Director of Semiconductors, Connectivity and Cyber

Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:

Applications must be submitted by

Please note this advert will close on 23.59 on the date prior to Workday close date.

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Director of Semiconductors, Connectivity and Cyber

SALARY: £94,931- £117,800 Per Annum
HOURS: Full Time

CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended (Permanent)
LOCATION: Field Based
GRADE: UKRI Band X
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: X1

CLOSING DATE: 23:59 on 10 May 2026
PROPOSED INTERVIEW DATE: Early June

ABOUT US

The Secure and Resilient Growth Directorate leads and manages Innovate UK’s programme for 3 of the UK government’s priority Frontier Technologies: Advanced Connectivity Technologies, Semiconductors and Cyber-security. There are substantial programmes in each of these but also a strategic imperative to create business growth opportunities by building a more integrated ecosystem across all three. The role sits as part of the Digital and Technologies growth sector and there will be opportunities to work closely with activities in Quantum, AI and Engineering Biology in an overarching programme worth around £2bn over the next 4 years.

PURPOSE

We are looking for an individual with extensive experience, connections, and personal characteristics, to command credibility from a diverse range of stakeholders. The Director will play a key role in shaping the success, strategy, and future objectives within the Security and Resilience portfolio including cyber-security, advanced connectivity technologies, robotics, and semiconductors/electronics. Working collaboratively with and across industry, research, UKRI, and government, bringing business insight, the Director will help to shape and deliver nationally significant programmes of work in partnership with many organisations within the ecosystem. They will also be a key leader for international activities as a UK ambassador. The Director will be a key interface in direct support to the Executive Director, Digital and Technologies, with budget holders in Government Departments for whom we deliver major programmes.

This role has a significant focus on budget and people, where the role holder will be accountable for an annual budget of around £150 m, with a team of c.25

MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

• Develop Innovate UK’s strategy for growing companies in the secure and resilient growth area  in conjunction with, and informed by Domain Senior Leadership and IUK SLT, ensuring connectivity and alignment across UKRI. Increasingly act as the focal for wider security and dual-use capabilities as directed by corporate strategy.

• Act as the prime Innovate UK focal to DSIT’s critical technology teams in cyber-security, advanced connectivity technologies and semiconductors. and support delivery of government growth objectives for the D&T sector in the Industrial Strategy

• Act as a key member of the wider security and resilience leadership community - influencing strategic technical direction at national level across industry and within government.

• Work collaboratively to support the creation and execution of a D&T-level vision and strategy seeking to better align individual technology themes within UKRI and government, where strategically helpful.

• Lead on building and fostering relationships/interaction with Place, Global, Products & Services, IUK Business Connect and Catapults (including being the prime technical interface with the Compound Semiconductors Catapult), in the pursuit of delivery and programmes and competitions.

• Provide strategic guidance and leadership in the delivery of a portfolio of strategic ‘investment programmes’ within the Domain, and industry/company support in developing next generation technologies, products, and services in the area of Security and Resilience.

• Build effective working relationships with the various senior teams and key stakeholders within and outside IUK, ensuring and safeguarding the connectivity to Innovate UK’s strategy. This specifically includes other IUK internal functions/ IUK Business Connect, EPSRC, ESRC and external to UKRI, industry, MoD, government bodies and relevant strategic and industry partners.

• Deliver IUK programmes in security and resilience to cost, quality and schedule requirements.

• You will be an industry leader within the context of cyber-security di