Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by
25-11-2025This fixed term appointment offers a rare opportunity to shape the next phase of Innovate UK’s Innovation Loans programme — a flagship financial product supporting R&D-intensive SMEs to scale and commercialise innovation.
*Please note this advert will close on the 24th November 2025 at 23.59pm.
Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.
Title: Deputy Director Business Development
Band: UKRI Band H (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: £86,731 gross per annum
Reports to: Line Manager Job Title
Location: Field based
Contract: Fixed Term Until (31/03/2026)
Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a 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:
Innovation Loans are a unique, non-dilutive finance mechanism enabling the UK’s most innovative businesses to grow and scale. As the programme moves toward a step-change in delivery, this role will ensure growth is targeted, evidence-driven and sustainable, laying the foundations for success in the next Spending Review period.
The postholder will lead this work with a high degree of autonomy, reporting directly to the Chief Investment Officer and through to the Innovate UK Loans Ltd Board on progress, performance, and learning. They will have delegated delivery responsibility for both the marketing and digital workstreams.
Delivery will be supported by a project-based hybrid team drawn from across Reach & Engagement, Digital, and Product colleagues, as well as external partners. The role will be instrumental in establishing the foundations of a potential future permanent business development function for Innovation Loans as the programme scales.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Job Purpose:
This fixed term appointment offers a rare opportunity to shape the next phase of Innovate UK’s Innovation Loans programme — a flagship financial product supporting R&D-intensive SMEs to scale and commercialise innovation.
The successful candidate will lead a business development function focused on strengthening the programme’s market reach, applicant quality, and digital engagement. Working closely with the Chief Investment Officer, Business Connect Reach & Engagement Team, and Digital & Technology colleagues, the role will blend strategic oversight with practical delivery — developing, testing, and embedding scalable approaches grounded in data and user insight.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Execute a Targeted Marketing and Engagement Plan
Develop a Digital “Front Door” for Innovation Loans
Codify Referral Pathways and Partnerships
By April 2026, Success Will Be
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:
We’re seeking a creative, action-oriented leader who combines curiosity with delivery discipline — someone who thrives on testing and iterating ideas, but grounds decisions in evidence and user insight.
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential –
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;
25-11-2025