Senior Innovation and Development Lead in London

Senior Innovation and Development Lead in London

London Full-Time 55000 - 65000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative fundraising projects from concept to launch, making a real impact.
  • Company: Join the British Heart Foundation, a leader in health and innovation.
  • Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and a chance to make a difference.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and fosters growth.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of fundraising and engage with diverse communities.
  • Qualifications: Senior-level experience in innovation or product development required.

The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 € per year.

We’re looking for a Senior Innovation and Development Lead to help shape the future of how we grow income and engage customers at the British Heart Foundation (BHF). This isn’t about theory, it’s about turning bold ideas into real, sustainable income streams. From new fundraising products to reimagining traditional models, you’ll take concepts from insight → test → launch → scale.

Responsible for driving innovation that delivers both impact and income you will:

  • Identify new audience problems and income opportunities, using desk research, internal insight and commissioned customer research.
  • Turn insight into new fundraising propositions (including digital, subscription and challenge‑based products), developing and refining concepts with clear success criteria.
  • Test, pilot and launch ideas at pace, using MVPs and a test‑and‑learn approach to decide what to scale, adapt or stop.
  • Build robust business and investment cases, including commercial modelling (e.g. payback, NPV and unit economics).
  • Influence senior stakeholders with clear, evidence‑based recommendations.
  • Lead successful propositions into BAU.

This is a big role that offers genuine ownership, with all delivery led and delivered in‑house without the support agencies. Visible at senior level the role provides the opportunity to turn insight into real impact.

As our ideal candidate, you’ll bring senior‑level experience in innovation, fundraising or product development, with a clear ability to turn insight into action. You’re commercially minded and creative, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to move at pace while staying focused on what delivers real value. You’ll have proven experience leading propositions end‑to‑end from early problem discovery and insight through testing, piloting, scaling and evaluation, all delivered in‑house.

You’ve built and refined MVPs and pilots through evidence‑based experimentation, and you’re confident making calls on when to scale, pivot or stop initiatives. With advance data and insight skills, you can translate complex qualitative and quantitative insight into clear options and recommendations for senior stakeholders. You bring experience building strong business and investment cases, including budgeting and forecasting, as well as taking successful propositions into BAU.

Used to working in complex, cross functional environments, you can influence without direct authority and manage interdependencies and governance with clarity.

This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our London Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.

We celebrate and value the diversity of the communities we serve, recognising that embracing different perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our organisation and drives innovation. By fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and supported, we are better equipped to achieve our mission of helping people have a healthier heart for longer.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer.

Senior Innovation and Development Lead in London employer: British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is an exceptional employer that empowers its employees to drive meaningful change in the health sector. With a strong focus on innovation and collaboration, BHF offers a dynamic work culture where creativity thrives, alongside opportunities for professional growth and development. Located in London, this hybrid role allows for flexibility while being part of a mission-driven organisation dedicated to improving heart health across communities.

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Contact Detail:

British Heart Foundation Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Innovation and Development Lead in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current BHF employees on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.

Tip Number 2

Showcase your innovation skills! Prepare a portfolio or case studies of past projects where you turned insights into successful outcomes. This will demonstrate your ability to drive real impact, just like we do at StudySmarter.

Tip Number 3

Be ready for a chat! If you get an interview, come armed with questions about their current challenges and how you can help solve them. This shows you're proactive and genuinely interested in making a difference.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the BHF team and contributing to our mission.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Innovation and Development Lead in London

Innovation Management
Fundraising Strategy
Product Development
Market Research
Concept Development
MVP Development
Commercial Modelling

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for innovation and fundraising shine through. We want to see how your bold ideas can contribute to our mission at the British Heart Foundation.

Be Specific with Examples:Use concrete examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've turned insights into successful projects. We love seeing how you've tackled challenges and driven results in previous roles.

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Senior Innovation and Development Lead role. Highlight your experience with MVPs and evidence-based experimentation to show us you’re the right fit.

Keep It Clear and Concise:While we appreciate detail, clarity is key! Make your application easy to read and straight to the point. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate complex ideas simply and effectively.

How to prepare for a job interview at British Heart Foundation

Know Your Insights

Before the interview, dive deep into the British Heart Foundation's mission and recent initiatives. Be ready to discuss how your insights can translate into innovative fundraising propositions. Show them you understand their audience and can identify new income opportunities.

Demonstrate Your Process

Prepare to walk through your end-to-end process of turning ideas into action. Use specific examples from your past experiences where you’ve taken concepts from insight to launch. Highlight your ability to test, pilot, and scale effectively, showcasing your MVP development skills.

Speak Their Language

Familiarise yourself with key terms like NPV, payback, and unit economics. When discussing your experience, use these terms confidently to demonstrate your commercial acumen. This will show that you’re not just creative but also grounded in solid business principles.

Engage with Stakeholders

Think about how you’ve influenced senior stakeholders in previous roles. Prepare examples that illustrate your ability to make evidence-based recommendations and lead propositions into BAU. This will highlight your leadership skills and your capacity to manage complex environments.