Innovation Lead

Halma plc; Wolverhampton; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

9-Day fortnight (compressed hours)

Pension contribution 10.5%

Company bonus scheme

Halma share vesting

Airport parking discounts

Eyecare support

Cycle to work

Long service recognition

Life assurance cover

Job summary

Fortress Safety, part of Halma plc, seeks an Innovation Lead in Wolverhampton for a hybrid, permanent role. You will turn unmet customer needs and emerging technology into commercial opportunities, shaping ideas from exploration through validation and coordinating with internal teams and external partners.

You’ll own the innovation pipeline, prioritize opportunities, and collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Product Management and Safety Services to assess feasibility, risk and value.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Product, Innovation, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in innovation, R&D, product development or a technically led commercial environment.
• Strong understanding of structured innovation approaches applied pragmatically in a business context.
• Commercial awareness with ability to assess viability, value and risk alongside technical feasibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, development and prioritisation of innovation opportunities aligned to Fortress strategy and market needs.
• Own and manage the innovation pipeline from early exploration to validated handover into Product, Engineering or other delivery teams.
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Product Management and Safety Services to explore feasibility, risk and value of new ideas.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, competitor activity and customer insight to inform opportunity identification.
• Facilitate ideation sessions, workshops and structured problem-solving across the business.
• Engage with customers, partners and external bodies to validate concepts and understand emerging needs.
• Support licensing, partnership and acquisition-related innovation activity where appropriate.
• Explore adjacent-market and platform innovation, not just incremental product development.

Skills

Innovation leadership

Cross-functional

Commercial acumen

Strategic thinking

Engineering background

R&D experience

Analytical skills

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Innovation Lead

Wolverhampton, UK (WV4 6FB) | Hybrid - flexible working | Permanent, Full-time £75,000 - £90,000 per annum + Strong benefits + Car allowance

About the Opportunity

Fortress Safety is looking for an Innovation Lead to drive sustainable, profitable growth by turning unmet customer needs and emerging technology into real commercial opportunities. Reporting to the Innovation Director, you'll shape ideas from early exploration through to validation, working across the business and with external partners to keep Fortress ahead in an evolving industrial landscape. This is a chance to build something that genuinely shapes where the business goes next.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the identification, development and prioritisation of innovation opportunities aligned to Fortress strategy and market needs
• Own and manage the innovation pipeline, progressing concepts from early exploration through to validated handover into Product, Engineering or other delivery teams
• Work closely with R&D, Engineering, Product Management and Safety Services to explore feasibility, risk and value of new ideas
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, competitor activity and customer insight to inform opportunity identification
• Facilitate ideation sessions, workshops and structured problem-solving activities across the business
• Engage with customers, partners and external bodies to validate concepts and understand emerging needs
• Support licensing, partnership and acquisition-related innovation activity where appropriate
• Explore adjacent-market and platform innovation, not just incremental product development
• Translate emerging technology trends into practical, value-led opportunities

What You'll Bring

• A degree in Engineering, Product, Innovation, Business, or equivalent experience gained through relevant roles
• Demonstrated experience working in innovation, R&D, product development, or a technically led commercial environment
• Strong understanding of structured innovation approaches, applied pragmatically in a business context
• Commercial awareness, with the ability to assess viability, value and risk alongside technical feasibility
• Confidence engaging with engineering and technical teams, with the ability to challenge and influence constructively
• A proven ability to work cross-functionally and progress initiatives without formal authority
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capability in ambiguous environments

Nice to Have

• Experience as a Controls Engineer or in a related technical discipline

What We Offer

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Option to work a 9-Day fortnight (compressed hours)
• Employer pension contribution of up to 10.5%
• Company bonus scheme
• Annual Halma share vesting scheme
• Airport parking discounts
• Eyecare support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Long service recognition
• Life assurance cover

About Fortress Safety

Since 1977, Fortress Safety has been the expert in machinery safety and interlocking, protecting people and equipment in hazardous environments worldwide from our Wolverhampton HQ, with operations across the USA, Europe, Australia, China and India. We're proud to be part of Halma plc, a FTSE 100 company with over 8,000 colleagues across 50+ businesses globally, all united by a purpose to build a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.

Inclusion & Accommodations

At Fortress, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it. We're committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues, and if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process, just let us know.