Venture Development Manager
At Energy Systems Catapult we're looking for a Venture Development Manager to join our team.
About The Job
The Energy Launchpad team helps innovative UK energy businesses overcome barriers to growth, access new markets, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Working across the UK and internationally, the team provides tailored business support, connects SMEs with industry partners, investors and experts, and helps bring innovative energy solutions to market.
As a Venture Development Manager, you will work closely with energy innovators to understand their needs, coordinate specialist support, and connect them with the expertise, networks and opportunities needed to grow. You will build strong relationships with SMEs, partners and internal stakeholders, helping to accelerate commercial success while supporting the UK's energy transition goals. The Venture Development Manager is responsible for supporting innovative SME’s in achieving their market potential, leveraging the expertise, assets and capabilities of the Catapult and it’s network of 3rd party experts, to accelerate their journey to commercial launch and growing market share. This role is critical in identifying innovation that addresses energy system needs, helping the Catapult deliver tangible progress towards national objectives.
We believe that innovation often stems from connecting different areas and ideas, and that working together in person can be an important enabler for that. We therefore expect people to be in the Birmingham office ~40 days/year (roughly one day per week).
Key Work Activities
Do you want to join our team as our new Venture Development Manager? Then we'd love to hear about you!
About The Job
The Energy Launchpad team helps innovative UK energy businesses overcome barriers to growth, access new markets, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Working across the UK and internationally, the team provides tailored business support, connects SMEs with industry partners, investors and experts, and helps bring innovative energy solutions to market.
As a Venture Development Manager, you will work closely with energy innovators to understand their needs, coordinate specialist support, and connect them with the expertise, networks and opportunities needed to grow. You will build strong relationships with SMEs, partners and internal stakeholders, helping to accelerate commercial success while supporting the UK's energy transition goals. The Venture Development Manager is responsible for supporting innovative SME’s in achieving their market potential, leveraging the expertise, assets and capabilities of the Catapult and it’s network of 3rd party experts, to accelerate their journey to commercial launch and growing market share. This role is critical in identifying innovation that addresses energy system needs, helping the Catapult deliver tangible progress towards national objectives.
We believe that innovation often stems from connecting different areas and ideas, and that working together in person can be an important enabler for that. We therefore expect people to be in the Birmingham office ~40 days/year (roughly one day per week).
Key Work Activities
- Identify and support high-potential energy innovators and SMEs through acceleration, scale-up and growth programmes.
- Build and manage relationships with SMEs, assessing business needs and commercial opportunities.
- Diagnose support requirements and connect innovators with Catapult expertise, partners and external support networks.
- Coordinate and oversee business growth and commercialisation support from internal teams and delivery partners.
- Support SMEs to translate recommendations into action and achieve measurable business outcomes.
- Develop and maintain strong innovation networks and market awareness across priority sectors.
- Monitor and report on the commercial impact of supported businesses, including funding secured, pilots delivered and new market opportunities.
- Deliver presentations, workshops and showcase events to promote innovation success stories and strengthen industry engagement.
- Impressive, demonstrable track record and skills/experience gained from working in or with SMEs at start-up or scale-up stages. Showing the ability to deliver impact to supported SME.
- Experience of working for an accelerator or early-stage investor (e.g. angel investment or venture capital), highly desirable
- Experience with SMEs developing new technology OR new services - some direct experience as an early member of the management team of a technology-based business highly desirable.
- Skilled at supporting SME business and market development for technology-based businesses
- Skilled at working closely with Management Teams to determine business strategy and plans, technology-product-market roadmaps, and business needs for external resources
- Skilled at managing the scoping and procurement of expert and consultancy service
- Knowledge, familiarity and keen interest in areas of energy technology-services or markets
- Understanding common issues faced by new technology in the different clean-energy sectors
- Frames, articulates, documents and evaluates a range of commercial options
- Turns market information into value propositions and finds ways to test the assumptions
- Responsiveness as issues arise (within supported SME), willingness to take responsibility to help out or arrange help at short notice
- The ability to build strong external relationships to enhance and strengthen the Catapult profile.
- Numerate with strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to excel in a fast-paced organisational environment.
- A can-do attitude, able to work with limited supervision under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Persuasive and approachable, you can successfully manage relations with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.
- Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and ability to work effectively in line with changing priorities
- Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Innovations advanced towards commercial deployment or scaling (product market fit, commercial contracts, trials)
- Investment raised, jobs created, revenue growth and market capitalization
- Emissions reduced and cost savings generated for customers
- Innovator ecosystem growth across range of commercial maturity levels
- A flexible working culture
- 28 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Buy / sell holidays
- Occupational sick pay
- Enhanced pension contribution
- Cycle2work scheme
- Life assurance
- Generous parental leave pay
- Cashback healthcare scheme
- Employee assistance programme
- Electric vehicle scheme
- Volunteering day
Do you want to join our team as our new Venture Development Manager? Then we'd love to hear about you!