Innovation Manager

SAAB; Fareham, Farnborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is a leading defence and security company driving innovation across sensor systems and R&D. The Innovation Division identifies opportunities, builds partnerships with universities and industry, and channels funding to deliver measurable projects.

As Innovation Manager you will shape strategy, coordinate cross-border teams, and manage budgets, governance and risk while delivering funded outcomes aligned with divisional objectives at Saab UK.

Qualifications

• Ability to attain UK NSV SC clearance.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Experience coordinating activities involving multiple stakeholders.
• Background in innovation management or R&D environments.
• Proactive and collaborative problem solving.
• Willingness to travel to Sweden and international locations.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop innovation opportunities aligned with divisional and company objectives.
• Coordinate technology scouting, horizon scanning and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead the development and submission of funding applications and collaborative bids.
• Build and maintain relationships with Saab colleagues in Sweden and internationally.
• Coordinate innovation projects from concept through delivery and transition to business outcomes.
• Prepare clear reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Innovation management

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Budget & governance

Technology scouting

Bid management

UK NSV SC clearance

Education

Master's degree in STEM

Job description

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

What you will be part of

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe.

Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems.

Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role:

As an Innovation Manager within the Innovation Division, you will play a key role in supporting one of Saab UK's business divisions, helping to identify, develop and deliver innovation opportunities aligned to divisional and company objectives.

Working closely with the Sensor Systems leadership, Innovation Division colleagues, divisional stakeholders, engineering teams, and external partners, you will help shape innovation activity through technology scouting, partnership development, funding acquisition, bid management and project delivery. You will act as a bridge between business needs, engineering teams, external organisations and funding opportunities, helping to transform innovative ideas into funded and deliverable projects.

Key Responsibilities:

Support the Sensor Systems Division and the Innovation Division in identifying and developing innovation opportunities aligned with business and technology priorities through technology scouting, horizon scanning, stakeholder engagement and external market awareness.

Monitor external technology and innovation developments and assess their potential impact on future products, capabilities and Research & Technology (R&T) activities.

Support the development of business cases, technology roadmaps and innovation proposals.

Funding, Bids & Partnerships:

Identify and assess relevant innovation funding opportunities from government, customers and research funding organisations.

Lead the coordination, development and submission of funding applications, collaborative bids and research proposals.

Build and maintain productive relationships with Saab colleagues based in Sweden and internationally.

Build and maintain productive relationships with universities, SMEs, research organisations, customers, government bodies and industrial partners.

Develop and coordinate collaborative opportunities that support divisional and company objectives.

Represent Saab UK at conferences, workshops, networking events and innovation forums.

Project Delivery & Coordination:

Establish and coordinate innovation projects from concept through to delivery.

Develop appropriate project plans, governance arrangements and stakeholder engagement activities to support successful delivery.

Coordinate project activities, manage risks and dependencies, and monitor progress against agreed objectives, milestones, and deliverables.

Support the financial management of innovation projects, including budget tracking, forecasting, invoicing, financial reporting and compliance with internal financial controls and processes.

Support the transition of innovation activities into business outcomes, ensuring projects deliver measurable technical, commercial and strategic value.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communications:

Build effective working relationships across engineering, business development, project management, strategy and senior leadership teams.

Act as the primary innovation interface between the Division, the Emerging Technology Team and external partners.

Work closely with Commercial, Finance and Project Management teams to support contracts, collaboration agreements, project governance and project administration activities.

Prepare and deliver clear, effective reports, presentations, briefings and communications for internal and external stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders.

Promote awareness of innovation activities and facilitate knowledge sharing across Saab UK.

Qualifications and Skills:

Ability to attain (or currently holding) a UK NSV SC clearance.

Ability to build productive working relationships with stakeholders from a range of professional, technical and organisational backgrounds.

Experience coordinating activities involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to prepare and present clear proposals, reports and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders.

Ability to facilitate collaboration across teams and organisations.

Experience supporting project budgets, financial reporting or financial governance activities.

Comfortable working in a developing and evolving environment where priorities and opportunities may change over time.

Good organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously.

A proactive and collaborative approach to problem solving.

Experience in innovation management, research and technology, business development, partnerships or collaborative R&D environments.

A background in a STEM-related discipline, technology-focused environment, or equivalent experience that enables you to engage credibly with engineers and technology specialists, identify opportunities, evaluate potential partners and support proposal development.

Analytical thinking skills and the ability to assess opportunities, risks and potential benefits.

Ability to conduct occasional travel to Sweden & other international locations.

Master's degree in a STEM-related discipline.

Experience identifying and securing innovation funding.

Bid management, grant writing or proposal development experience.

Experience working with universities, research organisations or government-funded programmes.

Understanding of UK innovation funding mechanisms, including Innovate UK, UKDI and similar programmes.

Experience within the defence, aerospace, maritime, security or advanced technology sectors.

Commercial awareness and business case development experience.

As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or have the ability to gain it.

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.

Regardless of whether you value cutting edge technology, creativity or an innovative environment, everyone at Saab contributes to keeping people and society safe.