Senior Community Engagement Manager in Gateshead

Join Digital Catapult as a Senior Community Engagement Manager and play a pivotal role in shaping and leading our community engagement strategy across a diverse innovation ecosystem. You’ll drive impactful partnerships, enhance member experience and build thriving communities that support the UK’s adoption of cutting‑edge technologies. This is a strategic yet hands‑on role where you’ll influence direction, deliver high‑value initiatives and strengthen collaboration across programmes, stakeholders and regions.

WHAT YOU’LL DO (Duties)

• Lead and implement a coherent community engagement strategy across programmes, sectors and regions.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with stakeholders including startups, corporates, investors, academia and public sector partners.
• Design scalable community frameworks, playbooks and engagement models to improve programme outcomes and member experience.
• Represent Digital Catapult at industry events, conferences and ecosystem forums to enhance reach and reputation.
• Translate data, feedback and insights into actionable recommendations to improve services and programmes.
• Lead or deliver key community initiatives, partnerships and projects where senior ownership is required.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading community engagement or ecosystem‑building initiatives, ideally within innovation, emerging tech or startup environments.
• Demonstrable ability to design and deliver engagement strategies, frameworks and KPIs.
• Strong track record of building and managing senior stakeholder relationships and representing organisations externally.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to turn insight into clear recommendations.
• Collaborative and proactive approach, with experience providing leadership or guidance without formal line management.
• Experience using data and feedback to measure community health and drive continuous improvement.

Salary: £45‑55k depending on experience

Deadline for Applications: Friday 25th May

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We recognise and value the advantages and opportunities that come with having people from diverse backgrounds working with us and it is our ambition to build an organisation which is representative and reflective of UK society. We welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates, candidates from minority and underrepresented groups and from candidates with more or less experience, provided the requisite skills can be demonstrated. As members of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Please do speak with us about adjustments that could support you through our interview process. Digital Catapult is an equal opportunities employer.

We are in the UK’s Top 100 Best Workplaces and placed in the UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech and Large Organisations. Digital Catapult is a Disability Confident Committed Level 1 Employer.

Benefits:

• Excellent holiday package: 25 days annual leave, Bank Holidays and 3 days between Christmas and New Year.
• Double‑matched pension up to 10% of your salary.
• Discretionary company bonus 4% of your salary to use towards selecting benefits that work for you, including health cash plan, Private Medical Insurance; buying holiday, topping up your pension; E‑Vehicle Scheme; Cycle2Work; Tech Scheme; Gym Discounts; Give As you Earn; PerkPal; Life insurance 4x salary; Free to access EAP & Financial Wellbeing advice; Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Hybrid working - with great offices to work from 2 days per week with some roles needing to be onsite more regularly to ensure the successful delivery of our work.
• Investment in your ongoing learning and development with us.
• Company social events throughout the year and free office snacks!

We have a vibrant and engaging culture where all voices are heard and a variety of employee‑led affinity groups who champion initiatives and provide opportunities for feedback to be shared. We use moments in the year to educate everyone at Digital Catapult on different aspects of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to raise awareness. We also enjoy socialising and having fun together through a variety of company‑wide events held throughout the year including our football team, running and climbing groups and volunteering activities.