At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation in geospatial technology and support startups in developing impactful products.
- Company: Join a vibrant tech hub focused on location data and entrepreneurial growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape the future of geospatial innovation and make a real difference in the industry.
- Qualifications: Strong technical background with leadership experience in geospatial or software development.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 84647 € per year.
Full Time | £70,000.00 - £84,647.00 including London Weighting (dependent on experience) London based with 3 days a week minimum in the Farringdon Hub
About the role
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 startups, 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 startups, build partnerships and uncover emerging technologies and markets where location data creates unique value. This role owns Geovation's Technology & Innovation capabilities and programme - 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. The incubator is all about finding and developing ideas, innovation and new applications of location data - that we can learn from - so we make better products and more impact. We do this in a way that is 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 Technology Officer (CTO) - but with interest and skills in Product-led thinking. The role blends technical leadership, innovation strategy, product and programme management. It drives the discovery and development of new applications of location data while supporting startups with practical, experiment-driven development programmes.
What you'll be responsible for:
- Leading Geovation's Incubator Team
- Lead a team of technical and non-technical employees
- 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.
- Develop and lead agile, design-led and sprint-based development programmes within the Incubator, with clear outputs and learning objectives, using best-practice agile approaches.
- Contribute to consultancy revenue generation (approx. £50k-£100k per year).
- 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.
- Strengthen Geovation's research, experimentation and product-development capabilities.
- Ensure Geovation's technical tools, skills and processes are maintained, modern and effective.
- Support team members in developing their technical capabilities.
What you'll bring:
Essential
- A strong technical background with at least 5-10 years of experience of geospatial and/or software development using a range of tools and languages.
- Proven leadership ability, with 3-5 years' experience leading high performing technical teams.
- At least 2-3 years of experience of working in or supporting early-stage startups, leading to clear understanding of founders' needs and credibility with new and seasoned start up CTOs.
- Proven ability to lead and deliver innovation, research or technical development programmes and run practical experiments that generate insight and validate hypotheses.
- Up to date with emerging trends in technology and geospatial data, with the ability to identify what is relevant.
- Recognised as a thought leader with strong communication and influencing skills, comfortable interacting with both technical and non-technical audiences and communicate them clearly as a thought leader.
- Product-led and design-thinking mindset; able to flex between product, technical and strategic approaches.
Desirable
- Experience mentoring, coaching or advising startups, founders or product teams.
- Experience working within technology-led startup accelerator, incubator or innovation-focused environment.
- Exposure to geospatial technologies, data or location-powered applications.
- Experience in securing and delivering revenue generating technical consultancy work.
- Background in programme management or delivering externally funded programmes.
Closing date: Friday 12th June 2026 at 23:59pm. *Please note that we may close the vacancy earlier than this date if we receive suitable applications.
Geovation Technology & Incubator Lead in London employer: Ordnance Survey
At Geovation, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and collaborative work culture in our Farringdon hub. With a strong focus on innovation and employee growth, we offer unique opportunities to lead cutting-edge projects in geospatial technology while supporting early-stage startups. Our commitment to nurturing talent and providing a dynamic environment ensures that every team member can make a meaningful impact on the future of location-powered products.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Geovation Technology & Incubator Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, meetups, and workshops related to geospatial innovation. It's all about making connections that could lead to opportunities, so don’t be shy – introduce yourself and chat with others in the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for geospatial tech! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers or during interviews, share your ideas on how location data can solve real-world problems. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm and innovative thinking.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their mission and how they’re using geospatial data. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources and tips to help you stand out. Plus, applying directly shows your commitment and interest in joining our vibrant community at Geovation.
We think you need these skills to ace Geovation Technology & Incubator Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Geovation Technology & Incubator Lead role. Highlight your experience in geospatial innovation and how it aligns with our mission at Geovation. We want to see how you can contribute to shaping the future of location-powered products!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership experience. Share specific examples of how you've successfully guided teams in the past, especially in tech or startup environments. We love seeing how you’ve made an impact!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to communicate your ideas and experiences. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate complex concepts simply, so show us you can do that right from the start!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our vibrant community at Geovation!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ordnance Survey
✨Know Your Geospatial Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your geospatial knowledge and the latest trends in location data. Be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in past roles, especially in leading technical teams or working with startups.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, particularly in high-performing technical teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you guided your team through them, as this role requires strong leadership capabilities.
✨Understand the Startup Ecosystem
Familiarise yourself with the startup landscape, especially those related to geospatial technology. Be prepared to discuss how you can support founders and tailor your approach to their unique needs, demonstrating your understanding of their challenges.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. This role involves interacting with both technical and non-technical audiences, so being able to communicate effectively is key. Use examples from your experience to illustrate your points.
