Programme Director (Local Innovation Partnership Fund)

University of Plymouth; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work pattern

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

University of Plymouth is seeking a Programme Director to lead the £20m Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF) across the South West. The role reports to the Director of Research, Partnerships and Innovation, and is co-located within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

You will drive strategic delivery, engage with partners, and secure investment for future projects. The position is on-site 3 days a week, with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Candidate has proven ability to lead large, multi-partner innovation programmes.
• Experience delivering UKRI-funded or regional development initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Have overall responsibility for effective delivery of LIPF programme objectives, meeting funder requirements.
• Lead identification, development and management of strategic partnerships across industry, public sector, and community organisations.
• Engage with regional, national, and international partners to promote LIPF and align with wider initiatives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Partnership development

Programme management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Programme Director (Local Innovation Partnership Fund)

Could you lead a major collaborative programme working across the South West region to support the growth of autonomy?

We are looking for an experienced Programme Director with a track record of success in the delivery of innovation, business engagement and regional development initiatives and working with multiple partners.

About the role:

Reporting internally to the Director of Research, Partnerships and Innovation, co-located within the Faculty of Science and Engineering but responsible to a triple helix LIPF Programme Board, the Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF) Director is a senior role responsible for the strategic leadership, and the successful delivery of the UKRI funded Great South West Global Autonomy Cluster LIPF programme. This is a £20m five-year programme which aims to grow the regional autonomy cluster, working with a range of partners across the geography.

Your role as Programme Director will include:

• have overall responsibility for the effective delivery of the LIPF programme objectives, ensuring that it meets the requirements of the funder.
• lead the identification, development and management of strategic partnerships with industry, public sector and community organisations to ensure aligned and effective delivery of a coherent portfolio of high-impact, place-based cluster / R&D interventions.
• be responsible for strategic engagement with regional, national and international partnerships to promote the LIPF programme and ensure it aligns with wider initiatives and identifies opportunities to develop further projects, working closely with academic leaders, and external stakeholders to co-create programmes and secure investment.

For this role, you will need to be on site 3 days a week. Although we can accommodate working from home for this role, flexibility to be on-site will be expected due to business needs.

This is a full time, fixed term role working 37 hours per week for 5 years due to funding.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Adrian Dawson: by email at [e-mail]

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company Details

Company: University of Plymouth

Salary: Senior Manager

Hours: Full-time

Location: Plymouth

Working pattern: Hybrid - 2 days remote

Job type: Temporary

Posting date: 23 Oct 2026

Closing date: 16 Nov 2026

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