Connected Innovation Hubs Manager

Description

Connected Innovation Hubs Manager | 11110 | Permanent Contract | 37 hours per week | £43,822 to £48,227 per annum (Scale K) | County Hall, Norwich

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Norfolk County Council’s Innovation & Sectors team as the Connected Innovation Hubs Manager, leading the region’s nationally recognised innovation ecosystem across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

The Connected Innovation Programme brings together 37 innovation hubs, business incubators, universities, research institutes, investors and industry leaders to accelerate innovation-led growth across the region. As the Connected Innovation Hubs Manager, you will play a pivotal role in coordinating this ecosystem, strengthening strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities to promote innovation support available and support with attracting new funding for innovation programmes in the region.

We are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly collaborative individual with strong programme management and stakeholder engagement skills. You will have a successful track record of developing partnerships, coordinating complex programmes and securing external funding through bid development and strategic collaboration. You will be comfortable working with senior leaders across the public, private and academic sectors and capable of representing the region confidently in a range of forums and events.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the coordination and growth of the Connected Innovation network across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
• Managing strategic relationships with innovation hubs, research organisations, national partners.
• Supporting the development and delivery of innovation programmes and initiatives.
• Coordinating stakeholder groups, network meetings and finance and investment activity.
• Monitoring programme performance and reporting outcomes to funders and strategic partners.
• Managing programme budgets and ensuring effective delivery of agreed objectives.

To succeed in this role, you will bring strong communication, presentation and networking skills together with experience of programme management, partnership development, budget management and bid writing.

The role will involve hybrid working, with the office base at County Hall, Norwich. Regular travel across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will be required.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact James Allen, Innovation & Sectors Manager (james.allen@connectedinnovation.co.uk).

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service

• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on your job role and business need.

• Financial benefits such as:

  • ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.

  • A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers

  • Relocation expenses (where applicable)

  • An advance of your expenses if you travel for work

  • Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions

  • Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes

  • Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)

  • A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria. You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for all internal and external vacancies via myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

Redeployment closing date: 27 August 2026 23:59

All other applicants closing date: 10 September 2026 23:59