At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation projects that turn ideas into real commercial opportunities.
- Company: Fortress Safety, a leader in machinery safety with a global presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous holiday, and pension contributions.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to creating a safer, cleaner future.
- Why this job: Shape the future of safety technology and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering or related field; experience in innovation or product development.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 90000 £ per year.
Fortress Safety is looking for an Innovation Lead to drive sustainable, profitable growth by turning unmet customer needs and emerging technology into real commercial opportunities. Reporting to the Innovation Director, you'll shape ideas from early exploration through to validation, working across the business and with external partners to keep Fortress ahead in an evolving industrial landscape. This is a chance to build something that genuinely shapes where the business goes next.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead the identification, development and prioritisation of innovation opportunities aligned to Fortress strategy and market needs.
- Own and manage the innovation pipeline, progressing concepts from early exploration through to validated handover into Product, Engineering or other delivery teams.
- Work closely with R&D, Engineering, Product Management and Safety Services to explore feasibility, risk and value of new ideas.
- Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, competitor activity and customer insight to inform opportunity identification.
- Facilitate ideation sessions, workshops and structured problem-solving activities across the business.
- Engage with customers, partners and external bodies to validate concepts and understand emerging needs.
- Support licensing, partnership and acquisition-related innovation activity where appropriate.
- Explore adjacent-market and platform innovation, not just incremental product development.
- Translate emerging technology trends into practical, value-led opportunities.
What You'll Bring
- A degree in Engineering, Product, Innovation, Business, or equivalent experience gained through relevant roles.
- Demonstrated experience working in innovation, R&D, product development, or a technically led commercial environment.
- Strong understanding of structured innovation approaches, applied pragmatically in a business context.
- Commercial awareness, with the ability to assess viability, value and risk alongside technical feasibility.
- Confidence engaging with engineering and technical teams, with the ability to challenge and influence constructively.
- A proven ability to work cross-functionally and progress initiatives without formal authority.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capability in ambiguous environments.
Nice to Have
- Experience as a Controls Engineer or in a related technical discipline.
What We Offer
- 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
- Option to work a 9-Day fortnight (compressed hours).
- Employer pension contribution of up to 10.5%.
- Company bonus scheme.
- Annual Halma share vesting scheme.
- Airport parking discounts.
- Eyecare support.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Long service recognition.
- Life assurance cover.
About Fortress Safety
Since 1977, Fortress Safety has been the expert in machinery safety and interlocking, protecting people and equipment in hazardous environments worldwide from our Wolverhampton HQ, with operations across the USA, Europe, Australia, China and India. We're proud to be part of Halma plc, a FTSE 100 company with over 8,000 colleagues across 50+ businesses globally, all united by a purpose to build a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.
Inclusion & Accommodations
At Fortress, we don't just accept difference — we celebrate it. We're committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues, and if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Innovation Lead employer: halma
At FFE, we pride ourselves on fostering a creative and innovative work environment where our Development Engineers can thrive. With a strong team spirit and a commitment to saving lives, employees experience the direct impact of their contributions while enjoying benefits like 25 days of annual leave, a company bonus scheme, and comprehensive health insurance. Our culture encourages collaboration and personal growth, making it an excellent place for those looking to make a meaningful difference in the world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Lead
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like halma.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like halma.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at halma that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at halma and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at halma
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at halma, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show halma that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At halma, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
