Senior Innovation Manager

Role overview

Workplace

• The role is identified as on-site in Belfast.
• The benefits section describes hybrid working with offices available two days per week, while some roles may require more regular on-site work.

Duties

• Manage concurrent delivery of UKDTC accelerators and programmes while meeting milestones and deliverables.
• Apply Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile to coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Engage industry, academic, and government partners to support SME participation and adoption.
• Identify and resolve programme risks, gaps, dependencies, and required actions, escalating issues when needed.
• Mentor junior staff and embed best practice in innovation programme delivery and knowledge management.
• Represent Digital Catapult externally and report programme progress, challenges, and impact to stakeholders.

Experience and qualifications

• Experience managing concurrent, complex innovation, R&D, or accelerator programmes is required.
• Experience with innovation across sectors is sought, ideally in deep tech, digital transformation, digital twins, or ecosystem building.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, programme risk, milestone, and reporting experience is required.
• The role requires multidisciplinary coordination and delivery direction without formal line-management authority.
• A degree in technology management, innovation, business strategy, or a related discipline is preferred.
• SFIA-aligned skills are preferred in Business Situation Analysis, Innovation Management, Knowledge Management, Requirements Definition and Management, and Stakeholder Relationship Management.
• An adaptable, resilient, collaborative, and delivery-focused approach is required.

Compensation

• Salary is £48,000–£52,000 per annum, subject to skills and experience.

Security requirement

• Applicants must successfully complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance before starting employment.

Benefits

• The benefits package includes 25 days of annual leave, bank holidays, and additional days between Christmas and New Year.
• The employer offers a double-matched pension up to 10% of salary and a discretionary company bonus.
• Benefits include a 4% flexible benefits allowance, life insurance, employee assistance, and enhanced parental leave.
• The employer provides learning and development opportunities, social events, and wellbeing-related benefits.

Application timing

• The stated application deadline is Thursday, 10 September 2026.