Interim Head of Economics and Insight; Maternity Cover

Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:

Innovate UK is implementing a significant strategic shift to strengthen its support for innovative businesses and maximise impact across the UK’s innovation ecosystem. As Acting Head of Economics and Insight, you will lead the Economics & Insights function within the Strategy Directorate, providing the evidence, analysis and thought leadership that underpin strategic decision-making across the organisation.

* Please note this advert will close on 8th October 2026 m.

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Title: Interim Head of Economics and Insight (Maternity Cover)

Band: UKRI Band G (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary: £70,752 gross per annum

Reports to: Line Manager Job Title

Location: UKRI sites:

Swindon, London, Harwell, Daresbury, Keyworth, Cambridge, Edinburgh

Contract: Fixed Term (Until 6th September 2027)

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

Innovate UK works with businesses and stakeholders across every nation and region of the UK. As part of UKRI, our hybrid working approach is built around one simple principle: time should be spent where it delivers the greatest impact.

This means working across three settings: UKRI sites,time on the ground with businesses,partners and stakeholders and time working from home.

It’san approach designed to support collaboration,connection and impact.

This role is in Tier 3, with 20-40% of working time typically spent either at a UKRI site or engaging withexternalbusinesses and stakeholders across the UK. Outside of this requirement,youcan work from home. Whilstthisrole will be formally based at one of the following UKRI sites, it is externally facing, and we expect that there will be requirement to travel around the UK, occasional international travel for 1-2 days each week on average.

Read the full UKRI Hybrid Working Policy Hybrid Working at UKRI

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

Job Purpose:

Innovate UK is implementing a significant strategic shift to strengthen its support for innovative businesses and maximise impact across the UK’s innovation ecosystem. As Acting Head of Economics and Insight, you will lead the Economics & Insights function within the Strategy Directorate, providing the evidence, analysis and thought leadership that underpin strategic decision-making across the organisation.

This is a high-profile role operating at the interface between strategy, economics, analysis, delivery and policy. You will lead a team of analysts and researchers, shape how Innovate UK understands the innovation ecosystem and ensure that insight is translated into practical action across programme design, strategy implementation and policy engagement.

Working closely with senior management across Innovate UK and UKRI, you will provide authoritative advice on innovation, business growth, impact and the wider ecosystem, helping ensure the organisation’s strategic decisions are grounded in robust evidence and analysis.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Lead strategic insight and analysis

• Provide authoritative analytical advice to support strategic decision-making across Innovate UK.
• Shape Innovate UK’s…