York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Innovation Manager

The closing date is 19 March 2026

Job summary

This newly established role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of innovation at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (YSTH). The Innovation Manager will work closely with the Head of R&I and Director of Research & Innovation to deliver the Trust's ambitions to support Innovation and to deliver the Trusts Research & Innovation Strategy. The candidate will support staff to realise innovation ideas quickly and efficiently and embedding a culture of innovation across clinical and corporate services.

The postholder will lead key strategic initiatives, including the creation of a sector wide Health innovation Cluster across our region, delivering innovation workshops and training, cascading and supporting innovation funding calls, writing and creating innovation grant applications, capturing and reporting innovation metrics undergoing contract negotiations and liaising with Medipex to protect the trusts.

If you wish to apply for this post as a Secondment opportunity, please seek permission from your current line manager before applying.

Main duties of the job

Lead the Trust's innovation strategy and act as main contact for innovation enquiries
Scope, design and deliver major innovation projects aligned to Trust priorities
Lead innovation clubs, funding calls, workshops, training and engagement events
Manage innovation contracting to protect Trust-developed ideas
Write and support innovation grant and award applications
Engage industry, SMEs and spin-outs to bring innovation into the Trust
Develop and coordinate the Innovation Champions network
Lead innovation communications and social media to raise the Trust's profile
Represent the Trust in external forums and maintain proactive partner communication
Communicate innovation impacts and cost/waste reductions to stakeholders
Build and embed an innovation culture with senior leadership support
Lead innovation governance, including risk registers
Monitor KPIs and calculate Trust-wide cost and waste savings
Capture, track, evidence and sustain innovation benefits
Provide assurance to the Innovation and AI Committee
Deliver training and coaching to strengthen innovation capability
Horizon-scan and capitalise on innovation opportunities
Lead grant costings, budgeting, monitoring and resource planning

About us

To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust please visit the following link:

https://yorkhospitals.pagetiger.com/hdjgxd

Our benefits

We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:

Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance through a range of provider

For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

419-7801744-IM-MG

Job locations

York Hospital

Wigginton Road

York

YO31 8HE

Job description

Job responsibilities

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

If you would like your application considered for secondment, please ensure you have permission of your current line manager first.

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit you application at the earliest opportunity.

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact:yhs-tr.recruitment@nhs.net.

As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britains Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

If you would like your application considered for secondment, please ensure you have permission of your current line manager first.

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit you application at the earliest opportunity.

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

MSc or equivalent experience in healthcare, innovation, or service improvement

Desirable

MBA / PhD or equivalent

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

Extensive experience of leading innovation programs or projects within the NHS, healthcare, or related industries
Extensive experience of innovation contracting (including IP protection and commercialising of ideas) within the NHS, the Pharmaceutical, Biotech or Medical Device industries
Specialist knowledge of innovation governance, IP, NHS processes and the commercialisation of ideas
Experience of sourcing funding for innovation ideas and securing support for innovation initiatives
Experience of managing budgets and maximising innovation-related income streams
Knowledge of the innovation lifecycle, including idea generation, commercialisation, evaluation, implementation, and scaling
Good knowledge of intellectual property (IP) issues and protection and the innovation governance frameworks
Understanding of NHS structures, priorities, and the legislative framework for research and innovation
Highly developed specialist knowledge of innovation methodologies, change management, and relevant law and practice

Desirable

Able to drive: post-holder may need to travel occasionally further afield
Experience of conducting research and innovation in the NHS , including evidence of relevant publications in peer reviewed journals
Demonstrable experience in delivering health innovation in collaboration with industry

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

MSc or equivalent experience in healthcare, innovation, or service improvement

Desirable

MBA / PhD or equivalent

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

Extensive experience of leading innovation programs or projects within the NHS, healthcare, or related industries
Extensive experience of innovation contracting (including IP protection and commercialising of ideas) within the NHS, the Pharmaceutical, Biotech or Medical Device industries
Specialist knowledge of innovation governance, IP, NHS processes and the commercialisation of ideas
Experience of sourcing funding for innovation ideas and securing support for innovation initiatives
Experience of managing budgets and maximising innovation-related income streams
Knowledge of the innovation lifecycle, including idea generation, commercialisation, evaluation, implementation, and scaling
Good knowledge of intellectual property (IP) issues and protection and the innovation governance frameworks
Understanding of NHS structures, priorities, and the legislative framework for research and innovation
Highly developed specialist knowledge of innovation methodologies, change management, and relevant law and practice

Desirable

Able to drive: post-holder may need to travel occasionally further afield
Experience of conducting research and innovation in the NHS , including evidence of relevant publications in peer reviewed journals
Demonstrable experience in delivering health innovation in collaboration with industry

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

York Hospital

Wigginton Road

York

YO31 8HE

Employer's website

https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

York Hospital

Wigginton Road

York

YO31 8HE

Employer's website

https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)