Job Description

Description

Contract type/Duration:

Fixed Term (until Feb 2027), Part Time

Working hours:

24hrs p/w

Band:

3.1

Salary:

51, 500 - 62,000 (depending on office location and proven ability)

Reports to:

Head of Rail Delivery

Location:

Milton Keynes/London (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)

Internal Job Code:

RC284F

Closing date:

9am on the 12th January 2026.

Recruiter Interviews: week commencing 12th January 2026

Panel Final Stage: 20th January 2026



The Role



Based within the Rail Directorate of the Connected Places Catapult, this role is for someone with a strong background in design thinking, human-centred design, and qualitative research or related field. The role is to be a key part of our ability to understand requirements and opportunities for innovation, and by working as part of a matrix team to help deliver innovation within UK transport sector, primarily rail.
Candidate will be required to:Conduct robust qualitative research, and delivering research outcomes to stakeholders for onward use. Work with SMEs to help assess and understand their value propositions, market readiness and trial plans from a human-centred perspective. Deliver human-centred expertise when working together with commercial/business and technology-centric professionals so collectively innovation can be progressed. Design and facilitate workshops to help stakeholders assess and progress innovation related situations
Overall this is an excellent opportunity for someone who can work independently as well as within a team, someone who can organise and facilitate workshops, stepping up to work at pace when required, all whilst leveraging their human-centric and transport experience.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Meet revenue targets. Spot opportunities. Contribute to bids and proposals. Increase client confidence in and credibility of CPC, manage sell ons and 2nd phase wins. Ensure CRM system is updated stakeholder contact and any account information including opportunity management. Scope and lead streams of work. Shape the planning and budgeting of work. Shape and design the deliverables. Manage the PMO and commercial control. Organise the work stream for the core and virtual team members. Provide excellence in delivery. Meet (or exceed) utilisation targets. Design and plan innovative and professional delivery. Develop senior client buy in across a range of stakeholders. Hold face off accountability at senior management levels. Update CRM system with contact of client information. Contribute profession/specialism into delivery and proposal development. Provide thought leadership. Work in profession virtual community. Provide learning opportunities. Maintain own professional development. Ensure an ethos of equity, inclusivity and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities. You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required Competencies

Spark creative thinking across all tasks. Apply systems thinking to problem solving. Create effective networks. Use personal influence to progress beyond challenges and blockers. Use experience to provide the voice of the customer in all activities. Effectively manage communication across teams and stakeholders, lead meetings and contribute to publications and events. Co-ordinate plans across activities. Role model agility and adaptation. Champion and promote inclusion and sustainability.

Benefits

9 day fortnight for everyone,

every other Friday.

23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone,

with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.

Competitive pension,

up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.

Two paid days of volunteering leave per year

(pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.

Cycle to Work Scheme

encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.

Cash Health Plan,

offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.

Payroll Giving scheme,

allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.

Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers

, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.

Mortgage Advice benefit,

delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates - provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end-to-end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.

About Connected Places Catapult

At Connected Places Catapult, we are on a mission to create better connected places across the UK and beyond. We believe that innovation is the key to unlocking the potential of our towns, cities, and transport systems, making them more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for everyone.

When connected places work, it benefits:

People:

wellbeing, access and inclusion for everyone.

Planet

: sustainable and increasingly regenerative living and moving.

Prosperity

: prosperous local economies and trade.

From supporting SMEs to develop clean transport technologies to helping local authorities unlock innovation in public procurement, our work is making a tangible difference. We help businesses secure millions in investment, create jobs, and drive forward solutions that address climate change, social isolation, and economic inequality.