UK

United Kingdom · Innovation · C-Suite (20+ years)

VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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  • Experience bandC-Suite (20+ years)
  • Direct reports25-100+ reports
  • Reports toChief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) · Head of Enterprise Innovation · Executive Director, New Ventures · Chief Growth Officer (CGO) - Innovation

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Business Administration OCN London · Level 4 · covers 1 of 2 standards
Focus Awards Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Customer Service (RQF) Focus Awards Limited · Level 4 · covers 1 of 2 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Contribute to Innovation in a Business Environment OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Business Administration
Encourage innovation Focus Awards Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Customer Service (RQF)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Change Fluency taking people through change
Start my VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship plan, free
Your Plan Illustration

Built for VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship

2 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Contribute to Innovation in a Business Environment OCN London · covers 1 of 2 standards Level 4
  2. Encourage innovation Focus Awards Limited · covers 1 of 2 standards Level 4
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Driven Strategic Decision Making
  • Ecosystem Orchestration & Platform Strategy
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

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3What this role really is

This role means shaping where a company's growth comes from over the next few years. It involves setting direction on innovation and building the systems that let new ideas get backed and funded.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Miro (Strategic Evaluation & Championing) Strategic

Evaluating its effectiveness for strategic workshops, managing enterprise licensing, and championing its use for high-level planning sessions with the Board or executive team.

Asana / Monday.com (Enterprise Governance) Architect

Governing the entire instance for the innovation division, defining best practices for portfolio management, and integrating it with financial planning tools for strategic oversight.

Notion / Confluence (Information Architecture Strategy) Strategic

Leading the information architecture strategy for the entire innovation division, ensuring knowledge is captured, retained, and accessible for future strategic projects and Board reporting.

Smartsheet (ERP Integration & Long-Range Planning) Strategic

Integrating Smartsheet with enterprise ERPs (e.g., SAP S/4HANA) for portfolio-level financial oversight, long-range resource planning, and strategic budget allocation.

Tableau / Power BI (Executive Dashboard Design) Expert/Strategic

Designing and presenting executive-level dashboards to the C-suite and Board, linking innovation portfolio performance directly to business KPIs and justifying strategic resource allocation decisions.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Innovation Strategy Definition N/A N/A N/A
Innovation Portfolio Budget Allocation N/A N/A N/A
Major New Venture Launch N/A N/A N/A
Organisational Design of Innovation Function N/A N/A N/A

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Innovation Portfolio ROI
The overall financial return generated by new products, services, or business models launched through the innovation pipeline, relative to the investment made.
Target · Achieve a minimum 3:1 return on the overall innovation investment within a 3-year horizon.

If we invest £10M into the innovation portfolio this year, we expect to see £30M in new revenue or cost savings generated from those initiatives within 36 months.

New Revenue from Innovation
The percentage of total company revenue derived from products or services launched within the last 3-5 years, directly attributable to innovation programmes.
Target · Increase new revenue contribution from innovation by 15% year-on-year.

If new products contributed £50M to revenue last year, we'd aim for £57.5M this year, showing our pipeline is consistently delivering.

Successful Incubation to Scale Rate
The percentage of incubated Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) or pilot projects that successfully transition into fully funded, operational business lines or significant product features.
Target · Successfully transition 20-25% of all incubated MVPs into commercial scale.

Out of 10 pilot projects run this year, 2-3 should move beyond pilot phase and secure significant funding for full market launch.

Innovation Pipeline Health
A balanced pipeline across different stages (ideation, incubation, scaling) and risk profiles, ensuring a continuous flow of future growth opportunities.
Target · Maintain a 'healthy' pipeline score (e.g., 80%+) based on predefined criteria for stage, risk, and potential impact.

Our pipeline dashboard shows 30% of projects in ideation, 50% in incubation, and 20% in scaling, with a good mix of incremental and disruptive ideas, scoring 85% on the health index.

Organisational Innovation Culture
The extent to which innovation is embedded in the company's DNA, measured by employee engagement with innovation programmes, idea submission rates, and cross-functional collaboration on new initiatives.
  • Improvements in internal innovation survey scores (e.g., 'I feel empowered to suggest new ideas'), increased participation in internal hackathons, positive feedback from business unit leaders on collaboration, a noticeable shift in how teams approach problem-solving.
Strategic Influence & Board Confidence
Your ability to shape the company's long-term strategic direction through innovation, earning the trust and confidence of the CEO and Board.
  • Regular invitations to present at Board meetings on strategic growth areas, direct input into the annual strategic planning process, Board approval of significant innovation investments, and positive feedback from the CEO on your strategic contributions.
External Thought Leadership
The company's recognition as a leader in innovation within its industry, driven by your public presence and contributions.
  • Invitations to speak at major industry conferences, publications in respected business journals, positive mentions in industry analyst reports, and successful recruitment of top innovation talent due to our reputation.
Risk Management & Learning Agility
How effectively the innovation function identifies, mitigates, and learns from the inherent risks of new ventures, ensuring 'fail fast, learn faster' is a reality, not just a slogan.
  • Clear post-mortem analyses for failed projects with documented learnings, adjustments to future project selection criteria based on past outcomes, proactive identification of market shifts, and the ability to pivot programmes quickly when data demands it.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Shaping the Future of an Enterprise

You'll spend your days thinking about market shifts, competitor moves, and emerging technologies, constantly asking 'how does this impact us?' and 'what should we do about it?'. It's about building a legacy, not just hitting quarterly targets.

