Innovation Greater Manchester, Chair

Contract: Three-year fixed term initially
Time commitment: 2-3 days per month
Location: Greater Manchester, hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University

Innovation Greater Manchester (IGM) is a new triple-helix partnership, overseen by an industry-led Board, whose goal is to radically increase levels of investment in research, development and innovation in Greater Manchester. IGM harnesses the collaborative power of businesses, universities and local government to support clusters of innovation-led businesses and increase productivity, high quality jobs and prosperity. IGM will enable our city-region to be a leader of the fourth industrial revolution, known globally for the strength of its innovation ecosystem.

We are now seeking to appoint a new Chair of the IGM Board. The Board members are senior leaders, including chief executives and vice-chancellors, drawn from Greater Manchester's innovation ecosystem, spanning business, the public sector and the city-region's universities. The Chair will be responsible for ensuring that the Board is effective in owning, updating and delivering the GM Innovation Plan. IGM is now entering a new phase of operation, moving from being largely a coordinating structure to an entity with its own resources and staff. An appointment has been made to the new Director of IGM role, with whom the Chair will work closely to continue to shape the Board's roles and functions and bring its ambitious plans to life.

You will bring board level experience of leadership and delivery in complex, innovation-led organisations, ideally in the private sector and spanning more than one element of the triple helix. You will also bring a deep understanding of the factors affecting innovation-led growth and productivity at a city-region, national and international level. You will have the ability to set out a clear and compelling vision to a wide range of audiences, including senior stakeholders within and beyond IGM, and outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills.

This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the development of Greater Manchester's innovation ecosystem and deliver prosperity across our region, at a time when the role of city-regions in driving innovation-led growth is high on the agenda of local and national leaders.

The Chair will be remunerated at a level commensurate with the position and time commitment.

All applications should be directed to our retained advisors, Anderson Quigley. For more information, please visit using reference AQ3115.

For a confidential discussion, please contact: Elliott Rae on (0), or Aino Betts at , (0).

The closing date for applications is noon on 31 st March 2025.

IGM is a collaboration between business, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester's universities. Manchester Metropolitan University is hosting the IGM team on behalf of the collaborative partnership.

We understand the importance of having a diverse board and the benefits it can bring to ensuring diversity of thought and innovation in everything we do. We, therefore, encourage applications from our local and international communities, in particular people from ethnic minority groups, disabled people and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.