Senior Innovation Manager — Hybrid Accelerator Leader

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

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