Centre Manager
- Oxford Innovation Space
- Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
- 26 Jan, 2026
Job Description
Centre Manager
At Oxford Innovation Space, we create and manage inspiring workspaces where ambitious businesses can thrive. With over 35 years of experience and a growing network of innovation centres across the UK and Ireland, we support more than 1,000 SMEs across 35+ locations.
Harwell Innovation Centre is a vibrant hub for pioneering science and technology businesses, located at the heart of the world-renowned Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. As part of one of Europe’s leading science and innovation districts, the centre provides flexible workspace, expert business support, and access to a thriving community of entrepreneurs and researchers. It is delivered in partnership with Arc Group, also known as ARC (Advanced Research Clusters), a network of innovation campuses backed by Brookfield Asset Management, designed to accelerate science and technology growth across the UK and Europe. Together, we play a key role in supporting early-stage ventures by connecting them with cutting-edge facilities, national laboratories, and collaborative networks across the Space, HealthTec, and Energy sectors.
We’re now looking for a proactive, commercially minded Centre Manager to lead our vibrant workspace and community.
What You’ll Be Doing
As Centre Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind Harwell Innovation Centre - leading the team, delivering exceptional service, and ensuring the centre thrives commercially and operationally. You’ll:
- Act as a figurehead for the Innovation Centre locally, regionally and nationally, creating success, selling and marketing the product offering whilst enhancing its reputation for excellence.
- Overall management control and accountability for the financial and commercial performance of the centre, and to deliver all aspects of sales, marketing, and operational activities for the centre to attract new customers and ensuring the retention of existing occupiers.
- Cultivate the working partnership between OI Space and our Client, Arc Group, along with other partners to identify and develop areas of collaboration and joint initiatives.
- Deliver a world class service to the Innovation Centre community in facilities, support and collaborative connections and the training and development of centre staff.
What You’ll Bring
We’re looking for someone who’s passionate about innovation, people, and making things happen. You’ll bring:
- Proven leadership experience in a customer-focused or service-led environment.
- A commercial mindset with experience in sales, marketing, and budget management.
- Confidence in building relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- A flair for creating welcoming, professional environments - whether from coworking, hospitality, or similar sectors.
- A passion for creating great experiences and building community.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
We offer more than just a job - we offer a place where you can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful. Here’s what you can expect:
Salary: £42,000 to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus discretionary bonus.
Time off: 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays.
Benefits: Flexible benefits package, wellbeing support, and perks like EV leasing and cycle to work scheme.
Development: Full induction, buddy system, and ongoing learning opportunities.
Culture: A supportive, inclusive team that values your voice and ideas.
Purpose: A chance to make a real impact in the lives of entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
Ready to Apply?
If this sounds like your kind of role, we’d love to hear from you. Click ‘Apply’ to join us as our new Centre Manager.
Got questions? Reach out - we’re happy to chat.
We’re Committed to Inclusion
We’re building a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply - you might be just the person we’re looking for.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we’ve received sufficient applications, so apply early to avoid disappointment.
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About Us
At Oxford Innovation Space we manage a network of innovation centres across the UK and Ireland, creating environments where dynamic and innovative businesses come together and thrive.
Founded by the Oxford Trust in 1987, we are the leading provider of innovation spaces across the UK and Ireland, supporting the growth of early-stage businesses with flexible and affordable workspaces, from offices and workshops, through to laboratories. Our workspaces, combined with business support and specialist coaching, allow entrepreneurs to develop innovative products and services.
Working with local authorities, universities, science parks and investors, we help them to transform their towns, cities and communities by helping growing companies to thrive.
Company Benefits
To help look after your health and personal life, we provide a broad range of core and voluntary benefits which you can tailor to suit your own needs.
Work life balance is important to us as well as to you and we offer at least 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, (pro rata for part time) in a year.
So you can get involved with your local community, we offer two days per year for you to spend volunteering with your chosen charity.
Your long-term future matters to us and is reflected by our modern pension plan; we match every pound you contribute, up to 5%.
To help your pay go that little bit further, we also provide access to a fantastic range of lifestyle discount vouchers in retail goods and services, all year round.
For those occasions when life throws you a curve ball, we support your needs with resources such as our Employee Assistance Programme and Help Hand app.
Your wellbeing is of utmost importance to us, so we also have a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders, who are always on hand to support.
We care about your career progression and that’s why we invest in our people.
We promote a flexible culture based on trust and mutual respect.
