At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation and product development in geospatial technology with start-ups.
- Company: Join a vibrant tech hub focused on geospatial innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth and mentoring opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of location-powered products and make a real-world impact.
- Qualifications: Strong technical background in geospatial or software development required.
The predicted salary is between 69555 - 81147 € per year.
Full Time Salary £69,555–£81,147 (dependent on experience) + London Weighting £3,500. Hybrid working (3 days a week in the Farringdon Hub). Help shape the future of geospatial innovation and the next generation of location‑powered products. Geovation is OS’s externally facing innovation, research & development function — working with start‑ups, founders and partners to explore new applications of location data and help ideas become reality. Our Farringdon hub is a vibrant, collaborative environment where entrepreneurs, technologists and geospatial specialists come together to solve meaningful, real‑world problems.
As we continue to grow our ecosystem, this role sits at its innovation focused core: guiding research‑led experimentation, accelerating the development of innovative products, and translating insights into outcomes that drive OS’s future success.
Why this role matters
Geovation exists to expand OS’s impact beyond the traditional geospatial world. We nurture early‑stage start‑ups, build partnerships and uncover emerging technologies and markets where location data creates unique value. This role owns Geovation’s Open Innovation, Research & Development capabilities — which we call our Incubator. It’s where embryonic ideas are explored, emerging markets are discovered, and critical insights are developed that will shape OS’s future direction.
By ‘Innovation, Research & Development’ we mean finding and developing new applications of location data – that we can learn from -so we make better products and more impact. The ‘Open’ bit is that its open to the wider world – not hidden away in a secret lab. In fact, these ideas aren’t our ideas at all – they’re the ideas of entrepreneurs. We’re here to help those entrepreneurs try to realise their visions by helping them build new products that solve big problems that really matter.
In this role you’ll be equivalent to our Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), with the role blending technical leadership, innovation strategy, product thinking and programme management. It drives the discovery and development of new applications of location data while supporting start‑ups with practical, experiment‑driven development programmes.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Leading Geovation’s Incubation Team as an Innovation, Research & Development capability.
- Own and deliver Geovation’s Incubator programme, ensuring it generates insight, market development outcomes and value for startups and partners.
- Identify which startups to work with and shape bespoke support packages tailored to their needs and growth stage.
- Design and oversee hypothesis‑led proof‑of‑concept experiments that deliver tangible learning for OS and value creating, meaningful IP for startups.
Technical and innovation leadership
- Provide credible thought leadership at the intersection of geospatial data, emerging technology and new markets.
- Communicate complex technical and market concepts clearly to a wide range of audiences.
- Design and deliver technical development projects with clear outputs and learning objectives, using best‑practice agile approaches.
- Contribute to consultancy revenue generation (approx. £50k–£100k per year).
Programme and ecosystem development
- Develop and lead agile, design‑led and sprint‑based development programmes within the Incubator.
- Strengthen Geovation’s research, experimentation and product‑development capabilities.
Representing Geovation and OS
- Act as Geovation’s product and technical representative (a bit like Geovation’s CPTO), showcasing our expertise to OS’s Executive Leadership team, partners, founders and the wider ecosystem.
- Build networks, strengthen partnerships and help expand Geovation’s growing innovation community.
Technical management
- Ensure Geovation’s technical tools, skills and processes are maintained, modern and effective.
- Support team members in developing their technical capabilities.
Essential What you’ll bring
- A strong technical background with experience of geospatial and/or software development using a range of tools and languages.
- Strong ability to identify and communicate emerging trends in technology and geospatial data.
- Proven ability to lead and deliver innovation, research or technical development programmes.
- Product‑led and design‑thinking mindset; able to flex between product, technical and strategic approaches.
- Practical experience of setting up, managing and delivering agile development projects with clear learning outcomes.
- Ability to design and run practical experiments that generate insight and validate hypotheses.
- Proven leadership ability.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, comfortable interacting with both technical and non‑technical audiences.
