Knowledge Transfer Manager – Transport Infrastructure (18 month FTC)

Innovate UK Business Connect Transport Programmes

The Transport Team at Innovate UK Business Connect deliver on the following programmes:

1. Integrated Transport
   Improving transport integration creates £17bn additional economic output per year through increased productivity. As a new programme for 2026, we will create UK’s Integrated Transport Innovation Network, generate data and insights and work with businesses to facilitate the scale and adoption of new solutions.
2. Accessible and Inclusive Transport
   Everyone has the right to access transport. Disabilities impact 13.9 million people in the UK with a lack of accessible transport constituting a significant barrier to life. We work with transport operators, innovators, and disability communities to implement novel technologies, business models and services to ensure transport is accessible by all.
3. Innovation Service
   Innovate UK Business Connect is delivery partner for Innovate UK through the Innovation Service; a delivery arm for the public sector to deliver innovation programmes.

Purpose of the role

This role will require the applicant to work across a variety of transport programmes to embed the digital and physical infrastructure to improve efficiencies and accessibility across all modes. Demonstrable leadership in transport infrastructure innovation, particularly in maritime and/or HGVs, is required with strong inter-personal skills to operate across programmes and teams.

The ability to define, deliver and/or support programmes of work to enable deployment of innovative infrastructure solutions is key and to work with businesses and government to drive knowledge transfer between the science base and industry, creating connections, and enabling innovation.

A visionary leader and self-starter with a deep understanding of the infrastructure requirements to create efficiencies and transition transport to zero emission. You will have strong inter-personal and communication skills with the ability to identify solutions to deliver impact in the sector. The successful candidate must be confident working with senior industry and government representatives to enable new transformational solutions and shape developing policy.

Roles & Responsibilities

Work as part of a team on the following programmes (the weighting of effort against each programme will vary):

1. EV charging for the Strategic Road Network competition.
   Leading delivery of the competition and cohort programme.
2. Zero Emission HGV Demonstration competition cohort
   Supporting delivery of the cohort programme and leading the curation of the infrastructure database; working with companies to scale their ZE fleets.
3. Smart Shipping Programme
   On behalf of the Department for Transport, mobilise businesses along the value chain to grow the network and create impactful programmes of work to enable new collaborations and development of solutions.
4. Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition and Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure Competition.
   Supporting delivery of the UK SHORE investment programmes whilst taking the lead on mobilising infrastructure organisations to maximise their engagement in the programmes.
5. Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator
   Mobilising businesses around the investment, enabling new collaborations and working with the grant-funded cohort to identify new business opportunities and finance.
6. Integrated Transport Programme
   To build the diverse network required to deliver a more seamless transport system. Lead on identifying key transport infrastructure companies, generate data and insights, connect businesses to opportunities and design projects to create impact.
7. Accessible and Inclusive Transport Programme
   Lead delivery of the Accessible Transport Infrastructure Working Group to mobilise members around a common goal, identify co-developed projects, writing minutes and following up on actions.
   Draft correspondence, produce presentations, meeting minutes and reports with technical context and proofread documents with a high attention to detail.
   Ensure a good understanding of developing government policies so the relevant context is maintained to support and drive effective activities.
   Deliver on key business metrics agreed with the line manager, and to track progress, capturing outcomes and impact.
   Undertake reporting obligations in line with Innovate UK Business Connect goals for impact measurement.

Experience & Skills

Essential Experience

• Experience in either maritime, HGVs, electric vehicle charging and/or other transport infrastructure environment.
• Experience of operating in an innovation ecosystem.
• Degree educated or equivalent qualification.
• Experience in managing/leading projects/programmes.
• Experience of leading project/matrix teams.
• Experience of government policies and research and innovation strategies.
• Experience in business development and programme design.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with a proven ability in working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders essential.
• Able to produce accurate written documents in a variety of styles to a very high standard.
• Demonstrable financial expertise to provide effective management of project budgets.
• Confident in working closely with diverse senior leaders or groups internally and externally, with an ability to persuade, influence and motivate people and teams at all levels.
• Able to identify opportunities and design effective activities to deliver business transformation.

Skills

• Effective communicator with strong influencing skills
• Strong analytical, problem solving and collaboration skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Thorough understanding of the innovation landscape for transport infrastructure; strong personal network of stakeholders in many companies and demonstrable reputation for representing business at conferences and workshops
• Demonstrable track record of managing projects and/or programmes or teams
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships
• Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, explaining complicated matters simply
• High level of IT literacy
• A self-starter with a proactive approach

Benefits & how to apply

• This is a Grade 4 role with a salary of £50,267 to £55,000 pa
• 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays
• Enhanced Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme
• Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme

This is a fixed term contract for 18 months.

This advert will close on Sunday 31st May.

First stage interviews will be held w/c 8th June.

Second stage interviews will be held w/c 15th June.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

Applicants must have the existing and ongoing right to work in the UK without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided. Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email at recruitment@iukbc.org.uk.

Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.

If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing recruitment@iukbc.org.uk

About Innovate UK Business Connect

Innovate UK Business Connect is the home of the UK’s innovation networks, connecting businesses, researchers, investors and partners to accelerate innovation and deliver real-world impact.

As a strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we connect people, insight and opportunities across priority sectors and emerging technologies. Through our networks, we combine sector expertise with data and expertise to identify potential, support innovation and help ideas move from concept to commercial success.

We connect organisations to the partners, funding and expertise they need, creating clearer pathways for businesses to grow and scale.

Please submit applications by 26/05/2026