Skills Programme Lead in Newport

CSA Catapult is the UK’s authority on compound semiconductor applications and commercialisation. We work with start-ups, SMEs, large organisations, and academia to de-risk innovation, remove barriers to market, and accelerate the adoption of compound semiconductor technologies.

If you thrive in a growing organisation, enjoy contributing to diverse projects, and value cross-team collaboration, you’ll fit right in. Our work supports the technologies shaping the future from AI hardware and infrastructure, electric vehicles and satellite communications to remote health monitoring and net zero— compound semiconductor applications offer unrivalled power to help us thrive, connect, and explore.

As a Not‑for‑Profit organisation, we exist to drive UK economic growth. We work across sectors including automotive, medical, digital communications, and aerospace. By bringing together leading expertise and investing in cutting‑edge technology, we bridge the gap between industry and academia to help commercialise innovation and deliver national impact.

We look beyond the status quo and hire for ability and attitude. We value collaboration, innovation and trust and we measure outcomes, and champion diverse perspectives. Diversity, equality, and inclusion are central to who we are, and every role plays a part in upholding these commitments.

The Position

CSA Catapult is seeking an organised, proactive and collaborative Skills Programme Lead to join our Skills Academy team on a fixed-term maternity cover contract.

You will make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s semiconductor skills pipeline by supporting emerging talent, strengthening workforce readiness and helping to inspire future generations through practical, high-impact programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to lead programmes that address skills challenges across the semiconductor sector.

Our Skills Programme Lead will:

• Work with colleagues across CSA Catapult, academic institutions, industry partners, government, skills providers and other Catapults to deliver high-quality workforce, early-careers and STEM outreach activities.
• Lead the Catapult’s delivery of a workforce programme, coordinating project activities, milestones, reporting requirements and partner relationships.
• Manage workforce research, stakeholder engagement and evidence gathering to identify future skills needs, capability gaps and workforce risks associated with emerging technologies.
• Develop high-quality outputs including assessments, reports, and presentations. The role will involve planning and facilitating workshops, and engagement activities.
• Oversee and enhance the experience of interns and scholars, supporting onboarding, mentoring, development opportunities, recruitment, and programme evaluation.
• Coordinate STEM outreach with schools, colleges, universities and partners, represent CSA Catapult at relevant events and forums, and monitor programme performance and impact.

The Candidate

We are looking for an enthusiastic programme professional with experience leading or coordinating multi-stakeholder projects and engagement activities (online and in-person).

• Ideally experienced working within skills, education, workforce development, STEM, innovation, or research
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Confident in balancing competing priorities
• Able to produce clear reports, presentations and stakeholder updates
• Experience using data, feedback and insight to evaluate activity and inform decisions
• A collaborative, adaptable and self-motivated approach is essential
• Confidence to work independently, take ownership and travel occasionally across the UK
• Knowledge of the semiconductor sector, Innovate UK or the Catapult Network would be advantageous but is not essential

We welcome both full-time and part-time applications, with the final working pattern agreed with the successful candidate.

Additional Information

• Up to £49,000 annual full-time salary (pro rata’d accordingly for part time)
• Offered as a fixed-term maternity cover until 30 September 2027
• Life Assurance – x4 times your annual salary
• Scottish Widows pension scheme – you put in 5% and we’ll put in 10%
• 28 days leave in addition to 8 bank holidays per year based on full time hours (pro rata'd for contract duration of less than 12 months and/ or part time hours)
• 37.5-hour full time working week OR part time hours also considered
• A cashback scheme for your eye tests and dental treatment
• Payment for a professional membership each year
• Flexible working – we operate core hours of 10-4. The balance of your hours can be worked around what works for you

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 10th September 2026. We reserve the right to amend the closing date should we need to extend the advertising period, or if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications early.