Venture Builder Incubator Programme Manager

The University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned educational institution is seeking a Venture Builder Incubator Programme Manager to lead a flagship programme supporting early-stage founders. This full-time role involves designing and delivering tailored educational support to up to 36 founders annually. The ideal candidate will have experience in managing innovation programmes and delivering entrepreneurship activities in a higher education setting. The position offers a salary between £48,896 and £59,300 along with benefits including flexible working options and generous leave.

Benefits

Competitive salary

40 days of leave

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of managing innovative support programmes.
• Experience in delivering entrepreneurship activities.
• Excellent knowledge of startup business growth.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and delivery of the VBI programme.
• Provide tailored education and support to founders.
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Skills

Managing innovation/entrepreneurial support programmes

Delivering entrepreneurship activities

Knowledge of startup growth

Experience as a Founder or in startups

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Overview

Venture Builder Incubator Programme Manager

EI Grade 8

(£48,896 - £59,300)

The Venture Builder Incubator Programme (VBI) Manager will provide specialist leadership in the design, content and delivery of the University of Edinburgh’s flagship Venture Builder Incubator (VBI) programme, ensuring quality, tailored education and practical support for annual cohorts of up to 36 early-stage founders with a research background, to create and develop robust data driven/ deep tech start-ups. These founders are from Universities across Scotland and the Programme partners with Techscaler and Cancer Research Horizon.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week). We welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time hours or flexible working patterns and secondments. We also support hybrid working on a non-contractual basis, offering a blend of home and on-site working to help you balance work and life effectively.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering successful innovation/entrepreneurial support programmes
• Experience of delivering entrepreneurship activities in a Higher Education setting (ideally for student/PhD programmes) and supporting research created founders
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of startup business growth and digital development issues & solutions
• Experience of being a Founder (successful or otherwise) or involved in a start-up/scale up company
• Excellent communication and presentation skills – thought leadership experience

Note: A copy of the full job description can be requested from the employer (the original link has been omitted here).

About Us

At Edinburgh Innovations (EI), our culture is built on three core values: Collaborative, Progressive and Innovative. We believe the best results come from working together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another. We’re always looking forward, embracing change, challenging assumptions, and pushing boundaries to grow. Innovation is at the heart of what we do, encouraging creativity and fresh thinking at every level of the business.

If you thrive in a team-driven environment that values bold ideas and continuous improvement, you’ll fit right in.

Championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. EI celebrates diversity in all its forms and actively seeks to create a team that reflects the communities around us. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities because different perspectives make us stronger.

Benefits

• A competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• An exciting, positive, and creative workplace that’s as rewarding as it is challenging
• A generous 40 days of combined annual leave and public holiday entitlement
• A comprehensive benefits package, including a defined contribution pension scheme (currently 3.5/4.5% employee and 9/14.5% employer contributions), family-friendly policies, flexible working options, and more
• Ongoing support to develop your skills, grow your career, and recognise your achievements

About You

At EI, we look for people who live our core behaviours in everything they do

• You work well with others, build strong relationships, and believe that teamwork drives better outcomes.
• You're curious, creative, and not afraid to challenge the norm to find smarter solutions.
• You take responsibility for your work, follow through on commitments, and are driven to deliver results.
• You seek feedback, grow from experiences, and are always looking to improve.
• You genuinely care about the impact of your work on colleagues, customers, and the wider community.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Application Information

Please submit your CV along with a covering letter that tells us why you’re interested in the role and how your skills and experience make you a strong fit.

Right to Work

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are not able to offer sponsorship for this role. You will be required to provide documentation as part of the recruitment process to confirm your eligibility to work in the UK.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 13 October 2025.

Closing time for applications is typically 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK, the closing time on adverts automatically adjusts to your browser’s local time zone.

Interviews will be held on 23rd and 28th October.