Please read the full application details carefully until the end. Applications submitted through LinkedIn will not be considered, so please make sure to follow the application steps outlined at the end of the job description.
Role Type: Fixed term. 10 months with possibility of extension
Hours per week: Full-time (37.5 hours) or part-time (22.5 hours) opportunities available.
Workspace: Brighton and Hove, UK
Sussex Innovation is looking for a highly proactive Project Coordinator to join our Programmes & Operations team. We are looking for someone with initiative, ownership and strong delivery instincts. Someone who thrives in fast-moving environments, sees gaps before others do and naturally steps in to make things happen. You will become a central operational force across a portfolio of innovation programmes connected to:
• AI and emerging technologies
• entrepreneurship and startup growth
• university innovation and knowledge exchange
• regional economic development
• founder communities and employer engagement
• ecosystem building across Sussex and beyond
One day you may be coordinating a Deep Tech founder session; the next, managing logistics for an AI programme, supporting stakeholder outreach for a regional event, or helping scale a new employer-led initiative. Variety, pace and purpose are at the heart of this role.
What success looks like?
This role is outcomes-driven. Your success will be measured not by simply “supporting projects”, but by your ability to help programmes run smoothly, professionally and at a high standard. You will:
•Ensure exceptional operational coordination across multiple programmes simultaneously
•Coordinate well-managed workshops, founder sessions and stakeholder activities
•Maintain strong communication and follow-through across partners and participants
•Keep project tracking, reporting and operational visibility consistently accurate
•Improve systems, processes and delivery efficiency as programmes grow
•Maintain consistent momentum across fast-moving projects with multiple stakeholders
What you’ll be doing
Programme & Project Delivery. Your priority.
•Coordinate the day-to-day operational delivery of innovation and entrepreneurship programmes
•Manage timelines, actions, follow-ups and delivery milestones to keep projects on track
•Support the execution of workshops, founder sessions, accelerator activities and ecosystem events
•Maintain project tracking systems, reporting tools and programme documentation
•Work closely with Programme Managers and delivery partners to ensure operational excellence
•Help create a positive, high-energy experience for all programme participants and partners
•Support outreach campaigns for events, programmes and ecosystem initiatives
•Coordinate follow-ups with founders, partners and employers
Events, workshops and logistics
•Coordinate online and in-person sessions, workshops and innovation events
•Manage speaker logistics, attendee communications and operational preparation
•Support delivery teams during live programme activity
•Ensure all sessions run smoothly, professionally and to a high standard
Operational systems
•Use platforms such as Asana and HubSpot to maintain strong operational visibility
•Identify smarter ways of working and implement scalable delivery processes
•Support reporting, compliance and programme documentation requirements
Who we’re looking for
We are looking for someone with proven experience in project coordination, programme delivery or operations. What matters is demonstrable ownership and delivery, not time served.
You may have come from innovation support, startups, accelerators, entrepreneurship programmes, universities, events, consultancy, community building, or other fast-paced operational environments.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who:
•Takes ownership and has initiative
•Is highly organised and thrives managing multiple moving parts
•Communicates confidently with diverse stakeholders
•Learns quickly, adapts fast and stays calm under pressure
•Sees gaps before others do and steps in to solve problems
•Genuinely enjoys making ambitious things happen
Essential Skills & Experience
•Proven experience of 2 years in project coordination, programme delivery, operations or stakeholder management
•Excellent organisational and time management skills
•Strong written and verbal communication
•Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously with high attention to detail
•Confidence working independently and proactively
•Strong digital skills and comfort using operational tools and systems
Desirable Experience
•Experience in innovation, startup or entrepreneurship ecosystems
•Familiarity with Asana, HubSpot or similar project and CRM platforms
•Experience working with universities, founders or publicly-funded programmes
•Interest in AI, emerging technologies and regional innovation
What’s in it for you?
We are an organisation that values our teams’ abilities, voices and unique differences. We have an inclusive and open culture driven by our values to support, educate and develop our people, embracing and prioritising diversity of talent, creative thinking and employee wellbeing.
We offer a salary of £27,000–£29,000 FTE, depending on experience (pro rata for part-time appointments). We also offer a competitive package of benefits, including flexible working options, “work from anywhere!” days, 25 days' holiday increasing with service, dedicated training and volunteer days, private health insurance, life assurance, and staff discounts on any of the available on-site services such as Sussex Sport. University campus facilities also include an Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ nursery Little Pioneers, which is located directly opposite Sussex Innovation.
• Location: You will be based at our Sussex Innovation headquarters on the University of Sussex campus in Falmer (close to Brighton) with opportunities to work remotely.
• Equal opportunities: Sussex Innovation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment irrespective of race, origin, colour, disability, age, religion or belief, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or marital status. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please note that you will be required to demonstrate your right to work in the UK.
• Disability-Friendly Employer: As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview.
• Reasonable Adjustments: If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team via or by phoning us on 01273 704400 and speaking with the hiring manager.
Ready to apply? Have questions?
If you’re interested, read this carefully:
• Please send your CV and cover letter to Maria Bedoya-Toro, Head of Programmes & Operations, at .
• We know AI can help write a polished CV or cover letter and that’s completely fine. But what we genuinely care about is you: your ideas, your energy, your experience, and the way you think.
• We’re not looking for someone who can simply coordinate projects. We’re looking for someone curious, proactive, resourceful and excited to make things happen. So don’t focus on sounding perfect. Focus on being authentic, specific and showing us what makes you stand out.
• Every application is reviewed personally.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of June 12th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (UK time).
• Unfortunately, applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
• The expected start date for this role is mid-July 2026.
• Please note: applicants must have permanent right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.