Innovation Manager
| Posting date: | 17 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Salary dependent on experience |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 April 2026 |
| Location: | Harpenden, Hertfordshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Rothamsted Enterprises Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 866 |
Summary
Are you passionate about accelerating innovation?
Do you have experience empowering entrepreneurs?
Rothamsted Enterprises is seeking an Innovation Manager to lead and grow innovation activity across our vibrant campus community. This is a unique opportunity to drive high‑impact programmes, support pioneering start‑ups, and build powerful partnerships.
About the Role
As Innovation Manager, you’ll be at the centre of a dynamic ecosystem—bringing together researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs, and funding bodies. You'll be turning ground breaking ideas into real-world impact.
You will lead innovation-driven projects across the campus, foster collaboration between departments and tenants, and build relationships with key stakeholders. Your work will ensure the smooth delivery of growth programmes, strong commercial outcomes, and measurable impact.
What You’ll Do
Drive the development of innovation, translational, and commercialisation initiatives across the campus.
Build and cultivate a community of entrepreneurs, start-ups, and innovation-led businesses.
Identify and secure innovation funding from public and private sources.
Develop strong relationships with R&D‑driven companies and prospective partners.
Lead multiple projects simultaneously, engaging with both internal and external stakeholders.
Provide tailored backing to early-stage and pre-incorporation businesses, helping them scale effectively.
Secure at least one major corporate partnership for the campus.
Produce a strategic plan outlining future innovation support opportunities for REL.
We’re Looking For Someone Who…
Has entrepreneurial experience or has worked closely with start-ups. Quickly builds networks and forges strong, collaborative relationships. Understands what support entrepreneurs need at each stage of their journey. Is highly organised, capable of managing multiple projects at once and has a genuine interest in emerging technologies, especially within agritech.
Key Success Measures
Development of new translational or commercial activities supporting business growth.
Attraction of new innovation-led, R&D-driven organisations to the campus.
Secured innovation funding from diverse sources.
Delivery of tailored support to businesses on campus.
Establishment of major corporate partnerships.
About The Company
Rothamsted Enterprises was set up in 2015 to ensure the Rothamsted campus thrives as a world=leading agri-food research and innovation ecosystem for businesses, investors and researchers, and we support this mission by combining physical infrastructure, business support and access to science and investment networks.
We offer:
Flexible office and lab workspace enables start-ups and established agritech companies to locate directly alongside researchers, supporting collaboration and business growth.
Conference centre for hosting events in house for the agritech community and for the wider local business market for up to 300 delegates.
Reception facilities and tenant services creating a professional, supportive working environment that allows businesses to focus on innovation and scaling.
On site restaurant open to tenants and the public, and shared campus spaces help engage community, encourage informal collaboration, and make the campus an attractive place to work and visit in Harpenden.
Our benefits package includes 25 days annual leave, a pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and an attractive campus offering cultural and recreational activities.
Do you have experience empowering entrepreneurs?
Rothamsted Enterprises is seeking an Innovation Manager to lead and grow innovation activity across our vibrant campus community. This is a unique opportunity to drive high‑impact programmes, support pioneering start‑ups, and build powerful partnerships.
About the Role
As Innovation Manager, you’ll be at the centre of a dynamic ecosystem—bringing together researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs, and funding bodies. You'll be turning ground breaking ideas into real-world impact.
You will lead innovation-driven projects across the campus, foster collaboration between departments and tenants, and build relationships with key stakeholders. Your work will ensure the smooth delivery of growth programmes, strong commercial outcomes, and measurable impact.
What You’ll Do
Drive the development of innovation, translational, and commercialisation initiatives across the campus.
Build and cultivate a community of entrepreneurs, start-ups, and innovation-led businesses.
Identify and secure innovation funding from public and private sources.
Develop strong relationships with R&D‑driven companies and prospective partners.
Lead multiple projects simultaneously, engaging with both internal and external stakeholders.
Provide tailored backing to early-stage and pre-incorporation businesses, helping them scale effectively.
Secure at least one major corporate partnership for the campus.
Produce a strategic plan outlining future innovation support opportunities for REL.
We’re Looking For Someone Who…
Has entrepreneurial experience or has worked closely with start-ups. Quickly builds networks and forges strong, collaborative relationships. Understands what support entrepreneurs need at each stage of their journey. Is highly organised, capable of managing multiple projects at once and has a genuine interest in emerging technologies, especially within agritech.
Key Success Measures
Development of new translational or commercial activities supporting business growth.
Attraction of new innovation-led, R&D-driven organisations to the campus.
Secured innovation funding from diverse sources.
Delivery of tailored support to businesses on campus.
Establishment of major corporate partnerships.
About The Company
Rothamsted Enterprises was set up in 2015 to ensure the Rothamsted campus thrives as a world=leading agri-food research and innovation ecosystem for businesses, investors and researchers, and we support this mission by combining physical infrastructure, business support and access to science and investment networks.
We offer:
Flexible office and lab workspace enables start-ups and established agritech companies to locate directly alongside researchers, supporting collaboration and business growth.
Conference centre for hosting events in house for the agritech community and for the wider local business market for up to 300 delegates.
Reception facilities and tenant services creating a professional, supportive working environment that allows businesses to focus on innovation and scaling.
On site restaurant open to tenants and the public, and shared campus spaces help engage community, encourage informal collaboration, and make the campus an attractive place to work and visit in Harpenden.
Our benefits package includes 25 days annual leave, a pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme and an attractive campus offering cultural and recreational activities.