Job overview
The Innovation Department is expanding to meet the growing service demand and meet the requirements of a modern healthcare workforce. There is a 10-year innovation strategy aimed at improving the services we offer.
An Innovation Manager is key to strategy implementation and will be responsible for its function and delivery. The role will involve communication across the UHT group, promoting an innovation culture, protecting and managing Trust Intellectual Property assets, taking part in process overview and creating reports for Key Performance Indicator data.
They will facilitate, develop and support an innovation and enterprise related project activity (including industrial engagement, knowledge exchange, commercial collaborations, consultancy, as well as IP management and exploitation
They will provide effective leadership for the innovation workforce across UHT and directly line manage the Innovation Portfolio Manager and any other co-ordinators. They will need to network with academic institutions and industry, to support grant applications and collaborative working.
They will provide specialist advice, training and education in the application of Intellectual Property Rights within the Trust
The post will be based across North Tees and Hartlepool and South Tees NHS Foundation Trusts as part of the University Hospitals Tees group.
Main duties of the job
Working with the Director of Innovation they will lead and manage the innovation strategies to support the delivery of innovation across UHT.
Work closely with a wide range of staff across the Trusts to ensure that performance targets are met.
Engage with the professional management structures of each Trust within Clinical Service Units to contribute to the operational integration of innovation as part of a change in culture.
Work autonomously on a broad range of matters and make decisions on the day-to-day management of the service and service developments whilst also being directly accountable to the Director of Innovation.
Contribute to organisational meetings in relation to the delivery of the Innovation service across UHT.
Actively engage with the commercial partners, Academic institutions and other external organisations as appropriate representing the Innovation Department at a regional (or national) level as required.
Be actively involved with the recruitment of innovation staff within the service.
Be instrumental in the development of a comprehensive programme to grow innovation competencies across UHT.
Support the Director of Innovation as Information Asset Owner (IAO), in the management of all information assets of the department which are held on the Trusts Information Asset Register (IAR).
Working for our organisation
Leadership and Improvement Training
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff to the Trust; this training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the leadership development programme, and the Quality Improvement Programme that the Trust delivers. This programme aims to
Explore leadership within the NHS
Promote Trust Values and Behaviours
Develop your Leadership effectiveness and skills
Practitioner level in quality improvement, equipping you with the skills to champion, lead and complete quality improvement within your role
After you complete this four and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities, we offer further in-house courses dependent upon your role and bitesize programmes and leadership apprenticeships at level 3,5 and 7.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Holds a relevant undergraduate degree qualification
2. Holds or working towards a Masters qualification in a management related discipline or other equivalent experience
3. Evidence of continuous professional development.
Desirable criteria
4. Current and valid Good Clinical Practice Training (GCP
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Significant experience of working within a research management, innovation or commercial environment
6. Experience and can demonstrable knowledge project activity, with knowledge industrial engagement, knowledge exchange, commercial collaborations, contracts, project funding and IP management.
7. Experience of NHS and research / innovation budgetary management.
8. Experience of appraisal, staff development, clinical supervision / re-validation of nursing staff
9. Experience of managing teams.
10. Ability to produce reports for senior level reporting and analyse data.
Desirable criteria
11. Specialist knowledge of intellectual property and associated contract management.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
12. Knowledge of current national systems and structures for the approval, management and monitoring of innovation in the NHS
13. Highly developed specialist knowledge of innovation staffing, infrastructure and funding models
14. Knowledge of local and national innovation performance targets
15. Excellent proven communication and interpersonal skills (written and oral).
16. Excellent proven leadership skills.
17. Ability to critically analyse complex data systems and processes.
18. Advanced organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload and meet tight deadlines
19. Considerable IT skills
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.
At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.
We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.
We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.
Supporting disabled people and people with longterm conditions
We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.
This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at or call us on 01642 854610
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.