At a Glance
- Tasks: Identify funding opportunities and coordinate proposals to support innovative projects.
- Company: Siemens Congleton, a leader in technology and manufacturing with over 50 years of excellence.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, work with cutting-edge tech, and contribute to sustainability.
- Other info: Collaborate with universities and industry partners in a dynamic, inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that turns innovative ideas into impactful projects for the future.
- Qualifications: Experience in funding, project management, and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 44000 £ per year.
Accelerating Growth. Strengthening UK Industry. Siemens Congleton, part of the Digital Industries Automation business, is a flagship manufacturing and technology site for Siemens UK, with a heritage spanning more than 50 years. Today, the site is a globally recognised centre of excellence, producing around 1.5 million electronics power converters each year for customers across international markets. Congleton brings together a unique end-to-end capability spanning technology innovation, product development, manufacturing, certification testing and sustainability, making it a powerful platform for developing and scaling the technologies that will shape the future of electrification, automation and digitalisation.
We are increasingly working with government, industry, universities, research organisations and technology centres to secure external funding that accelerates technology development, strengthens UK industrial capability, supports future products and manufacturing, creates high-value jobs and contributes to UK economic growth and Gross Value Added (GVA).
The Innovation Funding Officer will support this activity by identifying relevant funding opportunities, coordinating the development of funding proposals and supporting the successful delivery of funded projects. The role will help turn technical ideas and business priorities into well-structured funding proposals and collaborative projects.
The Role
The role will focus on identifying and developing UK funding opportunities that align with Siemens Congleton technology, product and manufacturing priorities. You will monitor the UK funding landscape, identify relevant calls and opportunities, work with technical teams to develop project concepts, coordinate bid preparation and support the administration and delivery of funded projects.
The role combines funding opportunity identification, bid coordination, project administration and stakeholder management, supported by a basic technical understanding of engineering and technology. You will be part of the Technology & Innovation team at Siemens Congleton, working closely with engineers, technology specialists and business stakeholders. The role will also involve collaboration with universities, Catapults, research organisations, government bodies and industrial partners.
The role is based at Congleton, with regular travel to the Power Electronics Innovation Hub in Newport and occasional travel to Siemens headquarters in Germany, universities, research centres and other partner organisations.
What you will do
- Monitor and identify relevant UK government funding opportunities.
- Maintain a forward-looking funding and opportunity pipeline aligned with Siemens technology and business priorities.
- Work with engineers and technology teams to identify suitable project ideas and develop funding concepts.
- Coordinate the preparation of funding applications and consortium bids.
- Develop and maintain bid schedules and deadlines to ensure submissions are delivered on time.
- Support the development of project plans, business cases, technical narratives and budgets.
- Engage with potential industry, academic and research partners to support collaborative bids.
- Coordinate project administration, including meeting coordination, actions, reporting, documentation, milestones and governance activities.
- Maintain appropriate records of funding opportunities, submissions and awards.
- Support project kick-offs, steering meetings and periodic project reviews.
- Work with project teams to identify follow-on funding and future collaboration opportunities.
- Contribute to improving Siemens Congleton's funding processes, templates and governance.
What we are looking for
We are looking for an organised, proactive and commercially minded individual who enjoys finding opportunities, bringing people together and turning ideas into funded projects.
You should have:
- Experience in innovation funding, grant applications, business development, project management or a related area.
- Knowledge of, or an interest in, the UK public funding and innovation landscape.
- Some background in electronics, electrical engineering, manufacturing or another engineering-related field.
- The ability to understand technical concepts and work effectively with engineers.
- Strong coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities, deadlines and stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to turn technical information into clear and compelling proposals.
- Good analytical skills, with the ability to assess funding opportunities and determine their relevance to Siemens.
- The ability to build effective relationships with internal teams and external organisations.
Nice to have, but not essential:
- Experience with Innovate UK, UKRI, government or other UK grant funding programmes.
- Experience developing or coordinating R&D or innovation funding applications.
- Experience working with universities, Catapults, research organisations or industry consortia.
- Knowledge of advanced manufacturing, power electronics, AI, semiconductors, industrial automation or related technologies.
- Experience supporting the delivery or administration of grant-funded projects.
- Experience with project management tools, financial tracking or funding management systems.
Why join us?
This role offers the opportunity to play a hands-on part in helping Siemens Congleton turn innovative ideas into funded projects that accelerate technology development, product innovation, manufacturing and sustainability.
If you are passionate about innovation, enjoy finding opportunities, bringing people together and turning ideas into action, we would like to hear from you.
We are fully committed to providing equal opportunities and building an inclusive workplace where a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives thrive. We embrace the many ways people think, learn, and experience the world-because we know that diverse minds drive innovation. So that we can support you to be your best during the application and interview process, please let us know if you have any specific requirements.
Are you ready to turn ideas into business impact?
Innovation Funding Officer in Congleton employer: Siemens
Siemens Mobility Limited is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Glasgow. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and career advancement, alongside competitive benefits that support work-life balance. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering impactful rail infrastructure solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Funding Officer in Congleton
✨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 Siemens.
✨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 Siemens.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Funding Officer in Congleton
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 Siemens 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 Siemens 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 Siemens
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Siemens, 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 Siemens 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 Siemens, 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.
