Innovation Lead - Ofgem SIF

Applications must be submitted by 27-02-2026.

This is an exciting and varied role developing and delivering the technical/innovation aspects of the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund. A good understanding of energy markets and network operations is key.

Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.

Innovation Lead - Ofgem SIF - x2 positions

UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)

£58,589 gross per annum

Innovation Manager

Field based

Permanent

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

Innovate UK is Ofgem’s delivery partner for the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund is the largest UK energy innovation fund. It was established in 2021 as a £450 million funding programme, designed to drive innovation and transformation in energy networks. From 2026, this funding is increasing by a further £500m+. Innovation is critical to ensuring networks can facilitate decarbonisation across Britain’s energy system.

SIF accelerates transformational whole energy system innovation to address climate change and ensure value for money for people who use and pay for networks.

For more information about the Strategic Innovation Fund visit:

The role holder will operate within the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Team which sits within the Net Zero Domain.

This is an exciting and varied role developing and delivering the technical aspects of the Ofgem SIF programme. A good understanding of energy markets, price controls, Ofgem and network companies is key. You will be responsible for working with project teams throughout the idea generation and development, application, assessment, delivery and evaluation lifecycle of the project. Alongside project level work, you will be responsible for coordination of cross-sector working groups (SIF Innovation Delivery Groups).

Launching in 2026, these groups will play a key role in ensuring a collaborative, coordinated and focused approach to achieving Innovation Challenge objectives and making sure wider learnings from projects are disseminated effectively.

We are keen to hear from applicants who demonstrate understanding of how innovation funding drives investible propositions, and the types of projects that could deliver a net‑zero future.

This role requires you to work in an agile manner with Ofgem, network companies and other partners. You will be iterating and developing the ongoing innovation strategy for the programme and working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the sector. We aim to increase the pipeline of innovative ideas entering the programme and the number of projects successful achieving deployment as they leave the programme.

The role will involve working alongside technical, regulatory and policy teams within partner organisation, acting as a technical authority and thought leader.

• Be a subject matter expert in a technical theme relevant to the SIF (such as network planning, flexibility and resilience or physical network infrastructure, green gases, data and AI,) and participate and support Innovation Delivery Groups related to this theme.
• Manage and facilitate the delivery of a portfolio of strategically important innovation projects that will be instrumental in achieving UK decarbonisation and climate targets, including coordination of the assessment process, Stage Gates, reviewing project deliverables and attendance at kick off and quarterly review meetings.
• Gather key insights and learnings from a portfolio of SIF projects to enable programme level analysis and lead the drafting of learning and insight materials.
• Support Innovation Managers and Head of Innovation in insight dissemination activities.
• Represent the programme and providing thought‑leadership in key public and government forums, including conferences, meetings and workshops and in the media as appropriate.
• Deliver and continuously improve all steps of the competition and assessment process, in partnership with the other team members.
• Build strong working…