At Rapid Innovation Group (RIG) we accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies for a better world.
Join a driven, learning-oriented company doing work that matters. We believe that many of the solutions to the greatest climate, environmental, agricultural, and human health challenges the world faces lie with existing technology. These technologies can only make a meaningful impact if they achieve widespread market use. It is at this junction where we operate: working with visionary entrepreneurs, high-impact technology companies, mission-driven investors, and forward-thinking industrial corporates to catalyse the early adoption of transformative technology.
Within our business, we have six core practice areas:
- Agriculture
- Food
- Biotechnology
- Energy Transition
- Materials (including the Circular Economy)
- Industrial Decarbonisation
We support a portfolio of early-stage technology companies operating in one or more of these areas as they navigate the journey from early technology development through to becoming a new industry standard.
We work with companies to discover the right first industrial applications, develop winning go-to-market strategies, and optimise value-based business models. Where we focus most of our time, however, is on doing first commercial deals, including licensing, distribution partnerships, offtake agreements, as well as fundraising.
1 Our FoodTech, AgTech and Biotech team
From the chemicals we synthesise to the food we grow, humanity has spent centuries extracting short-term value from the natural world while degrading the long-term economic value beneath it. With rising energy costs, climate-related food security concerns, and regulatory pressures, the need for scalable solutions that work with, rather than against, nature has never been more urgent. Our FoodTech, AgTech, and BioTech team (FAB) was founded to resolve this very issue.
Our past and existing clients range from novel agricultural inputs and soil carbon measurement technologies, to companies building the infrastructure for novel ingredient production, microalgae biorefineries, and biocatalysts that cut the carbon emissions from the production of certain chemicals by over 30%.
2 Why join us?
RIG offers the opportunity to work on strategic and execution challenges facing some of the most promising technology companies in the sustainable technology ecosystem. We provide the experience of working closely with entrepreneurs and CEOs, private and institutional investors, and a wide variety of commercial and non-commercial actors to enable client success across a wide variety of technologies.
Working at pace in small teams, we emphasise intellectual curiosity, fast development and high levels of responsibility from early on. We look to complement our learning and development programmes with continuous development via our apprenticeship-based learning model i.e., learning on the job, in close contact with senior resource. We recognise there is no ‘one size fits all’ role and will support you in crafting your unique career journey at RIG around your skills and interests.
We are a group of diverse, sociable, passionate individuals who are motivated by high risk, high reward business. We look to foster an inclusive, collegial, non-hierarchical culture where the best ideas always surface, regardless of their source, and where seniority comes from success, not tenure.
3 Responsibilities
Our Engagement Managers are responsible for high-quality execution and delivery of client work including on market/application discovery and validation, business model development, deal structuring, negotiation, and client acquisition.
Our Engagement Managers:
- Plan and execute across a portfolio of client work: effectively managing the programme of work, running weekly calls, and developing high-impact client materials typically working closely with two clients at a given time.
- Research and derive insight from quantitative and qualitative analysis, developing and applying industry expertise
- Support on sourcing, progressing, and closing commercial deals (e.g. licensing, industrial partnerships, offtake agreements, joint ventures) for our clients
- Support on identifying and winning new business opportunities for the firm
- Own and lead on discrete pieces of work for clients with their manager's guidance. For example, executing strategy formulation on behalf of clients, and generating market insights and recommendations
- Actively participate in internal and external discussions, sharing ideas and perspectives, presenting work and conclusions, and asking questions
- Actively contribute to the growth and development of the firm by building sector-relevant knowledge, as well as acting as a company culture carrier, including by working on internal projects to improve the company
4 Job description
4.1 We are looking for:
· An operator with strong organisation skills: -, Given that we are working with multiple early-stage companies at any one time, we are looking for someone who can work efficiently, even when moving between diverse activities.
· Proven commercial background and entrepreneurial mindset: e.g. Business Development/sales experience, running side ventures, or start-up experience
· Excellent communication: Much of our work focuses on interaction with people, so we are looking for someone with strong written and verbal skills
· Strong interpersonal and networking skills: This role involves engaging with a wide variety of people from corporates to investors to academics and entrepreneurs. We are looking for someone who is comfortable initiating and developing relationshipsboth remotely and in person - by phone, at conferences or at networking events.
· Mission-driven. As we work with companies making climate-positive impact, we seek someone who has a passion for high-impact technology and some knowledge of / demonstrable interest inFoodTech, AgTech and/or Biotech
· Grasps concepts quickly with an appetite to learn: we are looking for someone who is intellectually curious and has the ability to quickly grasp new commercial and technological concepts. Although most of the startups we work with are deeptech, this does not mean that you need a STEM background, but rather that you have the ability to understand a concept swiftly.
· Demonstrated ability for collaboration and teamwork: We work in a highly collaborative environment, so we are looking for someone who naturally prefers working in a team rather than working alone.
· Adaptable and resilient: the start-up environment is dynamic, with failures and successes. We look for individuals who are comfortable with change, resilient to challenges and can quickly adapt to a situation where needed
· Willing to lead on their own projects: We want to nurture leadership within our talent pool, and therefore encourage employees to take a lead on their own projects as soon as possible. We are looking for people who will take that initiative and can develop into future leaders.
Ideally
· Quantitative analysis and data-driven thinking: Comfortable working with numbers with intermediate Excel skills, using data to inform decisions and check assumptions
· AI literacy beyond the norm: Hands-on experience using AI tools to automate tasks, analyse data, or accelerate research/writing workflows (be ready to demonstrate practical examples)
4.2 Qualifications
· Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience. Someone with more experience will not be more likely to be interviewed - what we are looking for is foundational management and organisation skills to operate well in a professional, client-facing environment
· University degree (undergraduate or postgraduate)
· Native equivalent proficiency in English (CEFR C2 equivalent)
· Strong capabilities in using Microsoft Office apps (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Power BI)
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK
5 Compensation
- Salary: Competitive base salary + performance related bonuses
- Holiday: 25 days of holiday and additional gifted Christmas leave of 3 days alongside bank holidays (equivalent to 36 days’ holiday in total)
- One work away week each year to work virtually from any location
- “Office first” hybrid working (typically 4 days a week in the office) with high degree of flexibility around important appointments and life events
- Full mobile phone contract
Studies have shown that some groups of people, like women, are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the qualification criteria. If you like the sound of this role, we encourage you to apply, as you could be the candidate we hire
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
