If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the "About Us information on the right". If you wish to apply for the position below, please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally, you should also advise your manager of your application.
Applications must be submitted by
09-10-2026
The Creative Industries are one of the UK Government’s priority growth sectors, with Video Games identified as one of four Frontier Industries where innovation, technology, intellectual property and high-growth businesses have the potential to drive significant economic impact.
*Please note this advert will close on 8th October 2026 at 23.59pm.
Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.
Title: Innovation Lead – Video Games
Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: £58,589 gross per annum
Reports to: Head of Creative Industries
Location: UKRI sites: Swindon, London, Harwell, Daresbury, Keyworth, Cambridge
Contract: Fixed Term (6 Months)
Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.
Innovate UK works with businesses and stakeholders across every nation and region of the UK. As part of UKRI, our hybrid working approach is built around one simple principle: time should be spent where it delivers the greatest impact.
This means working across three settings: UKRI sites, time on the ground with businesses, partners and stakeholders and time working from home. It's an approach designed to support collaboration, connection and impact.
This role is in Tier 2, with 40-60% of working time typically spent either at a UKRI site or engaging with external businesses and stakeholders across the UK. Outside of this requirement, you can work from home. Whilst this role will be formally based at one of the following UKRI sites, it is externally facing, and we expect that there will be requirement to travel around the UK and occasional international travel for 2/3 days each week on average.
Read the full UKRI Hybrid Working Policy Hybrid Working at UKRI
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
The Creative Industries are one of the UK Government’s priority growth sectors, with Video Games identified as one of four Frontier Industries where innovation, technology, intellectual property and high-growth businesses have the potential to drive significant economic impact.
Alongside Film & Television, Music & Performing Arts, and Advertising & Marketing, Video Games is therefore a key strategic focus for Innovate UK’s Creative Industries activity.
The UK has one of the world’s leading video games sectors, combining creative talent, technology, intellectual property and global routes to market. The sector encompasses games studios and developers alongside publishers, platforms, technology providers, investors and an extensive supply chain.
A major component of Innovate UK’s activity is Next Wave, which forms part of the wider UKRI Creative Industries programme. Next Wave is designed to support the growth and scaling of innovative, IP-rich businesses across the four Creative Industries Frontier Industries. The Innovation Lead – Video Games will have a central role in ensuring that Next Wave is successfully delivered within the sector and contributes to the wider ambitions of the UKRI Creative Industries programme.
As Innovation Lead – Video Games, you will lead Innovate UK’s activity for one of the four Creative Industries Frontier Industries, providing sector leadership for Video Games and ensuring that Innovate UK’s interventions support innovation, commercialisation and business growth.
You will be responsible for developing and maintaining a deep understanding of the businesses, technologies, markets, investment environment and structural challenges shaping the sector and translating this insight into Innovate UK strategy, programmes and investment activity. A key priority will be to support the successful delivery and development of Next Wave within the video games sector, ensuring that the programme reaches high-potential innovative businesses, responds to market need and creates meaningful routes to growth, investment, collaboration and international markets.
Working with colleagues across Innovate UK and UKRI, government, industry and the wider innovation ecosystem, you will design and deliver interventions that enable innovative UK businesses to develop and commercialise new products, technologies, services and business models, access investment and new markets, and scale. You will act as a visible and credible representative of Innovate UK within the UK and international video games ecosystem.
This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
We are looking for someone with a strong understanding of the commercial and technological environment in which video games businesses operate.
You will understand the strategic importance of Video Games as one of the Creative Industries Frontier Industries and be capable of representing the sector within Innovate UK, UKRI, government and the wider innovation ecosystem.
You will understand both the creative and technology-driven nature of the sector and be able to distinguish between innovation with the potential to transform businesses and markets and the normal commercial risks associated with the production of individual games.
You will be commercially aware, comfortable operating in a complex stakeholder environment and able to use evidence, market insight and industry engagement to identify where Innovate UK intervention can have the greatest impact.
You will also have the delivery focus required to turn this insight into successful activity, including helping ensure that Next Wave achieves meaningful outcomes for innovative video games businesses.
Essential –
All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management
Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.
There will a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.
We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.
Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/.
We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.
Applications must be submitted by;
09-10-2026
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the public sector organisation that invests £8 billion annually to support the entire research and innovation system. We strive for a society powered and empowered by research and innovation, with economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for all.
We invest in people, places, ideas, innovation and impacts, empowering researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to turn the many challenges we all face into opportunities, driving up prosperity and wellbeing across the UK and globally.
The impacts of our work are felt right across society. We enrich lives by increasing our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, supporting innovative businesses and public services, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK.