Desirable
- Experience mentoring, coaching or advising startups, founders or product teams.
- Experience working within a startup accelerator, incubator or innovation‑focused environment.
- Exposure to geospatial technologies, data or location‑powered applications.
- Experience building partnerships, networks or ecosystems within a technology or innovation context.
- Experience in securing and delivering revenue generating technical consultancy work.
- Experience as a thought leader in a technical space.
- Background in programme management or delivering externally funded programmes.
- People leadership experience.
The Rewards
We want you to love what you do. That is why our benefits package rewards a job well done. Check out how we support and invest in our employees.
- Salary – £69,555–£81,147 (dependent on experience) + London Weighting £3,500.
- Performance related bonus up to 10%.
- A competitive pension scheme (OS contributes up to 12.07%).
- 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays on joining, (3 taken over Christmas) increasing by one day per year, to a maximum of 5 years.
- Enhanced family leave, including up to 12 weeks paid partner (paternity) leave.
- Free subscription to OS Maps.
- Access to online learning platforms.
- Coaching and Mentoring schemes.
- Plus, a suite of excellent additional perks and benefits.
- An extra days’ leave for each year you work, up to 33 days.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- We adopt flexible working and can consider different working hours dependent on the role and your personal circumstances.
- Eyecare Vouchers.
- OS Explorers Nursery discount.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- We believe that as a company we should give back wherever we can, so we give you 1 day a year to volunteer for charities that are important to you, as well as offering a match funding scheme.
The Stages That Proceed Successful Application Are As Follows
- Stage 1 – Telephone screening call via MS Teams.
- Stage 2 – Competency based interview & Psychometric Assessment.
Location: This role will be offered Hybrid on a UK Remote worker and with OS hybrid working at the Farringdon Hub. Closing date: Friday 13 March 2026 at 23:59pm. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Research shows that candidates — especially women, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodiverse people and ethnic minority groups — may self‑select out if they don’t meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role but don’t match every single point, please apply anyway. You may be exactly who we’re looking for.
Skills Required For This Role
- Computer Programming
- Engineering Practices
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Geospatial Data
- Secure Software Development
- Secure Software Development Lifecycle
- Security Software
- Software Development
- Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Technology, Product and Innovation Lead (Incubation Lead) in London employer: hackajob
At Geovation, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and collaborative work culture in our Farringdon Hub. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our extensive benefits package, including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional development, all while empowering you to lead innovative projects that shape the future of geospatial technology. Join us to make a meaningful impact alongside passionate entrepreneurs and experts in a supportive environment that values creativity and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technology, Product and Innovation Lead (Incubation Lead) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the geospatial and tech communities. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone in the industry. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal project that highlights your technical expertise and innovative thinking. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can contribute to the future of location-powered products.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the role or the application process!
We think you need these skills to ace Technology, Product and Innovation Lead (Incubation Lead) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in geospatial innovation and product development. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Show Your Passion for Innovation:In your written application, let us know why you’re excited about the opportunity to lead Geovation’s Incubator programme. Share any personal projects or experiences that demonstrate your enthusiasm for technology and innovation in the geospatial field.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your ideas and experiences, as we appreciate candidates who can convey complex concepts simply and effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at hackajob
✨Know Your Geospatial Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of geospatial data and emerging technologies. Be ready to discuss how these concepts can be applied in innovative ways, especially in relation to the role at Geovation. Show them you’re not just familiar with the terms, but that you can think critically about their applications.
✨Prepare for Hypothesis-Led Discussions
Since this role involves designing proof-of-concept experiments, be prepared to talk about your experience with hypothesis-led projects. Think of examples where you’ve successfully validated ideas through practical experiments, and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This position requires strong leadership abilities, so come armed with examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience in mentoring or coaching startups, as well as any successful partnerships you've built. They want to see you can inspire and guide others.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
You’ll need to convey complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences, so practice explaining your ideas in simple terms. Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon unless necessary. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
