Innovation Development Manager Manchester £45,500 Manchester Hybrid An exciting new opportunity has arisen for an Innovation Development Manager to deliver high-level collaborative between universities, Innovate UK and local businesses This role will project managing the investment, research and innovation of businesses across Greater Manchester For this role you will need a background in funded projects and have an understanding of how innovation or R&D funding works. Working jointly between the Innovation Service and University departments to proactively generate high-quality research projects, translating innovation challenges into commercial opportunities and matching them to the shared objectives The role will develop and manage collaborative relationships with businesses and other key stakeholders and partners, integrating wider innovation advice and support. Key Responsibilities: Translate identified business needs for research, innovation, and commercialisation into collaboration opportunities. Undertake detailed discussions with clients to understand their challenges and articulate them in a technical Project Brief. Provide recommendations to Innovation Specialists and senior management on accessing University facilities and expertise. Develop an understanding of the University's research capabilities and generate technical projects. Act as a bridge between the Innovation Service, businesses, and Universities for technology transfer and research collaboration. Proactively develop a project pipeline and manage the completion of business collaboration projects. Contribute to marketing strategies that promote the Innovation Service and Universities. Represent the Innovation Service at marketing and networking events to enhance awareness and promote collaboration. About You: Operate effectively at senior management and/or academic level. Link objectives and actions to an overall strategy. Prioritise and schedule tasks to ensure optimal use of time and resources. Build and maintain relationships with business and academic networks. Ethical understanding of commercial services that best meet client interests. Self-starter with a professional and flexible approach. Clean driving license. Skills Required: Detailed technical knowledge of GM Frontier Sectors and key technology areas. Excellent communication, presentation, and networking skills. Strong sales and account management abilities. Exceptional planning, organisational, and project management skills. Well-developed IT skills, including management information and CRM systems. Commercial awareness and credibility. Experience in business innovation, technology, or academic environments. Understanding of project management techniques and market knowledge of key sectors. IF this sounds like your next career send your CV to Annalee Wood at Aspire Recruitment today Please note this vacancy is being handled by Aspire Recruitment (agy). Please be aware we receive a high volume of applications for every role advertised and regularly receive applications from candidates who exceed the job credentials. We will only contact you within the next 14 days if you are selected for interview. Should you apply for this role, we will process your data as detailed in our Privacy Policy