Managing Director

Innovate UK; England; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK innovation agency is seeking a Managing Director to guide its strategic direction and oversee a multi-billion-pound innovation portfolio. The role requires exceptional leadership capabilities, with substantial experience in government innovation agencies and cross-sector collaboration. Candidates must have a proven track record of influencing policy and delivering impactful innovation initiatives. This is a high-profile position engaging with ministers and stakeholders to enhance the UK's global competitiveness.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of senior executive leadership within government or R&D.
• Demonstrable authority in advising on innovation policy.
• Deep experience in cross-sector innovation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation to a new organisational structure.
• Drive the execution of Innovate UK's strategic vision.
• Oversee governance and risk management for innovation programmes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Public policy influence

Cross-sector innovation

Education

Postgraduate qualifications or equivalent senior executive leadership training

Job description

Overview

This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI). Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UK's Workday system may apply via the "Careers" application within the system). If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the "About Us information on the right". If you wish to apply for the position below, please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally, you should also advise your manager of your application.

Applications must be submitted by 04-10-2025.

Role Title
Managing Director, Innovate UK

Reporting Line & Salary
Reports directly to the Executive Chair, Innovate UK
Band Y

Location
London or Swindon (Polaris House) / hybrid working, with regular travel to London and stakeholder events

Job Purpose

As the most senior executive role under the Executive Chair, the Managing Director plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the UKs national innovation agenda. This role partners with the Executive Chair to lead Innovate UKs strategic direction and funding portfolio, with full accountability for execution and performance across innovation programmes, strategic investments, and organisational leadership. The Managing Director is a high-profile representative of Innovate UK, engaging directly with government ministers, business leaders, and national stakeholders to drive UKRIs innovation mission and the UK's global competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Accountability

• Lead the business and organisation transformation to a cross-team matrix structure that will deliver the new Innovate UK strategy, effective programme primacy and business-first prioritisation
• Partner with the Executive Chair to co-lead the development and execution of Innovate UKs strategic vision in alignment with UKRI and national industrial strategy.
• Take direct accountability for the successful delivery of Innovate UKs multi-billion-pound innovation portfolio across sectors including AI, clean energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, creative industries and defence.
• Lead Innovate UK's operational and programme performance frameworks, ensuring targets are met across investment outcomes, economic impact, and policy objectives.

People & Organisational Leadership

• Provide executive leadership to the entire Innovate UK organisation, with overarching responsibility for organisational effectiveness. This includes accountability for an organisational wide core budget of £1bn and oversight of an additional £800m in externally managed programmes, ensuring alignment of resources, people, and operations to strategic priorities.
• Directly manage a senior executive team, including Directors and programme leads, overseeing a large and multidisciplinary workforce of 1,700 people across the Innovate UK group of companies.
• Champion a high-performance culture, inclusive leadership practices, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Drive organisation-wide capability development, succession planning, and talent strategy in coordination with UKRI corporate services.

External Influence & Policy Engagement

• Serve as Innovate UKs lead representative to ministers, special advisers, select committees, and cross-departmental groups shaping the innovation policy landscape.
• Act as a public ambassador for UKRIs innovation mission, leading strategic engagement with FTSE CEOs, investors, academia, and mission-driven partners.
• Influence the positioning of Innovate UK in UK-wide and global innovation ecosystems.
• Advocate for UK national policy and regulatory changes as a consequence of programme results and findings to accelerate UK high potential businesses.

Decision-Making & Governance

• Lead strategic decision-making in politically complex environments, balancing economic, social, and scientific priorities.
• Oversee governance, risk management, and assurance processes for innovation programmes and investment decisions.
• Maintain full accountability for regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, and public value delivery.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Proven track record of senior executive leadership within government innovation agencies, major research funders, or high-profile industrial R&D functions.
• Demonstrable authority and credibility in briefing ministers, advising on innovation policy, and engaging Parliament.
• Deep experience leading complex, cross-sector innovation initiatives with national-level impact and significant public investment.
• Strategic leadership of multi-disciplinary senior teams and experience embedding a culture of delivery and excellence.

Desirable Experience

• Sector expertise in one or more frontier technologies: AI, engineering biology, quantum, advanced connectivity, cybersecurity, or semiconductors.
• Experience navigating UKRI or similar governance frameworks and participating in cross-organisational initiatives.

Professional Competence

• Recognised as a national leader in innovation funding, public-private R&D partnerships, and industrial strategy implementation.
• Postgraduate qualifications or equivalent senior executive leadership training desirable.

Behaviours & Capabilities

Aligned with the UK Civil Service Success Profiles for Senior Civil Service (SCS) Directors, with emphasis on:

• Strategic Leadership: Driving strategic vision and execution with national economic impact.
• Communicating & Influencing: Representing Innovate UK at the highest levels of government and industry.
• Seeing the Big Picture: Connecting macroeconomic, scientific, and sectoral dynamics to long-term innovation outcomes.
• Decision-Making: Making bold, accountable decisions in complex policy, funding, and economic landscapes.
• Working Together: Driving alignment across central government, devolved administrations, business, and academia.
• Delivering at Pace: Ensuring exceptional delivery of funding, innovation programmes, and operational excellence.

Why This Role Matters

As Managing Director, you will be at the forefront of delivering the UKs innovation strategy—translating policy into impact, aligning investment with national goals, and building an agile and high-performing Innovate UK. This role is instrumental in driving economic growth, positioning the UK as a global innovation leader, and enabling UKRIs mission to deliver social, technological, and industrial impact.

Applications must be submitted by 04-10-2025.