Head of Investment

Department: Built Environment & Local Growth

Location: London and Milton Keynes

Application Deadline: 27 April 2026

Compensation: £80,920 - £89,472 / year

Contract type/Duration: Permanent

Directorate/Team: Enterprise Innovation

Band: 4.3

Salary: £80,920 - £89,472

Reports to: Enterprise Innovation Director

Location: London or Milton Keynes – Hybrid (two days per week)

Closing date: 27/04/2026

The Role

The Head of Investment (Technical) is the primary architect and authorised lead for Connected Places Catapult’s (CPC) investment strategy. This role is responsible for the technical structuring, regulatory compliance, and operational execution of innovation investment activities that bridge the gap between UK high‑potential businesses and institutional capital. We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic Head of Investment (Technical) to lead CPC’s investment function and maximise the investable capital in transport and construction innovation. Reporting to the Enterprise Innovation Director, you’ll empower the next generation of high‑potential scale‑ups to secure capital, accelerate commercial success and contribute to national innovation priorities. If you’re motivated by driving impact, building powerful investor networks and backing the most exciting innovators, this is a rare opportunity to make a national‑level contribution.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive others to meet revenue targets by providing specialist and technical knowledge and coaching to help qualify ideas and proposals with thought leadership.
• Ensure the development and presentation of client proposals is technically accurate.
• Lead the development of thought leadership collateral to support ‘go to market’ solutions and service offerings.
• Work with account leads and teams to support opportunity identification, qualification and contracting from a technical point of view.
• Identify opportunities from a technical point of view to ensure the pipeline is future‑proofed.
• Solve complex problems, identify new solutions using a broad technical perspective and understanding.
• Lead innovative solution design activity.
• Lead on significant and high‑profile projects from a technical perspective.
• Assure quality of technical standards.
• Act as SRO on technical aspects of programmes and projects.
• Provide end‑to‑end technical project leadership and accountability.
• Lead technical aspects of stakeholder engagement to build confidence in CPC.
• Develop senior client buy‑in across a range of stakeholders.
• Hold face‑off accountability at senior management levels.
• Update CRM system with contact and client information.
• Be a recognised thought leader.
• Support the development of professionals’ technical skills to ensure high standard of solutions delivery and expertise.
• Actively coach and mentor colleagues.
• Drive high attendance at Profession Communities activities.
• Maintain own professional development.
• Ensure an ethos of equity, inclusivity and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities.

You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Drive identification of innovative solutions.
• View the problem from multiple perspectives and ensure a connected response.
• Tap into expert internal and external networks.
• Powerful influencing across internal and external stakeholders.
• Have trusted adviser status with customers and be able to represent the needs of customers internally.
• Communicate complex ideas clearly across a variety of audiences and channels and represent CPC as an expert at a variety of events and organisations.
• Use insight and experience to ensure effective allocation of work, based on expertise and requirements.
• Create an environment that ensures teams can respond to changing needs and move beyond constraints.
• Apply inclusion and sustainability thinking across projects, activity, teams, events, and supplier activities.

Benefits

• 9 day fortnight for everyone, every other Friday.
• 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro‑rata calculations for part‑time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
• Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.
• Two paid days of volunteering leave per year (pro‑rata for part‑time employees) to support charitable activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
• Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
• Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well‑being.
• Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre‑tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
• Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.
• Mortgage Advice benefit, delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates – provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end‑to‑end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.

Employment here is based solely upon individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. We also make all reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under laws protecting the rights of the disabled.