Research & Innovation Programme Specialist

Research & Innovation Programme Specialist
Join a cutting-edge deeptech company building advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for environmental monitoring. You’ll coordinate high-impact R&D programmes (including ARIA-funded work) and sit at the centre of delivery—connecting technical teams, partners, customers, and leadership.
This is a structured programme role with a commercial edge: you’ll help manage external relationships, keep stakeholders aligned, and spot opportunities to build on existing work.
In the first few months, you’ll also support the leadership team through a period of growth and facilities transition bringing organisation, adaptability, and structure during a busy phase.
 
What you’ll be doing:

• Coordinate multiple R&D programmes (funded + customer-led).
• Manage milestones, reporting, documentation, and RAID logs.
• Keep projects organised, visible, and on track.
• Work across internal teams and external partners.

Customer & Partner Coordination

• Maintain strong relationships with customers, partners, and primes.
• Track follow-ups and ensure stakeholders feel well managed.
• Spot opportunities for follow-on work.

Early-stage Operational Support

• Support team growth and facilities transition (first 3–6 months).
• Help introduce structure and improve ways of working.
• Adapt quickly in a fast-moving environment.

What experience you’ll need:

• Experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Strong organisation, tracking, and documentation skills.
• Confidence working with customers/partners.
• Commercial awareness (without being sales-focused).
• Proactive, adaptable, and detail-driven mindset.
• Comfortable working with technical teams.
• Funded R&D exposure (ARIA, UKRI, Innovate UK).
• Deep-tech, engineering, or aerospace environment experience.

What you’ll get:
Join a company working on high-impact, cutting-edge projects in a role that will make a real influence during a growth phase.
Leeds + competitive salary.

What’s next?
Apply now if you enjoy bringing structure to complex innovation and want to work at the forefront of R&D. Alternatively, reach out to Jazz Jones (Jazz@adlib-recruitment.co.uk) if you have any questions.