Innovation Partnerships Manager

Northumbrian Water; North East; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water services provider in the North East is looking for an Innovation Partnership Manager to lead funding bids and foster a culture of innovation. The ideal candidate will manage partnerships across various sectors, providing strategic insight and guiding teams through the innovation lifecycle. A collaborative leader with a strong track record in creating impactful funding bids is essential. This position offers a range of benefits, emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement starting at 26 days

Company pension scheme

Free access to local attractions

Discount scheme

Wellbeing support

Sustainable travel support

Financial wellbeing support

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in leading cross-functional teams and creating successful funding bids.
• Strong track record of partnership management.
• Ability to navigate complex environments and drive innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of funding bids for the OFWAT Innovation Competition.
• Act as a trusted advisor throughout the innovation lifecycle.
• Create a culture of innovation and drive meaningful change.

Skills

Collaboration

Funding bid creation

Commercial mindset

Innovation leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

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We are looking for an Innovation Partnership Manager, who will be at the forefront of shaping the future of our business through strategic collaboration and cutting-edge thinking.

You’ll lead the development and delivery of compelling funding bids most notably for the OFWAT Innovation Competition. You'll work across the business to identify opportunities, build dynamic bid teams with partners from across the sector (including other utilities, SMEs, academia, and local authorities), and turn ideas into impactful projects.

You will act as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, guiding teams through the innovation lifecycle, from idea generation to implementation, ensuring that every initiative delivers tangible value. Your work will directly influence how we evolve and respond to the challenges of tomorrow.

This role is about more than just managing projects, it’s about creating a culture of innovation, championing new ideas, and driving meaningful change across the business and the wider utilities sector.

About you

We are looking for a natural collaborator with a strong track record of building and managing partnerships that deliver results.

You will have experience in creating successful funding bids and be able to give advice and guidance to NWG teams who are building innovation bids.

You will bring a commercial mindset, a deep understanding of disruptive technologies, and the ability to spot opportunities where others see challenges.

With experience in leading cross-functional teams and influencing at all levels, including Board level, you’re confident navigating complex environments and driving innovation from concept to reality.

You will be curious, courageous, visionary and comfortable to challenge the status quo and explore bold new ideas. Your leadership style is inclusive and empowering, and you thrive on bringing people together to solve problems creatively.

Whether you’re crafting compelling funding bids, facilitating workshops, or engaging with stakeholders across the sector, you bring energy, insight, and a passion for making a difference.

A strategic and commercially aware mindset, combined with a collaborative and flexible approach to work, will ensure your success in this role.

Here at Northumbrian Water/Essex & Suffolk Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.

Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.

We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.

Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment

NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.

About us

Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.

We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply

NWG at a glance:

Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.

We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.

We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.

Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our ‘Tap Into’ benefits include:

• Generous holiday entitlement starting at 26 days, plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. There’s also the option to buy or sell holidays.
• Company pension scheme, where we’ll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 11%.
• Free access to local attractions.
• A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
• Award winning ‘Living Well’ wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
• Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
• Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
• Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.