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 real-world problem solving.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, collaborative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for significant impact in the tech startup ecosystem.
- Why this job: Shape the future of geospatial innovation and make a difference with emerging technologies.
- Qualifications: Strong technical background and 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.
Programme development & delivery
- 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).
Technical 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.
Technical management
- 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.
Innovation and Technology Lead in London employer: Ordnance Survey
Geovation is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment in the heart of London. With a strong focus on innovation and technology, employees have the opportunity to lead impactful projects that shape the future of geospatial data while nurturing early-stage startups. The company promotes a culture of continuous learning and growth, providing ample opportunities for professional development and the chance to work alongside passionate entrepreneurs and experts in the field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation and Technology 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 share your passion for location data!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects, especially those related to geospatial technology. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table and helps you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their goals, especially in innovation and product development. Tailor your responses to show you understand their mission and how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform. So, get your application in and let’s make some geospatial magic happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation and Technology Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Innovation:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for geospatial innovation shine through. We want to see how you can contribute to shaping the future of location-powered products and how your ideas align with our mission at Geovation.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in leading technical teams and working with startups. We’re looking for someone who understands the unique challenges founders face, so share specific examples that demonstrate your leadership and support for early-stage ventures.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Use straightforward language to communicate your thoughts and experiences. Avoid jargon unless it’s necessary, and make sure your application is easy to read and understand – we want to get to know you without any confusion.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget 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 opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our vibrant community at the Farringdon Hub.
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 technology. Be ready to discuss how location data can create value and share examples of innovative applications you've encountered or worked on.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience leading technical teams and supporting startups. Have specific examples ready that demonstrate your ability to guide teams through challenges and deliver successful outcomes.
✨Be Ready for Hypothesis-Led Discussions
Since the role involves designing proof-of-concept experiments, think about how you would approach hypothesis-led experimentation. Be prepared to discuss your methodology and how you’ve used insights from past projects to drive innovation.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You’ll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, so think about how you can make your points clear and engaging.
