Venture Builder Performance Lead (Hybrid)

The University of Manchester; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

29 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Flexible and hybrid working

Staff benefits package

Job summary

The Venture Builder performance manager will operate within Unit M, directly supporting Innovate UK’s start-up ecosystem team and the ICURe programme. The role will take responsibility as the Performance Manager for the IUK Venture Builder pilot programme.

What you’ll do includes leading delivery and performance management of the £1.5m pilot, owning impact analysis and quarterly updates, driving Phase 2 procurement, and monitoring governance and milestones.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and performance-managing national delivery partners and complex stakeholder relationships across public and private sector organisations.
• Track record of developing and delivering large-scale, complex programmes to time, cost and quality standards.
• Strong knowledge of the UK research commercialisation and spin-out ecosystem, including universities and research institutes.
• Deep understanding of early-stage venture creation and investment readiness, including spin-out challenges and due diligence.
• Strategic leadership with operational delivery capability and stakeholder alignment.
• Analytical and communication skills for portfolio reporting and presentations to senior audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery and performance management of the £1.5m Innovate UK Venture Builder pilot, acting as the primary strategic contact for delivery partners and Monitoring Officers.
• Own programme impact analysis and reporting, providing expert insights and quarterly performance updates to Innovate UK’s Executive Team.
• Drive Phase 2 procurement and partner selection, defining scope across IS6 technologies and leading tender activities.
• Monitor programme performance and governance, tracking metrics, cohort progress, milestones, and reporting to governance boards.
• Accelerate operational effectiveness by identifying bottlenecks and implementing data-driven improvements to processes.
• Build strategic partnerships across Innovate UK, UKRI, Unit M, sector teams and the wider innovation ecosystem.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Programme delivery

UK research ecosystem knowledge

Venture creation readiness

Strategic leadership

Performance analytics

Job description

The Venture Builder performance manager will operate within Unit M, directly supporting Innovate UK’s start-up ecosystem team and the ICURe programme. The role will take responsibility as the Performance Manager for the IUK Venture Builder pilot programme.

What you’ll do includes leading delivery and performance management of the £1.5m pilot, owning impact analysis and quarterly updates, driving Phase 2 procurement, and monitoring governance and milestones.