We are hiring...
A Growth & Scaling Manager to join our team
Growth & Scaling Manager
Catalyst is seeking a Growth & Scaling Manager to lead the design and delivery of high-impact support for scaling companies across Northern Ireland and beyond. Reporting to the Head of Entrepreneurship this is a senior role responsible for driving the performance, coherence and ambition of Catalyst’s scaling activity, ensuring it delivers meaningful outcomes for founders and the wider innovation economy.
You will lead a team focused on supporting high-growth companies, working closely with investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners to accelerate funding readiness, market expansion and sustainable growth.
Key Information
- Full time, fixed term contract ending June 2029
- Attractive benefits package – including flexible working options
- Competitive salary £45,000-£50,000 depending on experience
- This role reports to the Head of Entrepreneurship
- Closing Wednesday 6th May 2026
About the projects
How companies grow and the velocity of scaling is changing rapidly because of AI, and will continue to change as a result of other emerging technologies. We are changing our approach as well.
The Growth & Scaling Manager will design, build, test and oversee a portfolio of programmes aimed at supporting companies from early traction through to scale, ensuring a clear progression pathway for ambitious founders. This includes designing data driven interventions that increase investor engagement and strengthen commercial capability – leading to increased revenue and funding for scaling businesses.
Catalyst programme staff operate horizontally, contributing expertise across initiatives where appropriate. This role provides leadership across scaling activity, ensuring alignment with entrepreneurship programmes and a consistent, high-quality experience for participants.
You can read more about Catalyst’s programmes here: https://wearecatalyst.org/find-your-support-path/
Benefits of working at Catalyst
Competitive Benefits Package
Private medical insurance for you and your dependents
Generous pension contribution
Generous life assurance policy
Enhanced parental leave packages
Free open access to company organised events
Free parking onsite
What are we looking for?
This is not a traditional programme management role. It requires someone who can both imagine and build new approaches to scaling support. You are a commercially minded leader with a strong understanding of what it takes to scale a business and a strong interest in what supports scaling of the near future. You bring credibility with founders and investors and are comfortable navigating both strategic and operational levels.
You are naturally curious and outward-looking, constantly seeking new ways of doing things and learning from beyond the organisation. You are comfortable operating in ambiguity, turning emerging ideas into tangible interventions quickly.
Responsibilities
- Lead the exploration, design and rapid development of new scaling interventions, informed by real-time market insight and global best practice
- Manage and develop the scaling team, ensuring clarity of roles, high performance and strong delivery standards
- Own and drive outcomes across the Catalyst supported start-ups, including increased revenue, investment and growth for participant companies
- Build and maintain relationships with investors, corporates and ecosystem partners to create opportunities for participant companies
- Design and implement interventions that support commercial growth, market expansion and investment readiness
- Oversee programme performance, including KPIs, reporting and impact measurement
- Lead the development of funding strategies, including writing bids and identifying new funding sources, aligning impact outcomes with funders needs and our strategy to the development of new programmes and funding proposals aligned to strategic priorities
- Ensure alignment and integration between scaling and entrepreneurship activity across Catalyst
- Oversee programme budgets in collaboration with finance colleagues, ensuring efficient use of resources and compliance with procurement processes
- Represent Catalyst externally, positioning the organisation as a leader in scaling support and innovation
- Undertake other reasonable duties within the remit of the role
Essential Criteria
- 3-4 years of experience supporting or working within scaling or high-growth businesses, with evidence of delivering increased revenue, investment or commercial outcomes
OR:
- Experience at senior level strategically growing revenue by £1m+ and creation/ implementation of growth & scaling plans
- Experience using AI tools and an understanding of AIs impact on entrepreneurship
- Track record of turning ideas into implemented solutions
- Experience managing stakeholders at senior level, including investors, founders and partners
- Strong leadership experience, including managing and developing staff
- Commercial awareness and understanding of funding landscapes, including equity investment
- Excellent organisational and project management skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework or similar methodologies
- Experience working within an innovation, startup or venture ecosystem
- Experience securing or managing publicly funded programmes
- Track record of supporting companies to achieve funding or growth milestones
Special Requirements
- Proof of right to work in the UK
- Occasional evening and weekend working to support programme delivery
- Full current driving licence
More info about Catalyst
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About Catalyst
Catalyst is an independent, non-profit science and technology hub, driving innovation-led growth in Northern Ireland. We help founders, SMEs, researchers and global organisations turn ideas into real-world impact through space, support and collaboration. Every surplus we generate is reinvested into inclusive entrepreneurship, innovation programmes and community impact, building a more competitive, resilient and inclusive economy. Our vision is opportunity for all from world-leading innovation.
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Diversity and Inclusion at Catalyst
Diversity and inclusion aren’t boxes to tick on a CSR list. At Catalyst, they are part of our DNA, lived, breathed, seen, and heard across our community, projects, and co-working spaces. We not only want to foster and empower a culture of innovation, but also an environment where people can be their true, authentic self and thrive, and we are proud to be recognised by the Diversity Charter for achieving silver status, with ambitions to progress to Gold.
As an equal opportunity employer, we recruit based solely on the individual’s ability to perform the role, and that’s allowed us to create an inclusive workplace which celebrates the diversity of our teams and community.
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Working at Catalyst
A certified Great Place to Work® and recognised as one of the top 100 Workplaces in the UK for 2024, receiving awards for Best Place to Work, Best Workplace for Development, Best Workplace for Employee Wellbeing, and Best Place to Work for Women, Catalyst is one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting employers.
With a strong vision of opportunity for all from world-leading innovation, this is a workplace brimming with ambition to create social, cultural, and economic advantage. We are a force for good, bold in our approach with integrity at our core and passion in everything we do.
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Our Values
INTEGRITY
We approach everything with a straightforward, open and honest attitude. Every new challenge requires a brave, smart, and flexible way of thinking and we put integrity at the heart of every decision. Our strong moral code intuitively understands what doing the right thing means in every situation.
PASSION
We love what we do. We are committed to our members and partners, ready to go above and beyond for the future we are building together. This is the ‘Catalyst Way’. We sharpen our senses, take calculated risks together and work hard for a brighter future.
BE BOLD
Be ambitious and dare to be different. We are the catalyst that connects entrepreneurs and businesses to an eco-system and community that transforms ideas and innovation into real-world reality with global impact.
Have a question?
Contact Joe at joe.finnegan@wearecatalyst.org
Joe Finnegan
HR Officer
