Cluster Manager – Space NE England

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

LG Pension Scheme

Leave: 27–32 days

Job summary

Durham County Council invites applications for a Cluster Manager to lead Space North East England, driving growth in the region’s space and satellite applications sector. You will engage with industry, academia and government to build a strong, collaborative ecosystem and raise the region’s profile internationally as a leading UK space hub.

You will manage UK Space Agency funding, develop future opportunities, and shape a sustainable cluster strategy in a fast-growing market.

Qualifications

• You will have a degree level or equivalent and extensive relevant experience.
• Experience developing and managing business relationships with multiple partners.
• Ability to build strong relationships and deliver proactive customer care.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the cluster and North East Space Leadership Group.
• Act as a brand ambassador and primary contact for the regional cluster.
• Build and maintain relationships with regional, national and international partners.
• Identify opportunities to grow space sector capability and deliver impact.
• Manage the Space Agency contract and lead design, delivery and monitoring of workstreams.
• Lead long-term strategic planning to sustain and develop regional space sector.

Skills

Degree level or equivalent

Business relationships

Relationship building

Customer care

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

We are delighted to offer a rare and exciting opportunity for a Cluster Manager to join Business Durham, leading the Space North East England (SNEE) cluster and accelerating the growth of the region’s space and satellite applications sector.

Funded by the UK Space Agency, the cluster aims to stimulate and grow the space and satellite applications economy across the North East as part of a national network of regional space clusters. SNEE builds on the strong foundations established by the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence, led by Business Durham on behalf of the Satellite Applications Catapult since 2014.

Following the award of UK Space Agency core funding through the Space Cluster Network Programme 2026-2030, SNEE is embarking on a new phase of activity to further develop the North East’s space ecosystem. This includes supply chain, workforce and skills development, business engagement, inward investment and new market identification, and raising the profile of the region’s space sector nationally and internationally.

The North East’s space sector is thriving, with more than 80 companies contributing £171m to the regional economy and employing around 1,340 people. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the next phase of growth in one of the region’s fastest-growing and most innovative sectors.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

As Cluster Manager, you will lead the strategic direction of Space North East England, driving the growth of the region’s space capabilities by engaging closely with organisations across the ‘triple helix’ of industry, academia and government.

You will play a key role in shaping a strong, collaborative ecosystem that delivers real benefits for the North East. A core part of your mission will be to raise the region’s profile nationally and internationally, positioning it as a leading UK hub for space sector innovation and an attractive location for businesses to start, scale and succeed in this fast-growing market.

You will:

• Provide strategic direction for the cluster and the affiliated North East Space Leadership Group.
• Act as a brand ambassador and key point of contact for the regional cluster.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional, national and international partners across the public and private sectors.
• Identify and develop opportunities to grow the space sector capability and deliver impact for the North East region.
• Manage the UK Space Agency’s Space Cluster Network Programme 2026-2030 core funding contract and lead the design, delivery and monitoring of associated workstreams.
• Lead long-term strategic planning for the SNEE cluster, identifying future funding opportunities to help make the cluster sustainable and capable of meeting the development needs of the regional space sector.

We encourage you to contactJon Brunton, Business Growth Directorvia email [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

You will:

• Be educated to degree level or equivalent, and/or demonstrate extensive relevant experience.
• Bring experience of developing and managing business relationships, with a proven track record of delivering multi-year, multi-partner projects.
• Demonstrate the ability to build strong relationships and establish trust, with a proactive and positive approach to customer care.

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews to be held on Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th November 2026.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

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