Innovate UK
Innovation Lead – National Security and Defence (Strategy and Systems)
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Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by 22-07-2026
Innovation Lead – National Security and Defence (Strategy and Systems)
The Innovation Lead – National Security and Defence will lead the design and delivery of Innovate UK’s approach to national security and defence innovation, creating a dual-use operating model that supports high-potential businesses to scale and deliver critical capability.
Please note this advert will close on the 21st of July 2026 at 23.59pm. Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.
Title: Innovation Lead – National Security and Defence (Strategy and Systems)
Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: £58,589 gross per annum
Reports to: Director, NS&D
Location: Field based
Contract: Permanent
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Context:
This is a new, critical role helping lead the development and delivery of Innovate UK’s National Security and Defence strategy and systems. The role operates across Innovate UK, UKRI and the wider defence and national security ecosystem to establish a coherent partnering approach and an effective dual-use operating model. We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Job Purpose:
The Innovation Lead – National Security and Defence will lead the design and delivery of Innovate UK’s approach to national security and defence innovation, creating a dual-use operating model that supports high-potential businesses to scale and deliver critical capability.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Strategy and Partnerships
- Lead the development of Innovate UK’s National Security and Defence innovation strategy, working across the NS&D programme team, wider IUK and helping to both shape and integrate this with the broader UKRI programme.
- Build partnerships across government, industry, Catapults and the wider ecosystem.
- Embed innovation fundamentals including inclusive innovation, regulation & standards, skills and place & global across the programme.
- Work with the Catapult -MoD Alliance group to develop relevant capability across the Catapult Network to support Industrial Strategy priorities: directly into Security & MoD; and through effective integration with the UKRI programme.
Dual-Use Operating Model
- Design and shape changes to enhance Innovate UK’s dual-use operating model.
- Developing matrix delivery approaches by drawing on expertise from other growth sector teams including Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Digital & Technologies.
- Ensure effective programme join-up and pathways from the wider UKRI programme, built around translation of research excellence into high potential businesses.
- Support the development of a ‘Fit-for-Defence’ Velocity capability for high potential businesses, helping develop the core IUK offer and working with ecosystem partners to ensure IUKs new offer enhances and doesn’t compete with other offers.
- Working with the Governance and Operations teams, establish an enhanced trusted research and innovation framework to deliver the NS&D programme and other dual use technologies, covering policy, people, processes and systems.
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.
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Shortlisting criteria (S) – Assessed at shortlisting (I) – Assessed at interview (S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Person Specification:
Experience & Qualifications:
- Essential – Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience. (S)
- Up-to-date and broad-based knowledge of innovation in the defence, and security sector.(S&I)
- Appreciation of the wider industrial landscape in the UK, the key businesses and initiatives relevant to security and defence and the main challenges and opportunities that exist.(S&I)
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders across government and industry. (I)
- Technical credibility with strong collaborative skills. (S&I)
- Experience designing operating models and governance.(S&I)
- Willingness and ability to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. Further information available here.(S&I)
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.
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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.
Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
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; 22-07-2026
Welcome to the Recruitment Site for Innovate UK Business Connect employees to apply for job opportunities within Innovate UK. If you are not a Business Connect employee you can view externally available vacancies in Innovate UK here: Watch a video on life at Innovate UK here.
About the opportunities available:
These opportunities may be available on a secondment or employment basis. In the case of a secondment your employer will remain Innovate UK Business Connect and an agreement between yourself, Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect will be drawn up setting out the terms of the secondment. Secondments are usually limited to two years. In the case of employment you would leave the employment of Innovate UK Business Connect and take up employment with Innovate UK. Further details for each role, and to agree individual circumstances will be discussed with you during the recruitment process.
Flexible Working:
We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Equal Opportunities:
We strive to make decisions based on individual merit and ability. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and promote equality of opportunity in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. As holders of Disability Confident Employer status, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the
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