Business Director, Innovation

About This Opportunity

We are representing a leading global media and marketing organization in their search for a Business Director, Innovation to join their flagship UK Government account team in London. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy, emerging technology, and public-sector communications—creating innovations that genuinely improve lives across the UK.

Our client operates a specialized unit serving government departments, applying behavior change principles and cutting-edge media innovation to design smarter public services and influence better decisions for millions of people. You'll join an award-winning, collaborative environment tackling complex challenges with real-world impact.

This role sits within a transformational Experience Capability, delivering integrated strategies across earned, shared, owned, and paid channels. As Business Director, you'll be the strategic and operational driver for innovation on this account, reporting to the VP of Innovation and managing one Account Manager.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop the innovation agenda for UK Government communications, creating proprietary frameworks tailored to public-sector challenges and embedding them across integrated planning teams
• Multidisciplinary Integration: Partner with citizen consultancy, behavioral science, and DE&I specialists to ensure all innovation is grounded in audience understanding, accessibility, and inclusion
• Client Consulting: Act as primary innovation advisor to government department hubs, translating policy challenges into innovative citizen experiences through strategic presentations, workshops, and high-stakes brief responses
• Operational Delivery: Manage the innovation pipeline from concept to live campaign, coordinating with data, technology, analytics, and activation teams to ensure rigorous tracking and measurement
• Test & Learn Culture: Design measurement frameworks and hypotheses to validate real-world impact of innovation pilots, including trust elevation and behavioral change metrics
• Team Leadership: Directly manage and mentor one Account Manager, fostering their growth in project execution and innovation strategy while upskilling the wider planning team
• Stakeholder Management: Build trusted relationships with senior civil servants and Government Communication Service leads, positioning yourself as their go-to advisor for creative technology and media innovation
• Partner Ecosystem: Cultivate relationships with external tech partners, social platforms, and creator networks to secure first-to-market opportunities for government campaigns

What We're Looking For

• Experience: Proven background in strategy, creative, or technology-driven planning within a leading media agency, digital shop, or innovation consultancy
• Strategic Thinking: Deep understanding of digital media, customer experience design, and emerging technologies such as applied AI, conversational interfaces, and immersive formats
• Strategy Development: Track record of turning cultural insights and technological trends into multi-channel communication strategies that drive measurable outcomes
• Collaborative Approach: Experience working alongside specialized teams including behavioral scientists, research consultancies, and diversity advisory specialists
• People Management: Direct report management experience with passion for mentoring junior talent in strategic thinking and creative application
• Presentation Skills: Exceptional storytelling ability with confidence to pitch bold, evidence-based ideas to diverse senior stakeholder groups
• Operational Excellence: Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple complex projects and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Thought Leadership: Experience creating trends content, capability-building workshops, and client-facing educational materials
• Problem-Solving: Self-starter who naturally challenges the status quo and seeks novel ways to improve processes
• Location: Based in London with hybrid working (approximately four days per week in office)

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our experienced talent team will review your application and conduct an initial screening to understand your background and career goals. Qualified candidates will be submitted to our client for consideration. We'll guide you through each stage of the process and provide feedback along the way.

Important: Please do not contact the client directly. All applications and inquiries should come through Get A Job.ai to ensure your candidacy is properly represented.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed with qualified candidates during the screening process.

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunity recruiter. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.