Senior Lead, Government Innovation and Economic Growth

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential innovation consultancy operating at the intersection of government, industry and emerging technology. Our client is seeking a Senior Lead, Government Innovation and Economic Growth to shape and deliver growth across UK government markets. This is a nationally focused role based in Manchester, responsible for identifying, shaping and securing high-value opportunities across central government, public sector organisations and strategic partners.

As government influence and investment become increasingly distributed beyond Whitehall, you'll help position our client at the forefront of emerging opportunities across government innovation, economic growth, public sector reform and place-based investment. This hands-on commercial leadership role combines business development, strategic relationship management, proposition development and opportunity leadership.

Responsibilities

Government Growth & Opportunity Leadership

• Identify, prioritise and lead the pursuit of high-value opportunities across UK government
• Build and maintain senior relationships across government departments, agencies, arm's-length bodies and wider public sector organisations
• 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

Market Intelligence & Strategic Positioning

• Develop deep insight into emerging government priorities including economic growth, innovation adoption, AI, cyber resilience, public sector reform 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 our client as a trusted partner capable of helping government translate 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
• Create scalable propositions applicable across multiple government customers and sectors

Strategic Relationship Management & Ecosystem Development

• 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 and delivery organisations
• Build and shape consortium opportunities where partner-led approaches strengthen positioning
• Support priority bids, negotiations and commercial pursuits across the organisation
• Mentor and support colleagues to strengthen capability and confidence

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
• Strong understanding of the relationship between government policy, funding, investment priorities and commercial opportunity

Highly Desirable:

• 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 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

Professional 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 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:

• Willingness to undertake regular national travel (>40%) and occasional international travel
• UK Nationals who hold or are eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance
• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience

How We Work With You

When you apply through Get A Job.ai, our talent team will conduct an initial screening to understand your background and match you with this opportunity. If there's a strong fit, we'll submit your profile to our client for consideration. Throughout the process, we'll guide you and provide feedback at each stage.

Please apply directly through Get A Job.ai rather than attempting to contact the client organisation independently, as we are managing this search exclusively.

Pay

Pay via Get A Job.ai: £80,000 - £100,000 depending on skills and experience. Additional benefits through the client include annual bonus scheme, generous pension scheme (up to 10% company contribution), private healthcare, life assurance and critical illness cover, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, and volunteering day.

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunities employer. We actively encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds and are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our recruitment process.