InnovationRCA – The Royal College of Art

Battersea, London/hybrid | Part-time | Fixed-term until May 2027

Join one of the world’s leading university incubators and help shape the next generation of design-led ventures.

InnovationRCA, the commercialisation and entrepreneurship hub of the Royal College of Art, is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Start-ups & Content Manager to support the growth of high-potential start-ups and spinouts emerging from the RCA’s internationally recognised community of innovators, researchers and creatives.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, investment, design and innovation within InnovationRCA’s award-winning high-growth start-up programme.

We are looking for a confident and engaging professional with significant experience of early-stage businesses, entrepreneurial training and the UK start-up and investment ecosystem. You will coach and mentor founders, design and deliver entrepreneurship training, and support ventures as they navigate commercialisation, investment readiness and growth.

Working closely with founders, investors, coaches and internal stakeholders, you will help strengthen InnovationRCA’s thriving incubator and accelerator programmes while contributing to international entrepreneurship and consultancy initiatives.

You will:

• Develop and deliver impactful entrepreneurship training and founder support programmes. 
• Mentor and advise start-up and spinout founders through key stages of growth. 
• Support investor readiness activities and funding strategy discussions. 
• Help build and strengthen InnovationRCA’s pipeline of emerging ventures. 
• Collaborate with a network of expert coaches, investors and industry specialists. 
• Contribute to international innovation and entrepreneurship programmes and consultancy projects. 

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong commercial experience within start-ups, innovation or venture ecosystems. 
• Understands product development, commercialisation, investment and scaling early-stage businesses. 
• Has experience designing and delivering entrepreneurial or business training programmes. 
• Is an excellent communicator, presenter and relationship builder. 
• Thrives in collaborative, fast-moving environments and enjoys supporting ambitious founders. 
• Brings empathy, sound judgement and the ability to navigate complex business challenges. 

Experience working with student or graduate start-ups, creative founders, and knowledge of UK angel and venture capital investment will be highly valued.

If you are passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation and helping founders build successful ventures, we would love to hear from you.

Please see Information Pack for further details of this exciting new role.

Closing for applications at 11.59pm on 12 June 2026

First interviews are expected to take place 6 July 2026

Closing Date: 12 Jun 2026

Programme/Department: Administrative & Professional

Salary: £55,040 to £61,322 per annum pro rata
Fixed term from September 2026 - May 2027

We are looking for a highly skilled researcher with expertise in robotics, AI, software engineering, or computer science, passionate about applying advanced technologies to sustainable manufacturing.

About the Role
 You will play a key role in research, development, and integration within the Circular Robot 5.0 consortium. Responsibilities include:

• Developing blockchain-enabled digital passports for industrial robots
• Designing predictive maintenance systems using AI
• Leading system integration and validation with consortium partners

You will collaborate closely with RCA staff, PhD students, and external partners, contributing to cutting-edge, design-led robotics innovation. Outputs are expected to be published in high-impact robotics and design journals/conferences.

Essential Criteria

• PhD (or equivalent experience/Masters with significant research background) in a relevant field.
• Extensive programming skills (e.g. C++, Python, Robot Operating System).
• Demonstrable skills and relevant subject knowledge in artificial intelligence for robotics, cloud computing, hardware and software integration, testing and validation of results.
• Evidence of producing quality research outputs relevant to the career stage and discipline.
• Ability and willingness to work regularly on campus to support hands-on research and relevant laboratory activities.
• Be aware of the risks in the robotics laboratory environment and relevant Health & Safety issues.
• Willingness to travel to attend conferences and meetings within and outside the UK.
• Experience with collaborative research, ideally involving HE/industry partners
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills

Why RCA?
 Join a globally renowned institution that fosters radical, interdisciplinary research. The RCA Robotics Lab offers a unique, design-led environment for transformative research in robotics and AI.

To Apply
 Submit your CV and cover letter, and one recent publication via the RCA recruitment portal.
For informal enquiries, contact Dr. Sina Sareh at sina.sareh@rca.ac.uk.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 14 June 2026

See Information Pack for more details of this exciting new role.

Help us shape the future of intelligent, sustainable automation.

Closing Date: 14 Jun 2026

Programme/Department: Research

Salary: £44,693 to £48,269 Fixed Term Contract for 18 months (possibility of extension to 31 March 2028)