Senior Consultant (Innovation Districts Group Manager)

Location: Either London, Milton Keynes or Birmingham

Reporting to: Head of Regional Delivery

Working hours: Full time (9 day fortnight)

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £51,000 - £62,000 Dependent on Location and Experience

Salary Band: 3.1

Closing date: 9am 14th July 2025

Internal Role Code: RC071

The Role:

Are you passionate about the role of innovation in driving growth in places? Could you lead on convening strategic national stakeholders around cross-sector challenges? Do you want to be a part of an energised and mission driven team? We’re looking for a dynamic Innovation Districts Group Manager to take the lead on working with members and the independent chair to shape and deliver the UK Innovation Districts Group (UK IDG). The UK IDG is a network of leading Innovation Districts / hubs across the UK. The purpose of this role is to coordinate and develop this learning network. The role includes developing and delivering impactful & engaging content for the core and associate members, engaging with government to influence economic growth through place-based innovation, and developing a sustainable commercial model with new services for the UK IDG by end of 2026. The position holder is expected to project manage the committed activity and day to day operations of the UK IDG.

The role will be a core part of a new Regional Delivery Team in a new Regional & Local Growth Directorate with brave ambition to empower local innovation economies. The role will need to manage the UK IDG network as above, develop thinking on how our local growth networks evolve and support the Head of Regional Delivery to shape strategy for how innovation is better when led in places.

The UK Innovation Districts Group (UK IDG) aims are categorised into three main areas:

• Policy: to secure its position as the leading voice for Innovation Districts in the UK and influence policy at various governmental levels such as application of the Industrial Strategy.
• Practice: to connect diverse stakeholders and promote shared learning and practical tools for innovation as well as leading innovation diagnostics activities for their places.
• Prosperity: To enhance inclusive innovation practices and broaden the sector's workforce.

About Connected Places Catapult:

Connected Places Catapult is the UK's innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities and local growth. We work with businesses, academia, knowledge partners, and public bodies so that the opportunities of innovation can be adopted and scaled in communities, towns, and cities across the country. One of our big priorities is to empower local innovation economies. Strong local innovation economies are pivotal to regional prosperity. We help address barriers such as finance, regulation, public-sector procurement, and place-based leadership and empower businesses, local authorities, and regional organisations to unlock investment, create jobs, and boost productivity.

Responsibilities:

• Meet revenue targets.
• Spot opportunities.
• Contribute to bids and proposals.
• Increase client confidence in and credibility of CPC, manage sell ons and 2nd phase wins.
• Ensure CRM system is updated stakeholder contact and any account information including opportunity management.
• Scope and lead streams of work.
• Shape the planning and budgeting of work.
• Shape and design the deliverables.
• Manage the PMO and commercial control.
• Organise the work stream for the core and virtual team members.
• Provide excellence in delivery.
• Meet (or exceed) utilisation targets.
• Design and plan innovative and professional delivery.
• Develop senior client buy in across a range of stakeholders.
• Hold face off accountability at senior management levels.
• Update CRM system with contact of client information.
• Contribute profession/specialism into delivery and proposal development.
• Provide thought leadership.
• Work in profession virtual community.
• Provide learning opportunities.
• 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.
• Spark creative thinking across all tasks.
• Apply systems thinking to problem solving.
• Create effective networks.
• Use personal influence to progress beyond challenges and blockers.
• Use experience to provide the voice of the customer in all activities.
• Effectively manage communication across teams and stakeholders, lead meetings and contribute to publications and events.
• Co-ordinate plans across activities.
• Role model agility and adaptation.
• Champion and promote inclusion and sustainability.

Benefits:

• 9 day fortnight for everyone, we have a full company shutdown 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.