Venture Building Performance Manager

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 specifically the ICURe programme. The role will take responsibility as the Performance Manager for the IUK Venture Builder pilot programme.

Some of the things you might find yourself doing include:

• Lead delivery and performance management of the £1.5m Innovate UK Venture Builder pilot, targeting IS6 technologies, 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, including defining scope across IS6 technologies, leading tender activities, and designing and assessing bid evaluation criteria.
• Monitor programme performance and governance, tracking metrics, cohort progress, milestones, and reporting to governance boards and senior stakeholders.
• Accelerate operational effectiveness, identifying bottlenecks and implementing data-driven improvements to business and technical processes.
• Build strategic partnerships and alignment, working across Innovate UK, UKRI, Unit M, sector teams, and the wider innovation ecosystem to ensure programme success and knowledge sharing.

What You’ll Bring:

• 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 and projects to agreed time, cost, and quality standards.
• Strong knowledge of the UK research commercialisation and spin-out ecosystem, including universities, research institutes, PSREs, and regional/national pathways.
• Deep understanding of early-stage venture creation and investment readiness, including spin-out challenges, venture de-risking, pre-seed/seed funding, and investor due diligence.
• Strategic leadership with operational delivery capability, able to build partnerships, align stakeholders, solve delivery challenges, and drive impact.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including portfolio/performance management, dashboard reporting, stakeholder engagement, and presenting insights to senior audiences.

What You’ll Get:

• 29 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and December closure days
• Generous pension scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Access to a wide range of staff benefits, including discounts, wellbeing support, and development programmes

Explore full benefits: www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/jobs/benefits-working-here

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we unfortunately may not able to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to [e-mail]

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Vicky Roth

Email: [e-mail]

General enquiries:

Email: [e-mail]

Technical support:

0161 850 2004

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.

For informal enquiries please contact the Talent Attraction Team [e-mail]