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- Tasks: Manage and deliver Innovation Strategy initiatives to help businesses grow.
- Company: Innovate UK supports innovative businesses through specialist-led capabilities.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working hours, and a great pension scheme.
- Why this job: Join a diverse team making a real impact in the innovation landscape.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education or equivalent experience required; strong stakeholder management skills essential.
- Other info: Field-based role with travel; flexible working arrangements available.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 51000 £ per year.
Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth page is loaded
Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth
Apply locations UK – Field Based time type Full time posted on Posted 16 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: August 25, 2025 (2 hours left to apply) job requisition id JR4227
Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by
25-08-2025
Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth
This role will focus on the development and delivery of Innovation Strategy initiatives as part of the overarching Innovate UK Business Growth service, that supports innovative businesses to grow and scale through a unique specialist-led capability.
*Please note this advert will close on the 24th August 2025 at 23.59pm.
Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here .
Title: Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth
Band: UKRI Band E (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: £45,272 gross per annum
Reports to: Head of Scaleup and Innovation Management
Location: Field based
Contract: Permanent
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Job Purpose:
This role will focus on the development and delivery of Innovation Strategy initiatives as part of the overarching Innovate UK Business Growth service, that supports innovative businesses to grow and scale through a unique specialist-led capability.
You will work closely with the Innovation Lead (Innovation Strategy) to develop and deliver the innovation support that UK businesses need to manage their innovation and commercialise ideas more rapidly.
You will support the Innovate UK Business Growth delivery partners and their innovation & growth specialists to ensure a consistent service offer and delivery approach across the range of support delivered recognising the strategic objectives and ambition of Innovate UK’s Business Growth team.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
- Day-to-day management of the Innovation Strategy products and initiatives to support businesses grow and scale as a part of the Innovate UK Business Growth offer
- Supporting the Innovation Lead in ensuring the Innovation Strategy products and initiatives are fit for purpose and achieve impact
- Working closely with the Innovation Lead, ensure Innovate UK Business Growth delivery partners achieve a consistent delivery approach of all Innovation Strategy support initiatives
- Ensure interfaces and dependencies between internal and external stakeholders are managed effectively, including operations, governance, compliance and legal teams
- Creation of governance for management of all Innovation Strategy products and initiatives
- Support the management of project budgets and financial due diligence; gaining sign off and potentially stage gate processes with relevant stakeholders
- Collation of insights and generation of relevant reports to enable progress of service delivery and engagement to be tracked centrally, working closely with the Innovate UK Business Growth Monitoring & Insight Managers, Impact & Performance Managers and Data Analysts
- Delivery of process improvements delivering resource efficiencies within the service delivery
- Deputise for Innovate UK Business Growth Innovation Leads
- Provide secretariat to related meetings as required
- Support ad-hoc project work as directed by the Innovate UK Business Growth Senior Management Team
This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.
Shortlisting criteria
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Person Specification:
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential –
- Educated to degree-level or post graduate level or demonstrable equivalent relevant experience (S)
- Considerable experience of managing or playing a key role in delivering products and services achieving impact (S&I)
- A clear-track record of working within the constraints of time, cost and quality (I)
- Experience of successfully managing multiple stakeholders with conflicting demands and priorities (I)
- Significant experience of managing products and services and supporting cross functional teams delivering process improvements into operations (I)
- Demonstrated effective budget and data management and analytical skills (S&I)
- Experience of managing change within an organization (I)
- Proven understanding of the public growth support landscape, particularly with respect to the research and innovation ecosystem and international networks (S&I)
Desirable –
- Agile qualification/qualification in programme or product management
- Experience of supporting a fast-paced operational function
- Experience of public sector procurement processes
- Experience of delivering business critical changes into active environments
- Experience of creation and management of on-going service and support structures delivering business critical services a benefit
Competencies:
All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management
Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.
Travel Requirements:
Field-based: There will a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.
Equal Opportunities:
We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.
UK Research and Innovation:
Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/ .
Employee Benefits:
We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Flexible Working:
We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Pre-employment Screening:
To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.
Applications must be submitted by;
25-08-2025
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Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth employer: Innovate UK
Contact Detail:
Innovate UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Innovate UK's mission and recent initiatives. Understanding their strategic objectives will help you align your discussions and demonstrate how your experience can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Innovate UK. Engaging with them can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to manage multiple stakeholders and deliver impactful products. This will help you stand out during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on trends in innovation strategy and public sector growth support. Being knowledgeable about the latest developments will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Specialist, Innovation Strategy, Innovate UK Business Growth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the job description. Focus on your background in managing products and services, as well as any experience in innovation strategy.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should clearly express your motivation for applying to Innovate UK and how your skills can contribute to their goals. Mention specific initiatives or projects you admire and relate them to your own experience.
Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills: Given the importance of managing multiple stakeholders in this role, provide examples of how you've successfully navigated conflicting demands and priorities in previous positions.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Demonstrate your analytical abilities by discussing your experience with budget management and data analysis. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've used these skills to drive impact in past roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Innovate UK
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the job description and key responsibilities of the Product Specialist role. Familiarise yourself with Innovate UK's mission and how this position contributes to their goals. This will help you articulate how your skills and experiences align with their needs.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Given the emphasis on managing multiple stakeholders with conflicting demands, be ready to discuss your past experiences in stakeholder management. Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your ability to navigate complex relationships and deliver results under pressure.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
The role requires effective budget and data management skills. Be prepared to discuss your analytical abilities and provide examples of how you've used data to drive decision-making or improve processes in previous roles. Highlight any relevant tools or methodologies you are familiar with.
✨Demonstrate Your Understanding of Innovation Strategy
As the role focuses on innovation strategy initiatives, it's crucial to show your understanding of the public growth support landscape and the research and innovation ecosystem. Be ready to discuss current trends in innovation and how they relate to the work Innovate UK is doing.