Business Development Manager; Innovation

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

South East NHS Regional Innovation Hub

Located in Edinburgh

Band 7

2-year Fixed Term Contract

Are you passionate about driving impactful innovation in healthcare? Do you excel at building partnerships that turn ideas into real-world solutions?

We are seeking a dynamic Business Development Manager (Innovation) to join Health Innovation South East Scotland (HISES) – an NHS Regional Innovation Hub connecting industry, academia, and healthcare to transform patient care and stimulate Scotland’s economic growth and life sciences sector.

HISES is one of Scotland’s three NHS Regional Innovation Hubs, hosted by NHS Lothian in partnership with NHS Borders and NHS Fife. We provide a collaborative environment where innovations can be tested in real-world healthcare settings, bridging the gap between research and patient benefit.

As Business Development Manager, you will play a pivotal role in enabling Scotland’s life sciences sector, particularly SMEs, to collaborate with the NHS. You will act as a key link between industry, academia, and healthcare partners, helping innovative ideas move from concept to implementation.

This is a highly collaborative and strategic role, focused on unlocking opportunities, securing funding, and accelerating the adoption of impactful health innovations.

• Build partnerships across NHS, academia, and industry
• Lead funding applications and secure external investment
• Support SMEs to access NHS expertise and innovation pathways
• Identify and develop high-impact innovation opportunities
• Represent HISES within Scotland’s thriving innovation ecosystem

• Strong experience in business development, innovation, or R&D
• Proven success in securing funding or leading partnerships
• Knowledge of healthcare or life sciences
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

• Work at the forefront of healthcare innovation
• Shape solutions that improve patient outcomes
• Collaborate across Scotland’s leading health and life sciences network

More information on HISES can be found on our website

If you are ready to help drive transformative healthcare innovations and build impactful partnerships across Scotland, we would love to hear from you.

Samantha Smith‑Garrett, Senior Innovation Programme Manager – samantha.smith9t

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as your responsibilities is available in the further information for this vacancy.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long‑term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.