Stakeholder Relationships Lead (FTC March 2026)

Innovate UK Business Connect (IUKBC) works with strategic partners across the ecosystem to ensure that innovation is driven from a more diverse base that supports better innovation outcomes and helps the UK become a leading nation in innovation nationally and globally.

This role will help develop and deliver a stakeholder strategy to ensure IUKBC builds and maintains these relationships with the public and private sector. This position will manage stakeholder relationships through a CRM system and identify opportunities and gaps as well as monitoring existing relationships.

This role will contribute to IUKBC’s success by working with colleagues on cross-sector collaboration projects, meeting IUKBC’s KPIs, supporting the development of bids and proposals and engaging with Innovate UK, UKRI and other relevant government departments, research councils, and leadership bodies around the UK.

The post holder will play a pivotal role in both managing and developing relationships with key, high value partners, that enhance the impact and profile of IUK’s products and services portfolio. Partners include industry leaders, academic institutions, government agencies, and international organisations.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Act as the core strategic point of contact, liaising between both the partner and relevant internal colleagues
• Collaborate with internal colleagues to build a clear understanding of touch points and engagement with each partner and how they can be optimised
• Build and nurture the relationship with each partner to ensure smooth working relationships, clarity of objectives and a joint understanding of the partnership
• ‘Mine’ the relationship for further opportunities to build greater, more in-depth partnerships
• Act as the primary source of knowledge and intelligence within the directorate on each relationship, ensuring effective communications and alignment of both key messages and goals
• Map out and maintain a picture of the working relationships with each partner, with a view to consolidating day to day working relationships with key contacts
• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for collaboration and communication with each partner including regular meetings, reports on progress, capturing feedback and meeting specific needs and requests
• Lead negotiations to establish any new partnership agreements, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
• Oversee the delivery of partnership projects, ensuring they are delivered in accordance with KPIs as agreed with the partner
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of partners, implementing improvements and sharing insights across the directorate
• Provide leadership and guidance to team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability
• Collaborate with other directorates to ensure a unified and coordinated approach to partner engagement
• Advocate for the needs and interests of partners internally through decision-making processes.

Experience & Skills

Essential experience

• Proven experience in leading external collaborations, preferably within an innovation-focused environment.
• A strong track record of delivering impactful partnerships at a strategic and operational level
• Experience in managing high-profile stakeholder relationships across diverse sectors
• Demonstrable expertise in navigating partnership agreements and contracts
• A strong general understanding of political and policy environment around innovation
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders and utilising tools such as a CRM
• Strong personal network of senior figures in many companies/public bodies/organisations and demonstrable reputation for representing their organisation at conferences and workshops

Desirable experience

• Deep understanding of the innovation ecosystem, including key actors, challenges, and opportunities
• Experience working in or with government agencies, industry bodies
• Knowledge of international innovation ecosystems and practices

Skills

• A self-starter, able to demonstrate high levels of initiative and motivation
• Exceptional negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to represent the organisation confidently at senior levels
• Strong business orientation and alignment with company values
• 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
• A good communicator with well-developed written and verbal skills, able to translate complex topics for broad audiences, including both business and policymakers
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation, and project management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Diplomatic sensitivity

Leadership

• Strong leadership capability with the ability to motivate and inspire others
• Ability to look continuously for opportunities for improvement and to develop strategies for change to influence and shape the future direction for activities and programmes

Benefits & how to apply

• This role has a salary of £48,65 to £52,000 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 until 27th March 2026.

This advert will close on Thursday 6th March.

First stage interviews will be held w/c 10th March.

Second stage interviews will be held w/c 17th March and/or 24th March.

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.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to 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

We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.