Innovation Projects Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director of Innovation, the Innovation Projects Manager will have responsibility for overseeing the delivery of innovation projects to ensure a pipeline of product development opportunities for sustainable growth of the Eakin Healthcare Group.

The Innovation Team has responsibility for identifying and validating potential opportunity areas, developing concepts and building business cases for review, ahead of projects entering the stage-gate product development process. The role will work closely and collaboratively with other member of the Innovation Team, Eakin R&D and Eakin Healthcare Group companies.

The successful candidate is likely to have worked in a project or programme management capacity with a focus on front-end innovation or innovation management; above all they must be able to demonstrate experience of developing, managing and delivering evidence-based projects, working with multi-disciplinary teams to translate primary and secondary research into tangible development opportunities with supporting evidence.

KEY ACTIVITIES

Project development, management and delivery

• Work with Director of Innovation and Eakin companies to develop projects which deliver against the strategic plans for business growth.
• Be a project management system lead user
• To oversee the management of innovation projects and their teams, working across organisational boundaries to ensure efficient and successful delivery of innovation projects the outputs of which will be business cases for new product concepts.
• To contribute to project activities including, but not limited to, application of appropriate processes (such as ODI) to design and deliver projects to fulfil aims, deliver the gathering market and business intelligence, stakeholder insight, technology scouting, IP landscaping and technology evaluation, concept generation and validation.
• To identify areas of interest to research both within projects and more widely to explore for future innovation projects

Planning and budgeting

• Planning of project activities in a leading and supporting capacity using our project management system Mavenlink.
• Identify and work with third party suppliers e.g., consultancies, as required, to provide additional skills, expertise and resource to deliver projects.
• Manage the project resources appropriately to ensure projects are delivered within the timescales and budget agreed with the Board.

Mentoring and support

• Support, through collaborative working and mentoring, to realise the strategic aims of the innovation team, its projects and the wider Group.

Other

• To adhere to the company’s Equal Opportunities policy and Dignity at work policy in all activities and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible
• To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the company’s’ Health and Safety policy
• To adhere to the company’s Quality policy and Environmental policy
• To undertake other duties as may be reasonably required

KEY SKILLS 

Essential

• A life science degree
• Significant experience in a project management role
• Experience of project management system use, such as Mavenlink, to actively plan and track project activities and budgets.
• Demonstrable experience front-end innovation projects
• Line management
• Medical device industry experience

Desirable                                                                           

• Programme Management
• Experience of managing external delivery partners

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 

Internal

• Innovation Team
• R&D
• Eakin Group companies

External

• Collaborators e.g. Universities
• Suppliers e.g. consultancies

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Role to be based in Cambridge with travel between Group company locations as projects work requires.

COMPETENCIES

Planning and Organising – Thinks things through well in advance and maps out future activities, taking the key stages and requirements into account.  Likes to monitor to ensure that things are implemented and delivered effectively

Quality Orientation – Is precise, pays attention to details, checks things and ties up ‘loose ends’.  Has a strong conscience about getting things right and seeks to ensure that decisions and solutions do not involve undue risk, adheres to policy and standards.

Team Working – Enjoys participating in group activities and likes to work in close proximity with other people.  Is ready to collaborate with and support others and is willing to co-operate and compromise for the overall good. Willingness to both manage and contribute to the delivery of project activities. Knows ow to get the best out of a team in any given situation.

Oral Communication – Talks readily and confidently to people, expressing themselves with obvious ease.  Speak out and makes themselves heard, often playing a leading and influential role in debate and discussion.

Problem solving – Generates and promotes solutions.  Sees clearly which is the best way forward.  Able to make decisions and commitments within appropriate time frame.

Resilience – Can work under pressure, remains calm, thinks clearly and manages emotion under pressure. Addresses issues without being aggressive or controlling and can easily bounce back from setbacks. Is open to feedback and doesn’t dwell on past events.

Analytical – Enjoys analysing qualitative data but also considers quantitative and seeks to identify and explore they key elements in information before making commitments.  Tends to like to use facts and figures when planning and reporting and is concerned about accuracy and detail

Technical aptitude – has a good fundamental life science background with the ability to quickly understand and build on new information relevant to projects, is curious and able to use knowledge to build and explore new possibilities.