Innovation Lead

Halma p.l.c; Wolverhampton; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

9-Day fortnight option

Pension contribution up to 10.5%

Company bonus scheme

Cycle to work

Long service recognition

Life assurance

Job summary

Fortress Safety, headquartered in Wolverhampton, seeks an Innovation Lead to drive sustainable growth by turning unmet customer needs and emerging tech into commercial opportunities. You will shape ideas from exploration to validation and work with R&D, Engineering and Product teams to ensure feasible, value-led initiatives.

Reporting to the Innovation Director, you will manage the pipeline, engage with customers and partners, and contribute to platform and licensing strategies within Fortress

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Product, Innovation, Business, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in innovation, R&D, product development, or technically led roles.
• Understanding of structured innovation approaches and business viability.
• Commercial awareness to assess value and risk with technical feasibility.
• Ability to engage with engineering teams and influence constructively.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration without formal authority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritise innovation opportunities aligned to Fortress strategy and market needs.
• Own and manage the innovation pipeline from exploration to validated handover to delivery teams.
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering and Product teams to assess feasibility, risk and value.
• Monitor industry trends and customer insights to inform opportunities.
• Lead ideation sessions and workshops across the business.
• Engage with customers, partners and external bodies to validate concepts.

Job description

Join Fortress: Global Leaders in Machinery Safety & Interlocking

At Fortress, we save lives by providing world-class machinery safety and interlocking solutions. Since 1977, our innovative products have protected workers worldwide, preventing access to hazardous machine areas and ensuring safety procedures are followed.

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
• 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.

Learn more about Fortress and working for Halma

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