Innovation Consultant in Cambridge

Innovation Consultant in Cambridge

Cambridge Full-Time 56250 - 68750 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative projects, develop new concepts, and analyse business models.
  • Company: Join Plextek, a leader in disruptive innovation and technology solutions.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
  • Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for career progression and personal growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovation for major brands and shaping the future.
  • Qualifications: Experience in strategy, design, or engineering; strong communication and collaboration skills.

The predicted salary is between 56250 - 68750 £ per year.

Your new career starts here with Plextek.

About the position:

How can we deliver disruptive innovation for established billion-dollar brands? How can we discover, create, evolve and grow in entirely new markets? How can physical product companies continue to grow in an increasingly digital world? How can we lead the corporate transition to a more sustainable economy?

As an expert strategic innovation team, these are just some of the questions that Ignite Exponential has helped corporate leaders to address. Ultimately, we enable companies to grow their business through adjacent and transformational innovations. We accelerate innovation processes, increase return on investment and reduce portfolio risks. We translate strategic innovation problems into actionable solutions – not just another report. We help leaders understand HOW to innovate; WHERE to focus; and WHAT to develop.

Our team brings together an unusual combination of hands-on capabilities in developing future products with a track record in strategic innovation, design and technology across many different industries. To help us better support our customers, we’re looking to grow the team. There is no template, and no fixed job description – we want to co-create your future role at Ignite with you.

Depending on your background, experience and motivation, the role will involve:

  • Leading and operating innovation projects: understanding customer needs, creating new concepts (products, technologies etc), developing demonstrators for new technologies and prototyping solutions, analysing new business models, and working alongside senior corporate leaders to deliver these innovations for their organisation.
  • Relationship management: developing strong commercial relationships with senior customer executives (VP, Dir etc), and maintaining these relationships during project delivery and beyond to promote positive outcomes and create repeat customers.
  • New customer development: sales trips, conferences, lead development, planning and writing proposals and presentations for new projects.

Successful candidates will bring their own specific expertise to the table (which might be in strategy, innovation, design, engineering or other technical disciplines) as well as an aptitude to work across subjects, methodologies and markets, understanding customers’ challenges and creating new solutions. Previous experience in consulting or corporate environments is helpful. A passion for meaningful innovation, a proactive attitude and strong communication and collaboration skills are essential.

If you’re interested to explore where a role with Ignite can take you – please get in touch!

The Rewards:

In return, we offer an excellent package, alongside a stimulating environment that will encourage you to be your best. Salary and job title will be based on the level of your experience and expertise. We provide all the training, professional development and support that you might need to complete your projects. We are a versatile business and are able to support career progression in many dimensions including technical, commercial and managerial.

Our Values and Beliefs:

Being a responsible business, we work with integrity and honesty. We share success with our people and with our communities. We embrace diversity in outlook and work as a team with colleagues, customers and suppliers to provide the best technical solution and professional service experience. We empower each other, we’re adaptable, show initiative and deliver on our commitments together.

The Company:

Ignite Exponential is a part of Plextek Services Limited. Plextek provides unique solutions for customers by solving today’s hardest innovation and engineering problems in sensing, data collection & communications. Our customers span a wide range of markets including consumer products, defence, healthcare, internet of things, security and automotive. We are based just south of Cambridge with easy road and rail routes to the vibrant city centre. We provide a friendly and supportive working environment including regular on-site and off-site social events.

Details:

Location: CB10 1NY
Placement: Permanent

Innovation Consultant in Cambridge employer: Plextek

Plextek is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic work culture centred on innovation and collaboration, particularly in the cutting-edge field of defence space and satellite technology. Located near Cambridge, employees benefit from a vibrant tech community, ample opportunities for professional growth, and a commitment to developing unique solutions that make a real impact in the defence sector. With a focus on employee development and a supportive environment, Plextek is dedicated to empowering its team to excel and drive meaningful change.

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Contact Details:

Plextek Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Innovation Consultant in Cambridge

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 Plextek.

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 Plextek.

We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Consultant in Cambridge

Innovation Management
Project Leadership
Customer Needs Analysis
Concept Development
Prototyping
Business Model Analysis
Relationship Management

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 Plextek 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 Plextek 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 Plextek

Show Off Your Innovative Thinking

In an Innovation R&D Management role at Plextek, 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 Plextek 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 Plextek, 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.