Innovation Manager
Are you passionate about accelerating innovation?
Do you have experience empowering entrepreneurs?
Rothamsted Enterprises is seeking an Innovation Manager to lead and grow innovation activity across our vibrant campus community. This is a unique opportunity to drive high‑impact programmes, support pioneering start‑ups, and build powerful partnerships.
About the Role
As Innovation Manager, you’ll be at the centre of a dynamic ecosystem—bringing together researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs, and funding bodies. You'll be turning groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact.
You will lead innovation-driven projects across the campus, foster collaboration between departments and tenants, and build relationships with key stakeholders. Your work will ensure the smooth delivery of growth programmes, strong commercial outcomes, and measurable impact.
What You’ll Do
- Drive the development of innovation, translational, and commercialisation initiatives across the campus.
- Build and cultivate a community of entrepreneurs, start-ups, and innovation-led businesses.
- Identify and secure innovation funding from public and private sources.
- Develop strong relationships with R&D‑driven companies and prospective partners.
- Lead multiple projects simultaneously, engaging with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide tailored backing to early-stage and pre-incorporation businesses, helping them scale effectively.
- Secure at least one major corporate partnership for the campus.
- Produce a strategic plan outlining future innovation support opportunities for REL.
We’re Looking For Someone Who…
Has entrepreneurial experience or has worked closely with start-ups. Quickly builds networks and forges strong, collaborative relationships. Understands what support entrepreneurs need at each stage of their journey. Is highly organised, capable of managing multiple projects at once and has a genuine interest in emerging technologies, especially within agritech.
Key Success Measures
- Development of new translational or commercial activities supporting business growth.
- Attraction of new innovation-led, R&D-driven organisations to the campus.
- Secured innovation funding from diverse sources.
- Delivery of tailored support to businesses on campus.
- Establishment of major corporate partnerships.