Innovation Lead Opportunities (R&D MAP)

Innovation Lead

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Salary:58589 Per Annum.
Band:UKRI Band F.
Contract type: Open Ended.
Hours:Full Time or Part Time. (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
Location:Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire.

Closing Date: 20/03/2026

About Us

TheR&D Missions Accelerator Programme represents an exceptional opportunity to create real world impact through R&D investment.

The programme will utilise a 500m budget to bring together the private sector the third sectors and academia to collaboratively develop innovative solutions to public sector problems resulting in new technologies services IP and more.

The programme has been designed to solve the key problems facing HMGs five national Missions and enable delivery of the milestones in the Plan for Change.

The Government has identified the key problems faced by the UK to which the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme has designed Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenges to develop solutions. Importantly these solutions will then be directly utilised in addressing public sector needs.

The programme is currently developing its approaches across the Missions and therefore by joining at this stage theres a significant opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme.

Mission Specific

Opportunities

The Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission seeks to ensure every child and young person can succeed regardless of background. It aims to give children the best start in life through high quality early education childcare and accessible family support services. The mission will help every child thrive at school by improving teaching standards tackling absence and supporting those with special educational needs. It will also build skills for opportunity and growth so that every young person can follow the pathway that is right for them. This is an opportunity to work with government departments and a wide range of stakeholders to find innovative solutions to pressing challenges faced by children and young people.

These roles will be particularly suited to people with a background in education social mobility and equality.

Purpose

As an Innovation Lead the role holders will be responsible for developing and implementing with partners the innovation strategy for R&D MAP. It will involve coordination of private third sector and government support taking a key role in development of future strategic initiatives in this fast-moving programme. Commercially minded with significant industry / sector experience the role holders will seek to deliver the objectives of our investments and to ensure that opportunities for UK businesses are maximised in line with the aims of the programme. The role holders will report to the Challenge Senior Team and work closely with the wider R&D MAP Hub and Challenge Teams.

This position requires a person with a deep understanding of the pathway to commercialisation they need to be technically literate and business-aware with strong interpersonal skills. They should be capable of leading the thinking in their area of expertise contributing to the creation and implementation of wider R&D MAP strategies.

Main Outputs and Activities

• Lead the development and implementation of R&D MAP challenge strategies and funding to enable industry to develop and commercialise new products processes business models and services.
• Build and manage relationships with businesses trade associations Catapults government departments and agencies private investors regulatory bodies and research organisations.
• Work with funding partners and industry groups to ensure alignment of activities to maximise impact on relevant sectors.
• Ensuring that resources are targeted at the companies and technology areas that are most likely to create impact.
• Support communications and engagement activities representing R&D MAP at leading industry events raising awareness of the innovation opportunities that exist.
• Support international activities to ensure that UK activity is set in an international context.

This is not an exhaustive list and the post-holder might be expected to undertake any other duties commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential:

• Degree in a relevant subject to the Opportunities Mission or equivalent experience.(S)
• Strong commercial acumen ideally with commercial experience particularly in the start-up and innovation space.(S&I)
• Specific experience in one or more aspects of policy translation and commercialisation of research and innovation across different sectors such as technology assessment product development regulation and commercialisation routes for new partnerships.(S&I)
• Proven ability to deliver major and complex programmes to time cost and required quality.(S&I)
• Strong experience in managing relationships with various internal and external stakeholders including across the third and private sector.(S&I)
• Demonstrative ability to facilitate cooperation/partnership working and to work across boundaries.(S&I)
• Experience tracking impacts and managing a portfolio of activities or investments.(S&I)

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the wider research policy and innovation environment.(S)
• Understanding of regulatory pathways for different geographies.(S)
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.(S&I)
• Familiarity with third-sector commercial activity e.g. social enterprises community interest companies trading charities.(S)
• Technical skills in an area related to the Opportunities mission.(S)
• Knowledge and experience of managing projects that aim to improve education promote social mobility and opportunities for children and young people and address wider inequalities. (S)

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.
  

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online if you experience any issue applying please contact

We do sponsor - Please note if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK as part of your sponsorship application you and any dependants travelling with you will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit or contact