At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage innovation partnerships and track the impact of projects that improve lives.
- Company: Alzheimer's Society, the UK's leading dementia charity.
- Benefits: Make a real difference while gaining valuable experience in a supportive environment.
- Other info: Flexible working options and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Join us to turn innovative ideas into life-changing solutions for those affected by dementia.
- Qualifications: Curiosity, teamwork, and a passion for making a difference are key.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer, and nearly one million people are living with it today. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a need for better support, care and hope. At Alzheimer's Society, innovation is how we turn ideas into real world change. We identify, support and invest in solutions that improve diagnosis, care, access to treatment and help prevent crisis. Our Innovation Programme has supported more than 60 innovations, reaching over 1.5 million people and helping partners secure millions in further funding. We are looking for an Innovation Officer (Portfolio) to help grow and strengthen this impact.
You will sit within our Innovation Team in the Research and Influencing Directorate, supporting performance, relationships and learning across our investment portfolio. This role is about helping good ideas go further and making sure they deliver real benefit for people affected by dementia.
What you'll do:
- Manage relationships with our innovation portfolio partners, monitoring progress, impact and reach, seeking opportunities for wider implementation and scale of innovations.
- Help us understand the impact of our innovation portfolio by turning project data into clear, useful insight through dashboards and analysis.
- Track the return on investment of innovations within the portfolio, monitoring quarterly sales and annual returns to understand whether innovations are delivering the expected impact and sustainability.
- Help with operational delivery, including due diligence, contracting, and invoicing.
- Share the work of our team and innovators we support through events, communications, and engagement.
- Support learning and evaluation to understand what works and why.
Key responsibilities include:
- Manage portfolio partner relationships through regular engagement, meetings, and stakeholder support.
- Develop and maintain impact metrics and dashboards to track portfolio performance, returns, and impact.
- Monitor financial performance including sales, returns, and quarterly partner reporting.
- Review and analyse partner reports to identify progress, risks, and key themes across the portfolio.
- Support income-generation opportunities by identifying routes for testing, implementation, and scaling.
- Monitor compliance requirements including contractual obligations and brand-licensing agreements.
- Lead evaluation activity by designing, commissioning, and monitoring evaluations with partners.
- Prepare and coordinate partner representation and involvement in meetings and events.
- Support operational processes such as invoicing, due diligence, contracting, and onboarding of new partners.
- Collaborate across teams and contribute to continuous improvement of portfolio management and reporting.
About you:
You care about work that makes a difference. You are curious, open to learning, and comfortable working across information, people and processes. You might come from innovation, partnerships, health, charity or the public sector. Or somewhere completely different. We do not expect you to know everything on day one. We care more about how you think and how you work with others. If you meet some of the criteria but not all, we would still really like to hear from you.
- You are interested in understanding what is working and what is not, and why.
- You enjoy working with others to keep things moving.
- You can manage multiple pieces of work and notice what matters most.
- You communicate clearly, even when information is complex or changing.
- You find practical ways forward when things are not straightforward.
We are building innovation that transforms lives. This role helps make sure that happens.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on the 14th July via MS Teams.
About Alzheimer's Society: Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Innovation Officer (Portfolio) in Bedford employer: Alzheimers Society
At Alzheimer's Society, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by dementia. As an Innovation Officer (Portfolio), you will thrive in a supportive work culture that values collaboration and continuous learning, while benefiting from opportunities for professional growth within a leading charity. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion ensures that every team member's voice is heard, making this an exceptional place to contribute to real-world change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Officer (Portfolio) in Bedford
✨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 Alzheimers Society.
✨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 Alzheimers Society.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Officer (Portfolio) in Bedford
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 Alzheimers Society 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 Alzheimers Society 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 Alzheimers Society
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Alzheimers Society, 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 Alzheimers Society 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 Alzheimers Society, 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.
