We are hiring...
A Head of Collaborative Research & Development to join our team
Head of Collaborative Research & Development
As Head of Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) at Catalyst, you will lead the strategic direction and operational delivery of cross-sector research and innovation programmes and partnerships that will deliver measurable regional impact, unlock commercial potential, and contribute to long-term economic development.
This is a senior role with responsibility for a multi-disciplinary team and the successful delivery of a portfolio of research & development projects that bridge academia, industry, and government. It is the ideal role for a collaborative, delivery-focused leader with a deep understanding of innovation ecosystems, experience managing complex programmes, and a passion for creating value through research and technology-led solutions.
Current programmes include:
- ONEHEALTH: A transformative, cross-border initiative integrating human, animal and environmental health using AI and data innovation.
- NWCAM2: Empowering SMEs in Health and Life Sciences to adopt sustainable, advanced manufacturing solutions.
Key Information
- Full-time, fixed term 4-year contract ending September 2029
- Attractive benefits package
- Competitive salary up to £60,000 (depending on qualifications and experience)
- Based at the Innovation Centre, Queen’s Road, Belfast (hybrid working arrangement available)
- Reporting to the Director of Innovation Partnerships
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
Learning and development opportunities
What are we looking for?
Catalyst is seeking a strategic, credible and collaborative leader who can:
- Navigate multi-stakeholder environments to broker partnerships and deliver on strategic objectives.
- Lead and support a team to deliver high-quality, high-impact collaborative R&D programmes.
- Represent Catalyst in senior stakeholder discussions and regional innovation forums playing a visible leadership role in shaping policy and practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and lead Catalyst’s CR&D strategy aligned to organisational mission and regional innovation priorities.
- Provide senior leadership for a portfolio of complex, cross-border innovation programmes including design, delivery, and evaluation of outcomes.
- Lead and support a multi-disciplinary team to deliver against contractual outcomes, partner obligations and performance indicators.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with academia, industry, funders, and regional agencies fostering cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Represent Catalyst at regional, national and international forums positioning the organisation as a leading convener of collaborative innovation across priority sectors and regions.
- Lead the development of competitive bids and funding proposals, securing investment to grow Catalyst’s CR&D activity.
- Ensure all projects are delivered on time, on budget, and in compliance with funder requirements.
- Using evidence-based insights, lead reporting on KPIs, risk, impact and programme milestones to funders and Catalyst leadership.
- Embed a culture of learning, collaboration and continuous improvement across the CR&D portfolio and Catalyst’s multifunctional teams.
Essential Criteria
- Proven track record in leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder research and/or innovation programmes.
- Demonstrable experience in managing high-value partnerships or consortia with measurable commercial, economic or societal outcomes.
- Strong leadership and line management capability with experience building high-performing delivery teams.
- Success in securing and delivering externally funded innovation programmes preferably including cross-border initiatives.
- Established network across academia, innovation agencies, and/or industry sectors with the ability to engage and influence at senior levels
- Deep understanding of innovation ecosystems, research commercialisation, SME support and collaborative R&D.
- Strategic mindset with strong operational focus leading both vision-setting and delivery
Desirable Criteria
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g., innovation management, science and technology, business).
- Experience delivering projects in areas such as health innovation, manufacturing technologies, digital transformation, or sustainability.
- Experience of innovation delivery models including accelerators, knowledge exchange, or cluster development.
- Experience in delivering projects at the intersection of research, innovation, and regional development.
Other Requirements
- Flexibility to travel across the region and occasionally further afield
- Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Willingness to occasionally work outside standard hours for events or engagements.
More info about Catalyst
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About Catalyst
Catalyst is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. We work for the greater good to build an inclusive innovation community in an entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout Northern Ireland. The epicentre of Northern Ireland’s tech sector, we provide everything that innovators and entrepreneurs need to reach higher and succeed faster – a home, business support, connected networks and much more besides. We invest, pro bono, all surplus profits from our property portfolio into nurturing a community-led innovation ecosystem that supports over 900 start-ups, entrepreneurs, and innovators so they can grow, scale and flourish.
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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®, 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 Emma at emma.green@wearecatalyst.org
Emma Green
People and Culture Manager
Emma is Catalyst’s People and Culture Manager and works in the People & Culture team.
As a manager in a small and busy team, Emma is responsible for providing expert support on daily activities and key HR projects.
Prior to joining Catalyst, Emma obtained a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
