Senior Innovation Manager

Digital Catapult; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Discretionary bonus

Hybrid working

Job summary

Digital Catapult is seeking a Senior Innovation Manager to lead complex, multi-disciplinary programmes and accelerators across the UKDTC. You will support the Head of Innovation, coordinate team efforts, manage risks and escalate issues to ensure delivery of high-quality outcomes aligned with organisational goals.

This leadership role requires strong stakeholder engagement with industry, academia and government, hands-on delivery leadership without direct line management, and a commitment to

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing concurrent, complex innovation programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication with senior partners across industry, academia and government.
• Experience driving adoption or business growth outcomes and reporting results clearly and accurately.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and maintain consistent programme documentation and information-management practices.
• SFIA-aligned skills at levels: BUSA - L4, INOV - L5, KNOW - L4, REQM - L5, RLMT - L5.

Responsibilities

• Manage the concurrent delivery of all UKDTC accelerators and programmes, balancing priorities and ensuring milestones and deliverables are met.
• Apply innovation methodologies such as Design Thinking, Lean Startup and Agile to coordinate multidisciplinary teams effectively.
• Engage partners across industry, academia and government, championing SME participation and adoption to deliver measurable commercial and impact outcomes.
• Identify, monitor and resolve programme risks, gaps, dependencies and required actions, escalating issues as needed to maintain effective delivery and governance.
• Mentor junior staff and embed best practice in innovation programme delivery and knowledge management.
• Represent Digital Catapult externally and provide concise, clear updates on programme progress, challenges and impact to funders, leadership, cross-functional teams and other stakeholders.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project coordination

Delivery leadership

Innovation management

Knowledge management

Education

Degree in technology management or related

Job description

The Senior Innovation Manager will play a crucial role in the Innovation Practice and across the UKDTC, managing complex and multi-disciplinary innovation programmes and accelerators. Supporting the Head of Innovation, this role will focus on leading innovation initiatives, including academic and industry accelerators, as well as technology access programmes. The Senior innovation Manager will be responsible for co-ordinating and guiding team efforts within projects and programmes, aligning priorities, managing programme risks and escalations, and drive best practices in innovation and knowledge management. This is a leadership role focused on ensuring the delivery of high-quality programme outcomes that align with organisational goals, without assuming direct line management responsibilities.

The Senior Innovation Manager will play a crucial role in the Innovation Practice and across the UKDTC, managing complex and multi-disciplinary innovation programmes and accelerators. Supporting the Head of Innovation, this role will focus on leading innovation initiatives, including academic and industry accelerators, as well as technology access programmes. The Senior innovation Manager will be responsible for co-ordinating and guiding team efforts within projects and programmes, aligning priorities, managing programme risks and escalations, and drive best practices in innovation and knowledge management. This is a leadership role focused on ensuring the delivery of high-quality programme outcomes that align with organisational goals, without assuming direct line management responsibilities.

WHAT YOU'LL DO (Duties)

• Manage the concurrent delivery of all UKDTC accelerators and programmes, balancing priorities and ensuring milestones and deliverables are met.
• Apply innovation methodologies such as Design Thinking, Lean Startup and Agile to coordinate multidisciplinary teams effectively.
• Engage partners across industry, academia and government, championing SME participation and adoption to deliver measurable commercial and impact outcomes.
• Identify, monitor and resolve programme risks, gaps, dependencies and required actions, escalating issues as needed to maintain effective delivery and governance.
• Mentor junior staff and embed best practice in innovation programme delivery and knowledge management.
• Represent Digital Catapult externally and provide concise, clear updates on programme progress, challenges and impact to funders, leadership, cross-functional teams and other stakeholders.

Requirements

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR (Experience)

• Proven experience managing concurrent, complex innovation, R&D or accelerator programmes—ideally in deep tech, digital transformation, digital twins or ecosystem building—with a strong understanding of innovation across sectors.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including engaging senior partners across industry, academia and the public sector and translating complex activities into clear, impactful narratives.
• Experience driving adoption or business growth outcomes, managing programme risks and milestones, and reporting results clearly and accurately.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams, provide delivery direction without formal line-management authority, and maintain consistent programme documentation and information-management practices.
• Preferably educated to degree level in technology management, innovation, business strategy or a related discipline, with SFIA-aligned skills at the following levels:
• Business Situation Analysis (BUSA) - L4
• Innovation Management (INOV) - L5
• Knowledge Management (KNOW) - L4
• Requirements Definition & Management (REQM) - L5
• Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT) - L5
• An adaptable, resilient and collaborative approach, supported by strong organisational judgement and a clear delivery focus.

Deadline for Applications:Thursday, 24th September 2026

Salary:£48,000-52,000 per annum - subject to skills and 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.

Benefits

• 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.