Escalate issues as needed to maintain effective delivery and governance
- Mentor junior staff and embed best practice in innovation programme delivery and knowledge management
- Represent Digital Catapult externally and provide programme updates to funders, leadership, cross-functional teams and stakeholders
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave, bank holidays and 3 days between Christmas and New Year
- Double-matched pension up to 10% of salary
- Discretionary company bonus
- 4% of salary for selectable benefits including a health cash plan, private medical insurance, holiday purchase and pension top-ups
- Electric vehicle scheme
- Cycle2Work scheme
- Tech scheme
- Gym discounts
- Give As You Earn
- PerkPal
- Life insurance at four times salary
- Employee assistance programme and financial wellbeing advice
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Hybrid working
- Company social events
- Free office snacks
