Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect: Applications must be submitted by 05-05-2026 Innovation Lead - Medicines Manufacturing The Innovation Lead will operate within the Innovation as a Service Directorate, in the Life and Land team. *Please note this advert will close on the 4th May 2026 at 23.59. Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here. Title: Innovation Lead - Medicines Manufacturing Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs) Salary: £58,589 gross per annum Reports to: Deputy Challenge Director Location: Field based Contract: Fixed Term Until (31/03/2029) Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place. Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements. Context: The Innovation Lead will operate within the Innovation as a Service Directorate, in the Life and Land team. Building on the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Life and Land team deliver managed programmes spanning the discovery, development manufacturing and supply of therapeutics and vaccines with the objective of securing continued investment and growth of the UK’s biotech and pharmaceutical industries. We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role. Job Purpose: The role holder will be an Innovation Lead in the Life and Land team, working with the Deputy Challenge Director to successfully deliver the medicines manufacturing managed programmes and portfolio of projects. Responsibilities include, but are not limited, to those listed below. Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: Maintain a deep understanding of the UK pharmaceutical industry / sectors / technologies including UK strengths and global opportunities, to contribute to Innovate UK and UKRI strategy and priorities, and to provide thought leadership to stakeholders and the wider ecosystem Work closely with organisations in receipt of funding from medicines manufacturing managed programmes to support successful delivery of projects, acting as a point of contact for project leads and project Monitoring Service Providers Provide industrially relevant subject matter expert support to impact and benefit analysis for medicines manufacturing managed programmes Enable knowledge dissemination across life sciences programmes and between external organisations, taking a leading role in Communities of Practice established by the programmes. Build strong relationships with businesses, trade associations, Catapults, government departments and agencies, private investors, medical charities, regulatory bodies and research organisations. Support international activities to ensure that UK medicines manufacturing and supply innovation activity is set in an international context. Work with Innovate UK and UKRI colleagues to keep medicines manufacturing managed programmes aligned with other initiatives. Represent the Life and Land team at conferences, meetings, workshops and in the media as appropriate. Work across Innovate UK’s life sciences teams and a broad range of stakeholders to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded across life sciences activities. Input into the development and implementation of Innovate UK's strategy and funding for future medicines to enable industry to develop and commercialise new products, processes, business models and services. 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 position requires a person with a broad understanding of the UK pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, ideally gained within industry. They will understand the pathway to commercialisation for novel medicines, the key challenges that companies in this sector face, the technologies involved, and a passion to see the UK achieve further success in the area. They need to be technically literate, business savvy, with strong interpersonal skills. They should be capable of leading the thinking in their particular area of domain expertise, inputting to the creation and implementation of national strategies. They should be able to work within a team but be equally comfortable and confident to work on their own initiative. They should be motivated to achieve goals that enable the success of others (colleagues and UK companies). Experience & Qualifications: Essential – Degree or post-graduate qualification, in a science or technical subject relevant to medicines manufacturing, or relevant equivalent experience. (S) Strong business experience in a decision-making capacity (S&I) A sound, up-to-date and broad-based knowledge of medicines manufacturing and related disciplines (regulatory affairs, process economics, quality assurance) in the UK and globally, ideally gained within drug substance and/or drug product development and/or manufacturing environment. (S&I) Proven ability to develop, implement and deliver major and complex programmes and projects to time, cost and required quality. (S&I) Strong experience in managing relationships with various internal and external stakeholders. (S&I) Experience of managing a portfolio of activities or investments and tracking related impacts. (S&I) Knowledge of the UK government and wider stakeholder activities in small molecule medicinal products, biotherapeutics, advanced therapies, regenerative medicine, and related areas. (I) Demonstrated ability to inspire and facilitate cooperation/partnership working, and to work across boundaries, whilst still maintaining impact. (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: Field-based: There will 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. 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. 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; 05-05-2026