Delivery Operations Lead - Business Growth (Maternity Cover)

Applications must be submitted by;

14-10-2026

Vacancy for Delivery Operations Lead – Business Growth (Maternity Cover)

This role is part of the senior team within the Innovate UK Business Growth Team reporting to the Head of Operations & Impact and overseeing the operational delivery and fit with the wider Innovate UK group and responsible for mobilising our data as a strategic asset.

*Please note this advert will close on the 13th of October 2026 at 23.59pm.

 

Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.

Title:                   Delivery Operations Lead – Business Growth (Maternity Cover)

Band:                 UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary:               £58,589 gross per annum

Reports to:       Head of Operations & Impact – Business Growth

Location:          UKRI sites: Swindon, London, Harwell, Daresbury, Keyworth, Cambridge, Edinburgh

Contract:          Fixed Term (Extended maternity cover, 18 months c. asap – Feb 2028)

Innovate UK works with businesses and stakeholders across every nation and region of the UK. As part of UKRI, our hybrid working approach is built around one simple principle: time should be spent where it delivers the greatest impact.  

 

This means working across three settings: UKRI sites, time on the ground with businesses, partners and stakeholders and time working from home. It's an approach designed to support collaboration, connection and impact. 

 

This role is in Tier 2, with 40-60% of working time typically spent either at a UKRI site or engaging with external businesses and stakeholders across the UK. Outside of this requirement, you can work from home.  Whilst this role will be formally based at one of the following UKRI sites, it is externally facing, and we expect that there will be requirement to travel around the UK for 2/3 days each week on average. 

 

Read the full UKRI Hybrid Working Policy Hybrid Working at UKRI

 

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

 

Context:

The role holder will operate within the Innovate UK Business Growth Team, which sits within the Director of Business Growth & Global’s team.

Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. Innovate UK is being reshaped to provide an integrated, end-to-end offer built around the needs of each business, not a one-size-fits-all intervention.

Innovate UK Business Growth is remaining part of the offer, engaging in the development of Velocity and continuing to provide expert growth support, mentoring, strategic advice and hands-on guidance from people who understand the technology and the market.

Job Purpose:

The ‘Delivery Operations Lead - Business Growth (Maternity Cover)’ post will form part of the senior team within the Innovate UK Business Growth Team, reporting to the Head of Operations & Impact; overseeing the operational delivery and fit with the wider Innovate UK group and responsible for mobilising our data as a strategic asset. The postholder will work closely with the other Delivery Operations Lead, other parts of the Business Growth team, and a range of internal Innovate UK & UKRI stakeholders (e.g. domain teams, operations, IUK IT, governance, compliance, legal) to ensure relevant interfaces and interdependencies are managed effectively.

In addition, the role will oversee the development of the Innovate UK Business Growth CRM and its integration with other data/survey tools (e.g. Survey MonkeyÔ, GROWTHmapperÔ, Beauhurst); data collection, management and quality assurance, including the provision of guidance and training; the development of reporting processes, dashboards and outputs that demonstrate our impact; the handling and consistent response to data requests; management of our current external evaluation; the smooth operation and improvement of Innovate UK beneficiary triage process through which Innovate UK award holders are offered business growth support; and handling of complaints, and working with Innovate UK Business Growth consortium partners, domains teams and the Innovate UK and UKRI complaints teams.

The role will also work closely with the Business Growth Team’s Innovation Leads and Service Design Leads to ensure delivery of the Business Growth service is accurately captured by the data collected and the impact of the Innovate UK Business Growth portfolio is captured, communicated and reported to key stakeholders, both internally and externally. The ‘Delivery Operations Lead - Business Growth (Maternity Cover)’ will also support the Deputy Director - Business Growth in harnessing our data as a strategic asset.