You're driven by the idea of launching a new business unit that fundamentally changes our market position in 5 years, not just optimising an existing product.

Building Organisational Capability

You'll be coaching your direct reports, designing new innovation processes, and influencing other departments to adopt more agile, experimental ways of working. It's about empowering people and creating a lasting framework for innovation.

You get a kick out of seeing a junior team member successfully launch their first MVP, knowing you built the system and culture that allowed them to do it.

Driving Tangible, Large-Scale Impact

You'll be accountable for multi-million-pound P&Ls and presenting directly to the Board on the ROI of your initiatives. The impact of your work will be visible across the entire company and, frankly, in our share price.

You're motivated by seeing your innovation portfolio contribute £10M+ in new revenue, knowing it's a direct result of your strategic decisions.

What frustrates people
  • The 'Innovation Theatre' trap: being asked to launch shiny, low-impact projects for PR, rather than truly transformative ones.
  • The 'Not Invented Here' syndrome: great ideas from your team being rejected by business units who prefer their own, less developed concepts.
  • The 'Quarter-End Kill Switch': watching promising long-term projects get de-funded or paused because the company missed its quarterly earnings.
  • Bureaucratic inertia: the sheer effort required to get anything truly new approved and resourced in a large organisation.
  • Balancing short-term pressures with long-term vision: constantly justifying future bets against immediate financial demands.
What this role does not give you
  • A predictable, low-stress work environment.
  • The luxury of working on only 'sexy' projects – much of it is strategic planning and internal diplomacy.
  • An easy path to consensus – you'll be challenging norms, which means friction.
  • Immediate, guaranteed ROI on every initiative – innovation is inherently uncertain.

8Who you work with

You're directly responsible for the company's long-term growth trajectory and market positioning. This role shapes our ability to adapt, compete, and lead in evolving industries. Your decisions impact multi-million-pound investments, strategic partnerships, and the very culture of how we approach new ideas across the entire enterprise.

Inside the business
  • CEO and Executive Leadership Team
  • Board of Directors (especially Strategy & Audit Committees)
  • Heads of Product, Marketing, Sales, and Technology
  • Legal and Finance Directors
Outside the business
  • Key Investors and Shareholders
  • Industry Analysts and Thought Leaders
  • Strategic Partners and Start-up Ecosystem
  • Regulators and Government Bodies

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven track record of leading and scaling innovation functions or business units within a large, complex organisation (minimum 10-15 years at Director/VP level).
  • Demonstrated success in launching multiple new products, services, or business models that have generated significant revenue or strategic advantage.
  • Extensive experience managing multi-million-pound P&Ls and securing funding for strategic initiatives.
  • Experience presenting to and influencing C-suite executives and Board members on strategic matters.
  • Deep understanding of corporate venturing, M&A, and strategic partnership development.
  • A history of building and leading high-performing, diverse teams of 25+ people (including managers).

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Quantum Computing & Advanced Materials (Strategic Awareness)

These are long-term, potentially disruptive technologies that could fundamentally change industries. As VP, you need to understand their potential impact, monitor their development, and strategically assess when and how to invest in early-stage research or partnerships.

Quantum Supremacy & Applications · Advanced Materials for Sustainability · Bio-Tech & Synthetic Biology · Investment Readiness for Deep Tech

  • This quarter: Schedule briefings with leading experts or academics in quantum computing and advanced materials.
  • Next 6 months: Commission a small, internal research project to explore the potential impact of one 'deep tech' area on our core business.
  • Next 12 months: Evaluate potential seed investments or partnerships with start-ups in these emerging fields.
  • Ongoing: Read academic papers and industry reports on these topics, even if just for high-level understanding.

Quick win: Subscribe to newsletters from leading research institutions (e.g., MIT Technology Review, Nature) that cover these areas to keep a pulse on developments.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly engage with industry analysts (e.g., Gartner, Forrester) and thought leaders in innovation and future trends.
  • Actively participate in executive-level innovation forums, roundtables, and peer networks to share insights and learn from others.
  • Maintain a strong external presence through speaking engagements at major conferences and publishing articles on innovation strategy.
  • Mentor emerging leaders within the company, sharing your experience and fostering a culture of intrapreneurship.
  • Dedicate time to horizon scanning and understanding 'deep tech' trends, even those far from immediate commercialisation.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Driven Strategic Decision Making

Generative AI and advanced analytics are transforming how strategic insights are generated and how decisions are made. Leaders who can effectively use AI as a strategic co-pilot will have a massive advantage in identifying opportunities and mitigating risks faster than competitors.

