Senior Lead, Government Innovation and Economic Growth

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential innovation consultancy that works at the intersection of government, industry and emerging technology. They are seeking a Senior Lead, Government Innovation and Economic Growth to join their Manchester-based team and drive significant growth across UK central government, public sector organisations and strategic partners.

This is a nationally focused, hands-on commercial leadership role combining business development, strategic relationship management, proposition development and opportunity leadership. You'll identify and secure high-value opportunities across government while positioning our client at the forefront of the UK's evolving government and innovation landscape.

Based in the North West, you'll help capitalise on emerging opportunities across government policy areas including economic growth, public sector reform, innovation adoption and place-based investment. As government influence becomes increasingly distributed beyond Whitehall, you'll translate policy trends into strategic opportunities, partnerships and sustainable revenue growth.

Responsibilities

Government Growth & Opportunity Leadership:

• Identify, prioritise and lead pursuit of high-value opportunities across UK government departments, agencies, arm's-length bodies and public sector organisations
• Build and maintain senior relationships with key government stakeholders
• Shape early-stage opportunities by aligning customer priorities, policy developments and commercial propositions
• Lead complex multi-stakeholder pursuits from early engagement through to contract award
• Navigate government procurement and commercial environments to maximise success
• Develop understanding of government priorities, funding mechanisms and investment strategies to identify future opportunities

Market Intelligence & Strategic Positioning:

• Develop deep insight into emerging government priorities including economic growth, innovation adoption, AI, cyber resilience, public sector reform, science and technology, and place-based investment
• Translate policy, market and customer insight into actionable growth opportunities
• Identify emerging markets, funding streams and policy-driven opportunities aligned to strategic objectives
• Position the organisation as a trusted partner capable of translating ambition into measurable impact

Cross-Government Go-To-Market Leadership:

• Shape and co-own cross-government go-to-market strategy
• Identify priority growth areas, departments and opportunity themes
• Support development and refinement of propositions responding to changing government needs
• Build repeatable approaches to opportunity identification, qualification and pursuit
• Strengthen commercial discipline and opportunity management across the organisation

Strategic Relationship Management:

• Act as senior external representative across government, industry and innovation ecosystem engagements
• Build trusted relationships with senior government leaders, policy makers, commercial stakeholders and delivery partners
• Build relationships across emerging government and innovation ecosystems outside London
• Represent the organisation at senior meetings, industry forums, conferences and government-facing events

Partnerships & Growth Enablement:

• Develop strategic relationships with consultancies, technology providers, universities, ecosystem partners and delivery organisations
• Build and shape consortium opportunities where partner-led approaches strengthen positioning
• Support priority bids, negotiations and commercial pursuits across the wider organisation
• Share best practice across government sales, account development and opportunity shaping
• Mentor and support colleagues across commercial and delivery teams

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience:

• Proven track record of selling into UK government and winning complex public sector opportunities
• Demonstrable success securing and growing contracts valued at £1m+ and/or multi-year engagements
• Strong understanding of government procurement, commercial processes and public sector buying environments
• Experience building relationships with senior government stakeholders
• Strong commercial acumen including opportunity shaping, negotiation and deal strategy
• Experience developing and executing go-to-market strategies in complex environments
• Experience working with partners to shape and deliver consortium bids and strategic opportunities
• Ability to operate effectively across strategy, relationship management and hands-on opportunity delivery
• Strong understanding of the relationship between government policy, funding, investment priorities and commercial opportunity

Highly Desirable Experience:

• Experience working across multiple government departments or policy domains
• Understanding of economic growth, devolution, place-based investment and public sector reform
• Experience within innovation, technology, consulting, digital transformation, cyber or AI-related environments
• Experience identifying and developing opportunities arising from policy change, government reform and market shifts
• Existing network across UK government, strategic partners and innovation ecosystems
• Experience operating within high-growth, entrepreneurial or scaling organisations
• Familiarity with government priorities relating to AI adoption, cyber resilience, science and technology, productivity and economic growth

Skills & Attributes:

• Commercially driven, outcome-focused and highly proactive
• Naturally curious about government priorities, policy developments and market trends
• Highly credible operating at senior levels across government and industry
• Strong relationship builder with ability to influence and align diverse stakeholder groups
• Strategic thinker capable of translating insight into action
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and shaping undefined opportunities
• Collaborative and committed to enabling the success of others
• Resilient, adaptable and able to thrive in fast-moving environments

Requirements:

• UK national who holds or is eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance
• Willingness to undertake regular national travel (over 40%) and occasional international travel
• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience
• Based in or willing to relocate to Manchester

How We Work With You

When you apply through Get A Job.ai, our talent team will carefully review your application against the role requirements. If there's a strong match, one of our recruiters will conduct an initial screening call to understand your background, motivations and fit for this senior government sales role.

We'll then prepare and submit your profile to our client for their review. Throughout the process, we'll keep you informed and provide guidance to help you succeed. Please do not contact the client directly—all communication and coordination will flow through Get A Job.ai to ensure a smooth, professional experience for everyone involved.

Compensation

Our client offers a competitive package including base salary of £80,000 - £100,000 depending on skills and experience, annual bonus scheme, generous pension (up to 10% company contribution), private healthcare, life assurance, critical illness cover, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, and a volunteering day.

Equal Opportunities

Get A Job.ai is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We work with clients who share our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.