ICURe Regional Hub Manager - Operations

About the Role

Innovation is the lifeblood of future prosperity and growth in the UK. Powered by world-class research from UK Higher Education, Innovate UK’s Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) supports the development of products and services that benefit people, businesses and the wider economy by enabling spinouts and licensing.

The Regional Hub Manager - Operations will be the lead coordinator for the operational delivery and growth of the ICURe programmes across the Central Belt (East and West Midlands, Oxfordshire, East Anglia, North and Mid-Wales) as part of the Midlands Innovation (MI) ICURe team, Innovation Group, University of Warwick. They will work closely with stakeholders across the MI ICURe team and network, the other ICURe delivery partners, other Regional Hub Managers, key stakeholders in UKRI, Innovate UK, Universities, and research-intensive institutions, and with external innovation partners from both the public and private sectors.

The role will focus on increasing the ICURe programmes successful commercialisation of technologies, products, or services from academic research within UK universities and research institutes.

The post holder will help bridge the gap between academia and entrepreneurship by enabling the translation of discoveries into practical licensing deals and spin-out companies and enabling those spinouts to flourish by connecting them to support from national and regional innovation initiatives (such as Local Innovation Partnerships).

The post holder will be key in recruiting to ICURe cohorts, where their knowledge of the research landscape in the wider Midlands regions and experience in working with deep technologies will be particularly vital. We are keen to connect more closely the universities and innovation ecosystems of both Oxford and Cambridge with those in the Midlands and Wales, therefore innovation experience across these institutions and regions is essential.

The role works closely with other Regional Hub Managers both Operations and Strategic to support the continued delivery and growth of the national Innovate UK funded ICURe programme and the broader national spinout ecosystem.

Help make a difference - Join us as the ICURe Regional Hub Manager – Operations (Central Belt)

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here).

About You

This role would be ideal for someone who is passionate about helping researchers commercialise their research, building relationships and networks, and about contributing to the growth of an inclusive regional innovation ecosystem. The role holder will have exceptional networking, communication, interpersonal, project management, programme and organisational skills and be ready to apply those attributes to the success of the ICURe programme.

The Manager will be a proactive, highly skilled, organised and self-motivated individual, used to working in a multidisciplinary setting and within matrix management.  The role requires a strong connection and experience to research, research commercialisation, early-stage investors, and innovation ecosystems across the Central Belt.

This role covers two aspects: recruitment onto ICURe, and support afterwards.  To do this will require a highly creditable experienced university commercialisation practitioner with high influencing skills.

About the Department

The Warwick Innovations ICURe team - on behalf of Midlands Innovation - has been one of three delivery partners, successfully delivering the national Innovate UK ICURe programmes for over 8 years – and intends to be for the next 3 years.  Last year we doubled our outputs and began the joining up of ICURe with UKRI’s research council’s translational funding programmes.  In the FY26-27 we are doubling again: we need to finish the joining up with research councils, aligning with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and ensure all regional Universities and publicly funded research institutes are feeding participants into our programmes, whilst facilitating the onward journey of the resulting entrepreneurs into supporting ecosystems and initiatives.

For further information on the department, please see our webpages here: Innovate ICURe | Warwick Innovations

How to Apply

To apply please complete your essential personal details and attach a CV and cover letter by 11.59pm on the closing date. 

Please ensure your CV includes your most recent employment experience along with any additional relevant experience and education history.

Your cover letter should detail your motivation for applying for the role as well as detailing how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.   

The interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.