Lead for Strategic Engagement

Digital Catapult Group; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Bank Holidays

3 days between Christmas and New Year

Double-matched pension up to 10%

Discretionary company bonus

Health/PMI benefits

Hybrid working with office visits

Learning and development support

Social and wellbeing programs

Job summary

Digital Catapult is seeking a Lead for Strategic Engagement to strengthen the UK Digital Twin Centre’s network and partnerships. You will engage with government, industry, and academia, translating insights into opportunities and guiding priority programmes.

Working closely with senior leadership, you’ll build a trusted external network, represent the Centre at key events, and drive collaborations that accelerate adoption of digital twin technologies across sectors.

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder engagement experience across government, industry and the innovation ecosystem.
• Track record of turning engagement into strategic partnerships and opportunities for collaboration.
• Ability to analyse policy and technology landscapes to identify opportunities for partnerships.
• Established external network across government, industry, academia and the wider innovation ecosystem.
• Collaborative, autonomous and able to influence stakeholders to drive shared priorities.
• Genuine interest in emerging technologies and public policy in UK digital twin contexts.

Responsibilities

• Build influential relationships across industry, government, academia and ecosystems to grow reach and impact.
• Turn connections into opportunities by developing partnerships, programmes and collaborations.
• Be a visible ambassador for the Centre at events, forums and stakeholder meetings.
• Translate market intelligence and policy developments into opportunities and priorities for the Centre.
• Connect people, ideas and expertise to accelerate adoption of digital twin technologies.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Relationship building

Strategic partnerships

Policy and public sector understanding

Analytical mindset

Networking across govt/industry/academ

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Lead for Strategic Engagement to join our Economics and Insights Team. The individual will help develop and strengthen the UK Digital Twin Centre's network of strategic relationships and partnerships, supporting the adoption, growth and impact of digital twin technologies across industry, government, academia and place-based innovation ecosystems.

Working closely with the Director of the UK Digital Twin Centre and colleagues across the Commercial, Research and Regional teams, the postholder will be confident and driven and will develop relationships with key stakeholders, identify opportunities for collaboration and contribute to programmes and initiatives that address industry and public-sector needs.

This role will provide an important link between the centre and its external ecosystem, bringing insight from stakeholders into the Centre and helping to communicate the Centre’s capabilities, priprities and opportunities externally.

WHAT YOU’LL DO (Duties)

• Build influential relationships across industry, government, academia and innovation ecosystems to grow the UK Digital Twin Centre’s reach and impact.
• Turn connections into opportunities, developing partnerships, programmes, funding opportunities and commercial collaborations.
• Be a visible ambassador for the Centre, representing us at high-profile events, forums, workshops and stakeholder meetings.
• Bring the outside in, translating market intelligence, policy developments and stakeholder insights into opportunities and priorities for the Centre.
• Connect people, ideas and expertise, forming collaborations that accelerate the adoption and impact of digital twin technologies.

We're looking for an experienced and confident engagement professional who can build trusted relationships and navigate the intersection of government, policy, R&D and innovation. You'll bring:

• Strong stakeholder engagement experience, building influential relationships across government, industry and the innovation ecosystem, turning stakeholder engagement into strategic partnerships and opportunities for collaboration.
• A track record of understanding and managing the communication and relationship needs of government, policymakers, public funders and other key stakeholders within R&D and innovation.
• Analytical with a strategic and inquisitive mindset, with the ability to analyse complex policy, technology and innovation landscapes, identifying opportunities to strengthen partnerships, influence decision-makers and advance organisational objectives.
• An established external network and the ability to develop influential relationships across government, industry, academia and the wider innovation ecosystem.
• A collaborative, driven and determined approach, with the confidence to work across teams, and the ability to work independently / autonomously and influence stakeholders and build momentum around shared priorities.
• A genuine interest in emerging technologies, digital transformation and public policy, with an understanding of the organisations shaping the UK's technology landscape and developments in areas of Digital twin Technologies, including AI, Cyber-Security, Data Services, IoT, immersive technologies.

Deadline for Applications: 2nd October 2026 (we do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications).

Salary: £45,000-£55,000 per annum (subject to experience)

Pre-Employment Background Checking Process

Due to the nature of our work across government and public sector contracts, including working with sensitive information, all applicants will need to successfully complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance process prior to starting employment.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We recognise and value the advantages and opportunities that come with having people from diverse backgrounds working with us and it is our ambition to build an organisation which is representative and reflective of UK society.

We welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates, candidates from minority and underrepresented groups and from candidates with more or less experience, provided the requisite skills can be demonstrated.

As members of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Please do speak with us about adjustments that could support you through our interview process.

Digital Catapult is an equal opportunities employer.

• We are in the UK's Top 100 Best Workplaces and placed in the UK's Best Workplaces in Tech and Large Organisations.
• Digital Catapult is aDisability Confident Committed Level 1 Employer.
• Excellent holiday package: 25 days annual leave, Bank Holidays and 3 days between Christmas and New Year:
• Double-matched pension up to 10% of your salary;
• Discretionary company bonus
• 4% of your salary to use towards selecting benefits that work for you, including health cash plan, Private Medical Insurance; buying holiday, topping up your pension;
• E-Vehicle Scheme; Cycle2Work; Tech Scheme; Gym Discounts; Give As you Earn; PerkPal;
• Life insurance 4x salary;
• Free to access EAP & Financial Wellbeing advice;
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave;
• Hybrid working - with great offices to work from 2 days per week with some roles needing to be onsite more regularly to ensure the successful delivery of our work;
• Investment in your ongoing learning and development with us;
• Company social events throughout the year and free office snacks!

We have a vibrant and engaging culture where all voices are heardand a variety of employee led affinity groups who champion initiatives and provide opportunities for feedback to be shared.

We use moments in the year to educate everyone at Digital Catapult on different aspects of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to raise awareness.

We also enjoy socialising and having fun together through a variety of company-wide events held throughout the year including our football team, running and climbing groupsand volunteering activities.