The role holder is currently responsible for managing three direct reports. A key part of the role is therefore the effective line management of the team which consists of two Impact and Performance Managers and a Senior Data Analyst.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Day-to-day portfolio management of the Business Growth service, working closely with the wider Business Growth team for adviser CRM/data capability development, data management and impact measurement and reporting.
• Management and development of our CRM, its data and the generation of accurate, relevant, and timely reporting to enable progress to be tracked centrally, including the provision of concise commentary targeted to meet EMT and external stakeholder needs.
• Oversee the embedding of monitoring, evaluation, and impact/benefits realisation for Innovate UK’s Business Growth Support.
• Hold the Business Growth team’s relationship with IUK IT, including engaging with and representing Business Growth requirements on the Janus and Single Customer View projects.
• Support the development of Velocity as required, including providing an account and data management perspective.
• Line management responsibility for our Impact and Performance Managers and Senior Data Analyst, supporting their development and developing a high-performing team and with other members of the senior team sharing best practice and mentoring other members of the wider Business Growth team.
• Stakeholder management across a complex and diverse partner and stakeholder network, including regular, appropriate and timely communications, including effective management of relationships with internal and external suppliers, including co-chairing our consortium Data Excellence Community of Practice.
• Delivery of process improvements and resource efficiencies as needed.
• Support the other Delivery Operations Lead to develop and implement programme governance and effective co-ordination of all the partners within the wider offer and interfacing with the Consortium, Operations and Advisory Board as directed.
• Ad-hoc delivery of senior-level project work as directed by the Head of Operations and Impact and/or Business Growth Deputy Director.
• Represent the Head of Operations and Impact and Business Growth Deputy Director as required at events and meetings, acting as a delegate during periods of absence as required.

This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

 

Shortlisting criteria

 

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

 

Person Specification:

• This effective and proactive individual will be an exceptional and experienced programme manager, used to working without close direction, provide effective line management and able to manage multiple streams of work, with multiple teams.
• The post-holder will be capable of identifying the right approach to the challenge in hand and translating that approach into effective delivery.
• Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with senior people across the breath of UKRI, the innovation ecosystem and relevant government departments as well as with non-governmental stakeholders.

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

• Educated to undergraduate degree level or equivalent professional experience, line management experience, and with experience in a management function/role within a business support, innovation, economic development or similar environment. (S)
• Experience of working in and developing complex networks with multiple stakeholders, building productive relationships and influencing senior stakeholders across multiple organisations where priorities and objectives may conflict, using strong communication (written and verbal), negotiation and presentation skills. (S&I)
• Considerable experience of managing programmes and delivering a broad range of benefits, across the Public and Private sectors and the ability to translate strategic objectives into operational delivery plans with high attention to detail. (S&I)
• Experience of developing and motivating a high-performing team across multiple locations to maintain a collaborative culture and efficiently deliver results through others. (S&I)
• Experience of developing and implementing new processes, business critical changes and organisational change in live operational environments, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, analytical thinking and a commitment to continuous improvement. (S&I)
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capability, including the ability to interpret complex information, identify key points and issues and develop creative, practical solutions. (I)
• Demonstrable digital and data literacy, including the use of management information, data governance principles and maintaining data integrity within operational systems. (S&I)
• Self-awareness, self-motivation and good personal resilience as well as a high level of professionalism, discretion, and tact. A robust and flexible approach with the ability to thrive in an agile/changing environment taking the initiative where required, but equally able to take instruction and deliver results against a brief and to tight deadlines and a demonstrable ability to manage and prioritise workload across multiple work streams. (I)Understanding UK government structure, its constituent agencies and brands, as well as the Devolved Nations and key UKRI partner organisations and how these interact to support business growth and innovation. (S&I)

Competencies:

All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:

Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management

 

Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.

 

Travel Requirements:

There will be a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.

 

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 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.

 

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

 

UK Research and Innovation:

Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/.

 

Employee Benefits:

We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.

 

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

 

Flexible Working:

We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.

 

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

 

Pre-employment Screening:

To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.

 

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

 

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.

Applications must be submitted by;

14-10-2026