Growth & Scaling Manager in Belfast

Catalyst is seeking a Growth & Scaling Manager to lead the design and delivery of high-impact support for scaling companies across Northern Ireland and beyond. Reporting to the Head of Entrepreneurship, this is a senior role responsible for driving the performance, coherence and ambition of Catalyst’s scaling activity, ensuring it delivers meaningful outcomes for founders and the wider innovation economy.

You will lead a team focused on supporting high-growth companies, working closely with investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners to accelerate funding readiness, market expansion and sustainable growth.

About the Projects: How companies grow and the velocity of scaling is changing rapidly because of AI, and will continue to change as a result of other emerging technologies. The Growth & Scaling Manager will design, build, test and oversee a portfolio of programmes aimed at supporting companies from early traction through to scale, ensuring a clear progression pathway for ambitious founders. This includes designing data driven interventions that increase investor engagement and strengthen commercial capability – leading to increased revenue and funding for scaling businesses.

This role provides leadership across scaling activity, ensuring alignment with entrepreneurship programmes and a consistent, high-quality experience for participants.

About Catalyst: Catalyst is an independent, non-profit science and technology hub, driving innovation-led growth in Northern Ireland. We are a purpose-led, ambitious team where you can do meaningful work, grow quickly, and help shape Northern Ireland’s future. Every surplus we generate is reinvested into inclusive entrepreneurship, innovation programmes and community impact, building a more competitive, resilient and inclusive economy.

Working at Catalyst: A certified Great Place to Work® and recognised as one of the top 100 Workplaces in the UK for 2024, receiving awards for Best Place to Work, Best Workplace for Development, Best Workplace for Employee Wellbeing, and Best Place to Work for Women, Catalyst is one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting employers. With a strong vision of Opportunity for all from world-leading innovation, this is a workplace brimming with ambition to create social, cultural, and economic advantage.

Diversity and Inclusion at Catalyst: Diversity and inclusion aren’t boxes to tick on a CSR list. At Catalyst, they are part of our DNA, lived, breathed, seen, and heard across our community, projects, and co-working spaces. We not only want to foster and empower a culture of innovation, but also an environment where people can be their true, authentic self and thrive, and we are proud to be recognised by the Diversity Charter for achieving silver status, with ambitions to progress to Gold. As an equal opportunity employer, we recruit based solely on the individual’s ability to perform the role, and that’s allowed us to create an inclusive workplace which celebrates the diversity of our teams and community.

Key Information:

• Full time, fixed term contract ending June 2029
• Attractive benefits package – including flexible working options
• Competitive salary £45,000-£50,000 depending on experience
• This role reports to the Head of Entrepreneurship

Employee Perks:

• Competitive Benefits Package including Private medical insurance for you and your dependents after probation
• Generous pension contribution
• Generous life assurance policy
• Enhanced parental leave packages
• Hybrid working options available
• Free open access to company organised events.
• Access to company gym

What are we looking for?

This is not a traditional programme management role. It requires someone who can both imagine and build new approaches to scaling support. You are a commercially minded leader with a strong understanding of what it takes to scale a business and a strong interest in what supports scaling of the near future. You bring credibility with founders and investors and are comfortable navigating both strategic and operational levels. You are naturally curious and outward-looking, constantly seeking new ways of doing things and learning from beyond the organisation. You are comfortable operating in ambiguity, turning emerging ideas into tangible interventions quickly.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the exploration, design and rapid development of new scaling interventions, informed by real-time market insight and global best practice.
• Manage and develop the scaling team, ensuring clarity of roles, high performance and strong delivery standards.
• Own and drive outcomes across the Catalyst supported start-ups, including increased revenue, investment and growth for participant companies.
• Build and maintain relationships with investors, corporates and ecosystem partners to create opportunities for participant companies.
• Design and implement interventions that support commercial growth, market expansion and investment readiness.
• Oversee programme performance, including KPIs, reporting and impact measurement.
• Lead the development of funding strategies, including writing bids and identifying new funding sources, aligning impact outcomes with funders needs and our strategy to the development of new programmes and funding proposals aligned to strategic priorities.
• Ensure alignment and integration between scaling and entrepreneurship activity across Catalyst.
• Oversee programme budgets in collaboration with finance colleagues, ensuring efficient use of resources and compliance with procurement processes.
• Represent Catalyst externally, positioning the organisation as a leader in scaling support and innovation.
• Undertake other reasonable duties within the remit of the role.

Essential:

• 3-4 years of experience supporting or working within scaling or high-growth businesses, with evidence of delivering increased revenue, investment or commercial outcomes.
• Experience at senior level strategically growing revenue by £1m+ and creation/ implementation of growth & scaling plans.
• Experience using AI tools and an understanding of AIs impact on entrepreneurship.
• Track record of turning ideas into implemented solutions.
• Experience managing stakeholders at senior level, including investors, founders and partners.
• Strong leadership experience, including managing and developing staff.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of funding landscapes, including equity investment.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable:

• Experience with MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework or similar methodologies.
• Experience working within an innovation, startup or venture ecosystem.
• Experience securing or managing publicly funded programmes.
• Track record of supporting companies to achieve funding or growth milestones.

Special Requirements:

• Proof of right to work in the UK.
• Occasional evening and weekend working to support programme delivery.
• Full current driving licence.

Criteria may be enhanced to aid shortlisting. Exceptional candidates who do not meet the criteria may be considered for the role provided they have the necessary skills and experience.