Ecosystem Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist

Your new company Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is the economic development agency for Northern Ireland responsible for supporting the establishment and growth of business enterprises, including those with export potential. Invest NI promotes Northern Ireland for Foreign Direct Investment and manages a client portfolio of more than 3,000 companies. With 650 staff, an annual gross expenditure budget of approximately £150 million, and offices across Northern Ireland and in 29 international locations, Invest NI plays a central role in delivering the Department for the Economy's Economic Vision, Business Strategy, City & Growth Deals and the recommendations of the Independent Review of Invest role sits within the Business Growth Group, which supports companies across key sectors and drives innovation, research and development, helping businesses grow, export and remain competitive.

Your new role

Job Title:

Ecosystem Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist Team:
Innovate UK Business Growth - Innovation, Research and Development Division Grade:
Grade 7 Salary: £61,673 - £64,469 per annum Contract Type:
Full-time, permanent

Location:

Bedford Square Headquarters, Belfast (with UK travel and hybrid working)

Start Date:

As soon as possible (depending on notice period) Main Purpose of the Job:
This role is an opportunity for a high calibre, experienced business professional to directly contribute to driving business innovation and growth in the UK. The role requires experience and knowledge of the strategic funding and finance needs of innovative high growth potential companies in order to help them become more investment ready and invest able. It will support Innovate UK's "Place" agenda, acting as an interface with accelerators, launchpads, Freeports and/or other regional clusters.

Key Responsibilities include:

Identify ambitious innovation orientated SMEs with the potential for scaling and investment readiness, who could benefit from Innovate UK Business Growth support. Assess and understand the companies' specific needs and introduce relevant Innovate UK Business Growth services (and connectivity) along different phases of the company's journey as it grows, specifically providing strategic funding and finance support for investment readiness. Interacting with businesses to stimulate an increase of their ambition to scale, augmenting other support available locally.

Provide tailored support to the companies' growth and scaling needs, connecting them with the people and opportunities that will really accelerate their growth both in the UK and internationally, by being agile, flexible and responsive, supporting them effectively and at a pace set by them. Maintain a strong connection with, and support the development of, the national Innovate UK Business Growth "invest ability" pathway and the Innovate UK Scaleup Programme.

Work with Innovate UK colleagues, British Business Bank regional colleagues and intermediaries plus other key regional stakeholders to reinforce the close cooperation that will enable the client to navigate the Northern Ireland local investment support and where necessary establish local co operation to support achievement of this. Deliver, facilitate, and attend workshops and events to promote client success and the impact of Innovate UK Business Growth.

This may include attending occasional national/international conferences and exhibitions and possibly supporting client companies with their national/international missions. Act as a 'go to' resource for clients from the Innovate UK Launchpads, and through referrals for other regional clusters and accelerators. Undertake other duties as reasonably required. What you'll need to succeed Experience & Knowledge Business Growth, Scaling & Leadership - Demonstrated experience in driving significant business growth through senior leadership roles within corporate or ambitious SME environments, coupled with a proven track record of enabling organisations to scale.

This includes identifying growth challenges, shaping strategic actions, and leading organisational transformation that delivers measurable, high-impact outcomes. Innovation…