Job Details:
Innovation Development Manager

Job Description

The Growth Company’s (GC) Business Growth Hub team have an exciting new opportunity for an Innovation Development Manager to deliver high-level specialist collaborative innovation support to meet the needs of those wishing to scale and grow businesses through investment in research and innovation across Greater Manchester (GM)

Working jointly between the Innovation Service and University departments to proactively generate high-quality research projects, translating innovation challenges into commercial opportunities and matching them to the shared objectives of both GM Business Growth Hub and the University. The role will develop and manage collaborative relationships with businesses and other key stakeholders and partners, integrating wider innovation advice and support.

Interviews for this role will take place WC 12th May 2025.

Key Responsibilities:

• Translate identified business needs for research, innovation, and commercialisation into collaboration opportunities.
• Undertake detailed discussions with clients to understand their challenges and articulate them in a technical Project Brief.
• Provide recommendations to Innovation Specialists and senior management on accessing University facilities and expertise.
• Develop an understanding of the University’s research capabilities and generate technical projects.
• Act as a bridge between the Innovation Service, businesses, and Universities for technology transfer and research collaboration.
• Proactively develop a project pipeline and manage the completion of business collaboration projects.
• Contribute to marketing strategies that promote the Innovation Service and Universities.
• Represent the Innovation Service at marketing and networking events to enhance awareness and promote collaboration.

About You:

• Operate effectively at senior management and/or academic level.
• Link objectives and actions to an overall strategy.
• Prioritise and schedule tasks to ensure optimal use of time and resources.
• Build and maintain relationships with business and academic networks.
• Ethical understanding of commercial services that best meet client interests.
• Self-starter with a professional and flexible approach.
• Clean current driving license.

Skills Required:

• Detailed technical knowledge of GM Frontier Sectors and key technology areas.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and networking skills.
• Strong sales and account management abilities.
• Exceptional planning, organisational, and project management skills.
• Well-developed IT skills, including management information and CRM systems.
• Commercial awareness and credibility.
• Experience in business innovation, technology, or academic environments.
• Understanding of project management techniques and market knowledge of key sectors.

At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.

Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.

If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.

We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or call us on 0161 237 4447.

Examples include:

• Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance
• Extra time for tasks
• Interview questions shared beforehand
• Accessibility software or equipment for assessments

We’re proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities. As part of this, we’ve removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.

GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.

All GC colleagues will work inline with the Health & Safety at work act and the GC Health & Safety Policy.

Benefits for last one 

• Our annual leave entitlement starts at 25 days, plus bank holidays which increases with length of service with the opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days leave each year.
• Access to counselling via our Employee Assistance Programme.
• We have 8 EDI steering group to make sure we value our differences and enable an environment of fairness, dignity and respect.
• We offer up to two days’ paid leave to volunteer at a charity of choice through our Volunteer2Day scheme.
• We offer travel loans, discounted seasonal travel tickets for public transport and a great cycle to work scheme promoting opportunities to reduce environmental pollution and a healthier lifestyle.
• We have an enhanced learning and development offer for all staff and managers with opportunities for mentoring, undertaking apprenticeships and continuous professional development.
• Paid for eye test and contributions towards glasses for VDU users, helping improve overall health and wellbeing in the workplace.