At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate R&D programmes and connect teams, partners, and customers in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Cutting-edge deeptech company focused on advanced unmanned aerial systems.
- Benefits: Competitive salary and the chance to influence high-impact projects.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovation and make a real impact during a growth phase.
- Qualifications: Experience in coordinating complex projects and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Join a cutting-edge deeptech company building advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for environmental monitoring. You’ll coordinate high-impact R&D programmes (including ARIA-funded work) and sit at the centre of delivery—connecting technical teams, partners, customers, and leadership. This is a structured programme role with a commercial edge: you’ll help manage external relationships, keep stakeholders aligned, and spot opportunities to build on existing work. In the first few months, you’ll also support the leadership team through a period of growth and facilities transition bringing organisation, adaptability, and structure during a busy phase.
What you’ll be doing:
- Coordinate multiple R&D programmes (funded + customer-led).
- Manage milestones, reporting, documentation, and RAID logs.
- Keep projects organised, visible, and on track.
- Work across internal teams and external partners.
Customer & Partner Coordination
- Maintain strong relationships with customers, partners, and primes.
- Track follow-ups and ensure stakeholders feel well managed.
- Spot opportunities for follow-on work.
Early-stage Operational Support
- Support team growth and facilities transition (first 3–6 months).
- Help introduce structure and improve ways of working.
- Adapt quickly in a fast-moving environment.
What experience you’ll need:
- Experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
- Strong organisation, tracking, and documentation skills.
- Confidence working with customers/partners.
- Commercial awareness (without being sales-focused).
- Proactive, adaptable, and detail-driven mindset.
- Comfortable working with technical teams.
- Funded R&D exposure (ARIA, UKRI, Innovate UK).
- Deep-tech, engineering, or aerospace environment experience.
What you’ll get:
Join a company working on high-impact, cutting-edge projects in a role that will make a real influence during a growth phase. Leeds + competitive salary.
What’s next?
Apply now if you enjoy bringing structure to complex innovation and want to work at the forefront of R&D. Alternatively, reach out to Jazz Jones (Jazz@adlib-recruitment.co.uk) if you have any questions.
Research & Innovation Programme Specialist in Leeds employer: Adlib
Join a pioneering deeptech company in Leeds, where innovation meets environmental stewardship. As a Research & Innovation Programme Specialist, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that values collaboration and adaptability, while enjoying competitive salaries and opportunities for professional growth. Be part of a team that is not only shaping the future of unmanned aerial systems but also making a significant impact on environmental monitoring.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research & Innovation Programme Specialist in Leeds
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like Adlib.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like Adlib.
We think you need these skills to ace Research & Innovation Programme Specialist in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at Adlib that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at Adlib and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Adlib
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Adlib, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show Adlib that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At Adlib, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
