At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative tech solutions and engage with clients to shape digital transformation.
- Company: Employee-owned consultancy focused on defence and cutting-edge digital services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team that values ethical innovation and offers excellent career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the public sector with innovative technology and strategic thinking.
- Qualifications: Proven track record in winning government contracts and deep understanding of digital frameworks.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
About the client
The organisation is an employee-owned defence-focused digital services consultancy. A vendor-agnostic UK Crown Commercial Services accredited supplier, they have delivered over 120 cloud-hosted digital services across the public sector, working in partnership with clients to research and develop outcomes and services spanning artificial intelligence, data science, low code and complex code software engineering, cyber security, cloud engineering, and user-centred design. Their technology values drive everything they do. They are committed to open, contemporary and secure solutions that put users first, and embrace cutting-edge technologies while ensuring interoperability, resilience and ethical innovation. By prioritising transparency, adaptability and security, they enable organisations to build future-proof digital services that deliver real impact.
About the role
The Innovation Director is responsible for translating novel technology opportunities into great solutions for clients. Your mission is to lead early lifecycle/pre-sales engagements, architecting the high-level technical strategies that win bids and set the delivery teams up for success. You will be both proactive and reactive. Proactive in interpreting government strategy, world events and delivery priority from primes into solutions that bring pace, precision and productivity. Reactive in shaping and responding to customer requirements through informal conversations and more substantive solution design for RFPs. A thorough understanding of the deployment of cutting-edge technology into the real world and the pace of change of new technology is essential.
What you’ll be doing
- Technical Pre-Sales & Bid Architecture
- Solution Design: Lead the architecture for major tenders, ensuring proposals are innovative yet rooted in the reality of HMG delivery.
- Win Strategy: Partner with the Sales lead to identify the win strategy that differentiates the organisation. You own the technical narrative of the bid, from executive summaries to deep-dive methodology chapters, drawing in experts as required.
- Prototyping & Demos: If needed oversee the creation of proof of concepts (PoCs) or technical demos that make the vision tangible for clients during the discovery phase.
- Service Offering Design: Work with Practice Leads to package technical services into repeatable service offerings or accelerators that can be sold to multiple clients.
- Strategic Client Engagement & Thought Leadership
- Trusted Advisor: Act as the technical anchor for C-suite government stakeholders, helping them navigate their digital roadmaps before a formal tender is even released.
- Market Presence: Represent the organisation at industry events and in white papers. You are the face of the organisation’s technical go to market positioning the firm as a thought leader in high-consequence digital transformation.
- Handover Governance: Ensure a seamless transition from bidding to delivery briefing the Delivery Director and Practice Leads on the technical vision and client expectations.
What you will bring
- Experience: A proven track record of winning multi-million pound contracts within the UK Government or Defence sectors.
- Skill: Deep familiarity with the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) framework. You understand the language of Government and how to navigate the complexities of public sector frameworks and commercial models.
- Experience: Background in modern engineering practices but with a clear commercial nose. A thorough understanding of the deployment of cutting edge technology into the real world and the pace of change of new technology is essential.
- Skill: The ability to spot an opportunity for innovation where others see a routine problem. You should be able to estimate technical effort accurately, ensuring innovative solutions are also profitable and deliverable.
Your personal qualities
- Persuasive Writing: The ability to draft compelling, high-scoring technical responses for formal tenders.
- Outcome-Obsessed: You care more about the client's mission success than the specific tool used to get there.
- Intellectual Curiosity: A natural early adopter who is genuinely excited by solving complex problems with unconventional solutions.
- The Relatable Expert: You can explain high-level technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders without losing the business value in the jargon.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: You thrive in a smaller, agile environment where you need to be both the strategist and the person who gets the prototype over the line.
- Ethical & Compliant Mindset: You champion Innovation by Design, ensuring all new ventures respect UK GDPR, ethical AI guidelines, and inclusivity standards.
If this role sounds like you, please apply with your resume.
Director of Innovation & Engineering in Slough employer: Blue Astral Consulting
As an employee-owned defence-focused digital services consultancy, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our team members to lead in cutting-edge technology solutions. Located in the heart of the UK, we offer exceptional growth opportunities through hands-on experience with high-profile government projects, alongside a commitment to ethical innovation and user-centric design. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, adaptability, and the pursuit of excellence in delivering impactful digital services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Innovation & Engineering in Slough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or mentors. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your projects and achievements. This is your chance to demonstrate your skills and innovation in action, making you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your responses to show how you can contribute to their success, especially in areas like digital transformation and innovative solutions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Innovation & Engineering in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Director of Innovation & Engineering. Highlight your experience with cutting-edge technology and any relevant projects that showcase your ability to win multi-million pound contracts.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about innovation in digital services and how your skills align with our mission. Be sure to mention your understanding of the Digital, Data and Technology framework.
Showcase Your Persuasive Writing Skills:Since persuasive writing is key for this role, include examples of high-scoring technical responses you've drafted in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Astral Consulting
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the latest technologies relevant to the role, especially in areas like AI, data science, and cloud engineering. Be prepared to discuss how these technologies can be applied in real-world scenarios, as this will show your understanding of their practical implications.
✨Craft a Winning Narrative
Since you'll be responsible for the technical narrative of bids, practice articulating your ideas clearly and persuasively. Think about how you can differentiate the organisation's offerings and prepare examples of how you've successfully done this in the past.
✨Engage with Real-World Scenarios
Prepare to discuss specific projects or experiences where you've led innovative solutions or navigated complex public sector frameworks. This will demonstrate your ability to translate technology opportunities into actionable strategies that align with client needs.
✨Showcase Your Thought Leadership
Be ready to talk about your experience representing your previous organisations at industry events or in publications. Highlight any thought leadership pieces you've contributed to, as this will position you as a credible expert in digital transformation.
