Innovation and Operations Facilitator

Job overview

We’re looking for a new Innovation and Operations Facilitator to join our friendly and ambitious team in the School of Computing and Communications supporting the delivery of the flagship CyberFocus Place-Based Impact Accelerator Account (PBIAA) Project. This position is offered on a full-time fixed term contract until 16 March 2029. We are happy to talk about flexible working options. The position is fully externally funded.

Key elements of your job will be to: 

• Lead the operational delivery of the CyberFocus innovation programme, translating plans into coordinate, effective action.
• Facilitate and support collaborative projects from concept through to delivery, working with academic, civic, and industry stakeholders. 
• Coordinate timelines, activity schedules, and logistics across multiple work packages and events.
• Support financial tracking and budget administration in line with programme delivery.
• Track progress, KPIs, and impact metrics for reporting, evaluation, and case studies.
• Contribute to internal and external communications, including reports and programme outputs.

About you

To be a suitable candidate for this position you will have: 

• Experience in coordinating complex programmes of activity involving multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational and coordination skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups.
• Experience in planning and delivering events, workshops, and other activities.
• Good financial administration skills, with the ability to track budgets and align resources.
• Attention to detail in monitoring progress, tracking outputs, and preparing reports.

The School of Computing and Communications Department 

As Innovation and Operations Facilitator, you will be part of the School of Computing and Communications, working within the CyberFocus PBIAA team. CyberFocus is a £5M EPSRC, UKRI-funded programme driving cyber innovation and regional impact. Based at Lancaster University and operating across the North West’s cyber ecosystem, CyberFocus aims to unlock the socio-economic potential of the region through collaborative innovation, civic engagement, and research-led impact.

Delivered in partnership with six regional universities and a wide network of public and private stakeholders, the programme is at the forefront of addressing the UK’s cybersecurity challenges and opportunities. This role offers a unique opportunity to work across academia, industry, and government, building partnerships, delivering collaborative activities, and turning research into meaningful outcomes and impact for the region.

To find out more about joining our team or to arrange an informal chat about the role, please contact Dr Anna Dyson, CyberFocus PBIAA Manager – a.dyson@lancaster.ac.uk

Why work with us

Lancaster University’s Bailrigg campus is a lovely place to work, offering a vibrant working environment set in beautiful parkland.   We have lots of facilities on-site such as: a sports centre, shops, cafes, a multi-faith centre, pre-school, a post office and a fantastic library. Lancaster University provides an environment that strongly supports the needs of each employee, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including: 

• Competitive salary 
• Generous employer pension scheme.
• 39 days leave, including University closure days at Easter and Christmas and bank holidays.
• A family-friendly and flexible approach to working.
• additional flexible benefits to suit your needs and interests, some with tax-savings.

We are an organisation that seeks to make positive economic, cultural, societal and environmental change.  If you want to be a part of that, then we’d love to hear from you. 

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