Innovation Specialist

The Growth Company; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Greater Manchester is seeking an experienced professional to drive sustainable business growth through innovation. This role involves supporting local SMEs in launching new products and services, fostering collaboration, and delivering tailored innovation strategies. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in business development and a strong educational background in business.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in private sector at senior management or Director level.
• Proven track record in managing business growth issues.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain effective business and innovation networks.
• Conduct diagnostics on businesses to develop innovation and growth plans.
• Deliver bespoke innovation support to clients.

Skills

Business Development

Account Management

Presentation

Technical Innovation

Communication

Networking

Planning

Project Management

Technical Knowledge

Economic Development

Education

Degree level business education

Job description

The Growth Company's (GC) Business Growth Hub seeks an experienced professional passionate about driving sustainable business growth through innovation.

Our ambitious Innovation Service is spearheading a significant increase in sustainable innovation across Greater Manchester. By leveraging the region's unique community spirit, we aim to establish a pioneering, globally recognised network of innovative and sustainable businesses. We support local SMEs in developing new or improved solutions for products, services, or market approaches, enhancing performance and competitiveness.

This is where you come in! As part of our dynamic innovation team, your mission will be to help local businesses create and launch new products and services by utilising your innovation knowledge and creative skills.

You are eager to contribute and develop your expertise towards a mission you believe in. You possess the ability to advise businesses across various sectors and are excited about fostering collaboration opportunities. With a strong drive to implement innovative ideas, ideally having worked with SMEs before, you are entrepreneurial, with commercial and technical aptitude, passionate about delivering scalable solutions to real problems. You thrive in networking, inspiring, and catalysing people towards innovative action.

This is a fixed term contract position until 31/03/2026

Key Responsibilities:

1. Pro-actively establish and maintain effective business and innovation networks with a strong focus on business development and client engagement.
2. Ensure that potential clients comply with the project eligibility and suitability criteria by conducting initial checks prior to formal assessment and action planning.
3. Personally introduce clients to appropriate services (internal and external) and monitor the delivery of these services to support the clients' strategy and objectives, addressing their barriers to growth and innovation.
4. Ensure the monitoring and collection of baseline, output, and impact data throughout the project and at the conclusion of each individual project in line with funders’ requirements.
5. Accurately record the client journey on the CRM and associated data capturing systems, updating progress against agreed actions and completing all administration in a timely and accurate manner.
6. Undertake detailed diagnostics on businesses or specific functional areas using appropriate tools and methodologies to capture baseline data, identify barriers and needs, and develop comprehensive innovation and growth plans.
7. Conduct detailed innovation discussions with clients to understand their business and innovation challenges, make sound recommendations for appropriate actions, and provide bespoke innovation pathways.
8. Deliver bespoke 1:1, one-to-many, and cohort-based innovation specialist support, enabling clients to fully meet their innovation growth potential through complex, multi-disciplinary interventions.

About You:

• Significant experience of sector(s)/business experience in the private sector, including at a senior management or Director level. Ideally with product and development expertise from conception to commercialisation.
• At least degree level business education, or degree level qualification with a management body, or the relevant business experience to match those.
• Proven track record in managing the range of business issues associated with periods of business growth.
• Proven track record in working effectively in a professional team/s.
• Professional experience and approach to managing and delivering business assessment, innovation advice and development.

Skills Required:

• Business Development and Account Management: Strong skills in business development and managing accounts.
• Presentation and Technical Innovation: Proficiency in delivering presentations and technical innovations.
• Communication and Networking: Excellent communication and networking abilities.
• Planning and Project Management: Exceptional planning, organisational, administrative, and project management skills.
• Project Management Techniques: Understanding and experience in using project management techniques.
• Technical Knowledge: Expertise in product or process development and/or science and technology.
• Economic Development: Understanding of key national, sub-regional, and local organisations supporting economic development and business innovation growth.
• Customer Focus: Knowledge of customer-focused approaches to engage businesses and foster commitment towards economic development.