Innovation Pathway Manager (Proof-of-Concept) (Fixed Term)

We are looking for an exceptional individual to join the Maxwell Centre team and become a key interlocutor of research-based innovation, working closely with other stakeholders in the £multi-million Cambridge NeuroWorks ARIA Activation Partnership.

This three-year Cambridge NeuroWorks Partnership comprises a consortium of organisations (Cambridge University Health Partners, several parts of the University of Cambridge, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Network, and Vellos). The partners come together with a common aim to equip top creative talent with access to expertise and resources they need to rocket-boost progress on a new generation of neuro-technologies designed to treat conditions such as depression, dementia, chronic pain, epilepsy and injuries to the nervous system.

The main aim of this role is to ensure the "Blue Sky" activities of Cambridge NeuroWorks run smoothly and deliver against agreed objectives. Role holder will engage with a range of proof-of-concept stage projects, their leaders, teams and external stakeholders and ensures the "Blue Sky" programme aligns with the goals of the Cambridge NeuroWorks Partnership and cutting-edge trends in neurotechnology.

Specifically, the Innovation Pathway Manager will play a key role in advancing neurotechnology innovation, managing the delivery of the "Blue Sky" experimentation programme. This involves oversight of the experimental exploration phase providing guidance to "Blue Sky" Fellows and Proof-of-Concept (PoC) projects. The role also supports transitions into the "Blue Sky" phase from the ideation and hypothesis testing "What if" phase (led by the Milner Therapeutics Institute, MTI), and into the commercial translation at the "Frontier" phase (led by the Babraham Research Campus).

The role holder will work with the Cambridge NeuroWorks' leadership and with support from the Innovation Pathway Coordinator, to orchestrate scientific exploration and support Fellows and PoC project teams while they validate or disprove their hypotheses. Although the role holder is not directly involved in the research, they will play a key role in its stewardship, which requires them to have experience and understanding of lab-based scientific research or technology development.

Reporting to the Maxwell Centre's Director the successful candidate will be working closely with the Innovation Pathway Manager (Ideation) - their counterpart at MTI, the Maxwell's HealthTech Lead, and wider Cambridge NeuroWorks team.Your daily work will interface into a varied community, including academics, innovators, industrial partners, clinicians and changemakers.

The ideal candidate is educated to PhD/Masters Level or demonstrate equivalent senior practical experience, relevant to neurosciences / medical sciences / health tech, and has worked in research / entrepreneurial environments. They will possess highly developed organisational and project management skills, with ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

This role is an excellent opportunity for a driven ambitious individual to develop their skills and experience while setting up, and ensuring the success of, a brand new exciting high-profile programme. You will plan and support the development of Neurotech PoC level projects, building upon trend scanning, ideation, feasibility assessments, planning experimental setups, managing resource allocation, and fostering stakeholder engagement.

If you are looking for a challenge and opportunity to develop yourself, your network, the programme and the impact it unlocks, then you will find this role very rewarding.

Fixed-term: Subject to funding from ARIA, current end date 30 Sept 2027.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.