STEM Innovation Hub Manager Uk Sponsorship Available

Job Description

Job Title: STEM Innovation Hub Manager (Climate Scaling Collaborative)

This position is based at the University of Derby, in collaboration with the multi-regional and cross-institutional Climate Scaling Collaborative (CSC). The role is supported by a £5m initiative funded by Research England, involving five universities led by Imperial College London. The initiative aims to accelerate UK-based climate start-ups into world-leading scale-ups.

As the STEM Innovation Hub Manager, you will provide strong leadership to support sustainable start-ups in their scale-up journey. Your core responsibility is to identify and connect participants and key stakeholders involved in scaling these businesses. By leveraging your networking abilities, you will connect start-ups with critical resources (e.g., investment, funding sources, regulatory support, technical expertise, testing, certification, and accreditation) from across the UK Climate Scaling Collaborative network, helping businesses navigate challenges and overcome innovation barriers.

You will play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration across the UK-wide partnership between Imperial College London, and the Universities of Cranfield, Derby, Exeter, Leeds, and Nottingham. You will support start-ups by connecting them with advice and access to partner facilities and knowledge-sharing ecosystems. This will include conducting diagnostics, identifying barriers, and establishing support plans tailored to each business’s goals. Your objective is to standardise processes and deliver bespoke support to achieve the following outcomes:

• Providing guidance to help innovations navigate technological, regulatory, testing, and certification challenges in order to scale successfully;
• Assisting with de-risking investments and supporting start-ups with investment, grant, and loan applications.

You will be responsible for achieving a set of KPIs related to accelerator activities, primarily focusing on climate innovation. This will involve a variety of tasks, from collaborating with regional UK innovators to managing a portfolio of projects and fulfilling reporting requirements.

About You: You will hold a degree in a relevant field, or possess equivalent experience, with a demonstrated background in supporting technical innovation and scaling up ventures. You should have a proven track record in project management and in communicating effectively with diverse teams.

A personable, communicative approach is essential, enabling you to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders. You must be committed to equality and diversity and provide excellent customer service. Your ability to build strong relationships and quickly establish trust and confidence with key stakeholders will be crucial to your success.

Self-motivated and capable of working independently, you should be willing to take on new responsibilities and be adept at gaining respect and cooperation from senior figures, both internally and externally.

You should have an understanding of the challenges faced by deep-tech innovators, particularly within climate and sustainability sectors, and possess experience in business development, partnerships, consulting, or similar client-facing roles. Proven ability to engage with diverse stakeholders – from founders to investors – to foster trust and collaboration is essential.

Strong organizational and facilitation skills are a must, as you will be responsible for managing multiple program initiatives simultaneously and ensuring their successful completion.

Due to the nature of this role, travel between University and external sites will be required. A full UK driving licence is necessary.

Benefits:

• 42 days of annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro-rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Holistic wellbeing benefits, including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay, and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym access
• Discounted access to Devonshire Spa
• Employer-funded private health insurance
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Flexible working environment
• Opportunities for personal and professional development

Key Contact: For more information or informal inquiries about the role, please contact Dr. Boris Ceranic, Project Lead, at b.ceranic@derby.ac.uk.

For questions regarding your application or sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

Important Information: This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, but your individual circumstances must meet the UKVI criteria, which includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£38,700 per annum).

If the offered salary is below the going rate but the role is eligible, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You are under 26, a student or recent graduate, or in professional training
• You hold a PhD relevant to the role
• You hold a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that sponsorship eligibility will be confirmed only after an offer is made and your individual circumstances are reviewed. For further details, visit our website.