High Growth Advisor - FinTech (717213)

We seek to appoint a High Growth Advisor with strong negotiation skills, high business acumen and strategic vision to support the next phase of the Innovation Call series and drive key industry engagements to deliver and scale up support to the FinTech ecosystem in Scotland linked to this programme.

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week) 

Term: Fixed Term (Until 31/03/2026)

Glasgow is a vibrant city where the FinTech sector is growing at an unprecedented rate. Many large financial firms have established their product development centres in Glasgow: JP Morgan, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Virgin Money, Tesco Bank and many more. With a highly skilled population and a growing tech start up scene, University of Strathclyde has prioritised the FinTech Cluster (one of seven strategic clusters at the University of Strathclyde) as part of our plans to develop the next phase of the University’s Technology & Innovation Zone located within the Glasgow City Innovation District.

As part of UK Government efforts to accelerate innovation across the UK in clusters with high growth potential, funding has been allocated to Glasgow to continue to accelerate the growth of “high-potential innovation clusters” in “transformative” R&D projects.

A bid led by FinTech Scotland, in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow, has received funding to continue the development of its Financial Regulation Innovation Lab, launched in April 2023. This Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (herein the ‘Lab’), a first for the UK, builds on the FinTech Scotland Fintech Research & Innovation Roadmap, highlighting the opportunity for more research and innovation in financial regulation. This initiative aligns itself with the UK Government Science and Technology Framework published in March 2023 to put the UK at the forefront of global science and technology. The Lab is a unique environment bringing together FinTech entrepreneurs, large UK and global financial services firms and technology enterprises, regulators, universities and third sector bodies to drive financial innovation in addressing financial regulation opportunities and challenges.

The role-holder will support the development of the Lab and work closely with the University’s Industry Engagement and Innovation Directorate, the University’s FinTech Cluster Lead and Fintech Scotland’s Strategic Innovation Director. The role-holder will support the delivery of the Innovation Call series for the Lab – a series of demand-led challenges set by industry that will be launched, with subsequent awards provided to successful FinTech companies to develop solutions to these challenges - and the resulting industry engagement activities.

Immediate focus for the newly appointed High Growth Advisor will be to support the next phase of the Innovation Call series and drive key industry engagements to deliver and scale up support to the FinTech ecosystem in Scotland linked to this programme.

With extensive relevant leadership, gained from significant business experience, along with expert relationship management, ability to run multiple streams of work and strong governance experience, dealing at C suite level, the role of High Growth Advisor will be integral in shaping and directing an effective interface between the diverse range of stakeholders who engage with the Lab. The role holder will build effective networks, sector relationships and multi-party collaborations through strong negotiation skills, business acumen and strategic vision.

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Catherine Breslin, Head of Industry Engagement & Commercialisation (catherine.breslin@strath.ac.uk).

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