Space Communications Innovation Manager

Social network you want to login/join with:

Space Communications Innovation Manager, Barcelona

Client:

Location:

Barcelona, Spain

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Views:

2

Posted:

25.04.2025

Expiry Date:

09.06.2025

Job Description:

The i2CAT Foundation is seeking a dynamic Innovation Manager for our Space Communications Group to lead the strategic development and management of initiatives with private-sector partners. As our space innovation area continues to expand, this role is crucial for strengthening our capabilities and ensuring efficient task distribution among team members. The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or a related field, with proven experience in project management within the tech and space sector. Fluency in English and additional languages is highly desirable.

The Innovation Manager will be responsible to support our Space Strategy, collaborating with private companies to drive research transfer, joint innovation projects, and product or asset generation. This position requires a leader with outstanding communication skills, adept at translating market needs into actionable product and service offerings. By joining us, you will play a critical role in maintaining i2CAT’s competitive advantage and advancing the frontier of space communications technology.

Responsibilities:

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with private-sector stakeholders—including space technology companies, service providers, and potential industry partners—to foster collaborations, secure co-funding, and promote innovation.
2. Industry and Market Insight: Monitor industry trends, technological advancements, and market demands to keep i2CAT at the forefront of space communications technology.
3. Project Coordination: Oversee and coordinate private-sector innovation projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and deliver high-value outcomes.
4. Generate private and public proposals: Coordinate with the different internal and external stakeholders to lead or participate in the generation of business proposals.

The Innovation Manager will support the Space Strategy for the Space Communications Group, engaging with businesses and industry partners to secure collaborations, co-development projects, and commercialization opportunities. They will refine processes and manage resources to enhance efficiency and drive innovation across the organization. Key contributions include:

• Proposal contributions: Support IBP in generating proposals to the private sector aligned with the innovation and research lines of the area.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with private companies and industry groups.
• Operational Efficiency: Streamline activities to ensure optimal use of resources and clear value generation.
• Market Alignment: Ensure i2CAT’s offerings and research outputs align with industry trends and customer needs.

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT, VR, and Immersive Technologies, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AI, and Digital Social Innovation. The center partners with companies, public administration, academia, and end-users to leverage this knowledge in order to meet real social and business challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

What will you enjoy?

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We only ask for one day in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.
• This is a full-time vacancy.
• We have a flexible work schedule respecting your work-life balance.
• Reduced working hours on Fridays and in July and August.
• Fix + variable salary based on objectives.
• You decide whether you prefer to receive your salary in 12 or 14 payments.
• Optional benefits: Configure your salary according to your needs. We offer you the option of restaurant vouchers, public transport vouchers, nursery services, and medical insurance.
• Annual leave of 27 working days.
• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle
• Free coffee and tea.
• If you are interested, you can participate in events of your sector.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your operative system, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• Company social and team-building events (virtual & in-person).
• You can develop your own and personal training programme with our support.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established ‘work-from-home’ policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We expect that you attend the office one day per week to stay connected with your team and to engage with other colleagues.

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well-connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency. We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

Diversity is key to progress and innovation, and at the i2CAT Foundation, we actively work to create an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone can develop their full potential. That’s why we are committed to plurality and aim to increase the number of people with functional diversity within our team.

We seek talented individuals with diverse perspectives to enrich our team. In our selection processes, we are committed to promoting female talent and are particularly interested in the experience of women and other underrepresented groups in the scientific and technological fields. This will help us be better prepared to tackle complex challenges. If candidates have similar qualifications, priority will be given to those belonging to one of these groups.

We know that talent manifests in many different ways, and we are eager to discover new perspectives!

If what you’ve read sounds good to you... let’s have a coffee, and we’ll tell you more! As part of the recruitment team, I would be happy to meet you, hear about your experience, and see how you could fit into our team.

And if you liked it but this isn’t the right opportunity for you, maybe you know someone who would be a perfect fit and whom you’d like to recommend!

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's degree in Engineering, or a related field.
• Knowledge of space sector innovations and trends, particularly in the NewSpace industry.
• Proven experience in project management within the technology or space sector.
• Demonstrated ability to manage innovation processes and lead interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are highly valued.

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of telecom sector innovations and trends.
• Proven leadership in managing diverse teams and integrating multiple technical domains.
• Strong results orientation with the ability to work effectively under pressure in fast-evolving environments.
• Ability to interpret market/customer needs and translate them into viable product or service specifications.

Candidates applying are required to submit the following documents: