Job overview
This newly established role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of innovation at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (YSTH). The Innovation Manager will work closely with the Head of R&I and Director of Research & Innovation to deliver the Trust’s ambitions to support Innovation and to deliver the Trusts Research & Innovation Strategy. The candidate will support staff to realise innovation ideas quickly and efficiently and embedding a culture of innovation across clinical and corporate services.
The postholder will lead key strategic initiatives, including the creation of a sector wide Health innovation Cluster across our region, delivering innovation workshops and training, cascading and supporting innovation funding calls, writing and creating innovation grant applications, capturing and reporting innovation metrics undergoing contract negotiations and liaising with Medipex to protect the trusts.
If you wish to apply for this post as a Secondment opportunity, please seek permission from your current line manager before applying.
Main duties of the job
1. Lead the Trust’s innovation strategy and act as main contact for innovation enquiries
2. Scope, design and deliver major innovation projects aligned to Trust priorities
3. Lead innovation clubs, funding calls, workshops, training and engagement events
4. Manage innovation contracting to protect Trust‑developed ideas
5. Write and support innovation grant and award applications
6. Engage industry, SMEs and spin‑outs to bring innovation into the Trust
7. Develop and coordinate the Innovation Champions network
8. Lead innovation communications and social media to raise the Trust’s profile
9. Represent the Trust in external forums and maintain proactive partner communication
10. Communicate innovation impacts and cost/waste reductions to stakeholders
11. Build and embed an innovation culture with senior leadership support
12. Lead innovation governance, including risk registers
13. Monitor KPIs and calculate Trust‑wide cost and waste savings
14. Capture, track, evidence and sustain innovation benefits
15. Provide assurance to the Innovation and AI Committee
16. Deliver training and coaching to strengthen innovation capability
17. Horizon‑scan and capitalise on innovation opportunities
18. Lead grant costings, budgeting, monitoring and resource planning
Working for our organisation
To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust please visit the following link:
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
19. Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
20. 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
21. A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
22. Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
23. NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
24. An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
25. Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance through a range of provider
For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.
If you would like your application considered for secondment, please ensure you have permission of your current line manager first.
Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit you application at the earliest opportunity.
Working for the Trust
Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.
Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: .
As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.
Armed Forces Friendly Employer
We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
26. MSc or equivalent experience in healthcare, innovation, or service improvement
Desirable criteria
27. MBA / PhD or equivalent
Experience & Knowledge
Essential criteria
28. Extensive experience of leading innovation programs or projects within the NHS, healthcare, or related industries
29. Extensive experience of innovation contracting (including IP protection and commercialising of ideas) within the NHS, the Pharmaceutical, Biotech or Medical Device industries
30. Specialist knowledge of innovation governance, IP, NHS processes and the commercialisation of ideas
31. Experience of sourcing funding for innovation ideas and securing support for innovation initiatives
32. Experience of managing budgets and maximising innovation-related income streams
33. Knowledge of the innovation lifecycle, including idea generation, commercialisation, evaluation, implementation, and scaling
34. Good knowledge of intellectual property (IP) issues and protection and the innovation governance frameworks
35. Understanding of NHS structures, priorities, and the legislative framework for research and innovation
36. Highly developed specialist knowledge of innovation methodologies, change management, and relevant law and practice
Desirable criteria
37. Able to drive: post-holder may need to travel occasionally further afield
38. Experience of conducting research and innovation in the NHS, including evidence of relevant publications in peer reviewed journals
39. Demonstrable experience in delivering health innovation in collaboration with industry