Project Director

The “Sheffield Innovation Spine” has been identified as a location for incubation and scale-up space, forming a natural route form the University of Sheffield’s campus to the Sheffield Hallam University campus.

Creating the Spine will leverage the city's burgeoning technology-led start-up enterprises, the University of Sheffield's spinout pipeline, key existing incubation space at Sheffield Technology Parks and the laboratory facilities at Sheffield Hallam University, creating a fantastic inward investment opportunity for IP-rich companies that can drive economic growth in the city centre. It will also complement and create a feeder pipeline for the South Yorkshire Innovation District, which is the home of world-leading manufacturing and scale-up infrastructure located 2 miles outside the City Centre.

Under clear narrative, and through coordinated stakeholder activity, Sheffield city centre can support further opportunities for innovation-led growth and investment, supporting civic initiatives and strategies (including the Local Plan) and aligning to broader regional activity, particularly the emerging South Yorkshire Growth Plan and the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

Please find the full pack available for download below.

This role will take the Sheffield Innovation Spine from concept to delivery master plan and enable Sheffield’s ambitious development project to embed a legacy of innovation within the City Centre.

The project director will be required to set the strategic direction and business model for the Spine to develop a compelling strategy to attract investment and ensure it delivers on its vision and mission.

This will require establishing and managing strategic relationships with several ­­­­­­­­­­­external and internal partners, ensuring their ideas and requirements are integrated into the strategy; and developing the programme delivery of the Spine.

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and implement the Sheffield Spine strategy including a detailed prospectus document and delivery plan.
  • Align the Spine with stakeholder objectives and vision.
  • Develop strategic Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
  • Collaborate with operational groups within the Founding Partners, including both universities’ estates teams and Sheffield City Council property team, on site selection, potential operating models, and investment cases.
  • Co-create and support delivery of operational plans within the Founding Partners.
• Stakeholder Management:
  • Be the main contact for stakeholders.
  • Chair the Working Group sub-groups of the Founding Partners.
  • Build collaborative relationships and integrate stakeholder feedback into the plan.
  • Ensure key messaging is understood and conveyed by other parties including the region’s inward investment teams.
• Promotion and Advocacy:
  • Elevate the Sheffield Spine profile.
  • Represent the initiative at public forums, conferences, and in the media.
• Research and Analysis:
  • Monitor urban development, technology, and innovation trends.
  • Provide advice based on research findings.
  • Engage with the UK Innovations District Group (UKIDG) network and other professional development activities.
• Reporting:
  • Create Agendas and present the Spine Working Group meetings at regular intervals. The meetings are chaired by the CEO of Sheffield Science Park with support from Founding Partner staff.
  • Document best practices and lessons for knowledge sharing.

• Essential:
  • Proven experience in high profile urban development projects, with a particular emphasis on innovation and technology.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders including investors, statutory and non-statutory organisations and elected representatives and community organisations.
  • Strong track record of successfully managing budgets and resources
  • Strong Presentation Skills.
• Desirable:
  • Commercial experience in innovation, having led or worked closely with start-ups or scale-ups.
  • Experience of developing similar innovation districts in UK or International cities.

If you are applying for this position, please submit the following to [email protected]:

• A detailed CV and a covering letter (1-2 pages setting out interest and how experience meets requirements)
• Applications may be considered on a rolling basis
• Fireside chats may be available in the first instance.
• All applications should be emailed to [email protected].