  • AI for Scenario Planning
  • Predictive Innovation Analytics
  • Ethical AI Governance
  • AI for Competitive Intelligence

Ecosystem Orchestration & Platform Strategy

Innovation is no longer a solo sport. Companies increasingly win by building and orchestrating ecosystems of partners, developers, and even competitors. Understanding how to build and scale platform businesses or integrate into larger ecosystems is critical for future growth.

  • Platform Business Models
  • API Economy & Open Innovation
  • Strategic Alliance Management
  • Venture Building & Incubation

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Design Thinking (Strategic Application)
  • Lean Startup Methodology (Portfolio Management)
  • Corporate Venturing & M&A Strategy
  • Innovation Portfolio Management

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Director of Innovation / Head of R&D (Large Enterprise)

    5-10 years at this level

    Skills to master

    • Managing multi-functional teams, driving significant product launches, building internal innovation processes, and influencing senior stakeholders across a business unit.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistent delivery of new revenue streams from innovation within a business unit.
    • Demonstrated ability to build and scale innovation teams (25+ people).
    • Strong track record of securing and managing significant innovation budgets (£2M+).
    • Regularly presenting strategic recommendations to C-suite and Board sub-committees.
  2. 2

    CEO / Founder of a Successful Scale-Up (Acquired or Independent)

    7-15 years leading a high-growth company

    Skills to master

    • Full P&L ownership, fundraising, market entry strategy, building a company from scratch, and navigating the challenges of rapid growth and scaling.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led a company through significant growth phases (e.g., Series A to C funding).
    • Demonstrated ability to build and manage all aspects of a business (product, sales, marketing, operations).
    • Experience with investor relations and board management in a high-stakes environment.
    • Proven ability to identify and capitalise on market opportunities, often with limited resources.
  3. 3

    Management Consultant (Partner/Principal focused on Innovation)

    10-15 years in top-tier consulting, with 5+ years as Partner/Principal

    Skills to master

    • Developing and implementing innovation strategies for diverse clients, leading large-scale transformation programmes, deep industry expertise, and executive client relationship management.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Led multiple successful innovation strategy engagements for FTSE 100 or equivalent clients.
    • Deep expertise in various industries and innovation methodologies.
    • Proven ability to influence C-suite executives and drive complex organisational change.
    • Strong network within the innovation ecosystem and business leadership.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This VP role gives experience of shaping an organisation's future, managing large budgets, and reporting to a board. It can lead to running a company, sitting on multiple boards, or backing new ventures.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

The record names a next step, but the catalogue has no page for it yet:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Board Member / Non-Executive Director (NED)

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Contribute to Innovation in a Business Environment, worked against VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship.

Contribute to Innovation in a Business Environment Level 4

Applied to your work in VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship

This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of the role of innovation in a business environment and the methods for researching and developing new approaches and solutions. Learners will be able to apply appropriate tools and techniques to research and develop ideas, and understand how to present suggestions for new approaches.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

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See Your Progress Grow Illustration
VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship
  • Design Thinking (Strategic Application)
  • Lean Startup Methodology (Portfolio Management)
  • Corporate Venturing & M&A Strategy
  • Innovation Portfolio Management
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

    3-7 years

    Enterprise-wide leadership, ultimate accountability for company performance and shareholder value.

    • M&A Strategy & Execution (lead entire process)
    • Capital Allocation (across all business units)
    • Global Market Expansion (ultimate responsibility)
    • Succession Planning (for entire executive team)

  2. Board Member / Non-Executive Director (NED)

    2-5 years (often alongside other roles)

    Strategic oversight, governance, and advisory role for multiple organisations.

    • Industry Sector Specialisation (broader advisory scope)
    • Risk Oversight (enterprise-wide for multiple companies)
    • Strategic Advisory (guiding executive teams)
    • Shareholder Value Creation (from governance perspective)
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, at the VP level, your time is precious. You're not meant to be bogged down in manual data crunching or drafting endless reports. AI isn't just for junior analysts anymore; it's a strategic partner that can amplify your influence and free you up for the truly high-leverage work.

Imagine having a personal Chief of Staff that never sleeps, instantly synthesising market intelligence, drafting strategic communications, and even predicting potential roadblocks. That's the power AI brings to this executive role. It's about making better decisions, faster, and with less grunt work.

Strategic Insight Synthesis

Feed AI tools a deluge of market reports, competitor analyses, and internal performance data. It'll summarise key trends, identify emerging threats, and even suggest strategic pivots, giving you instant, actionable intelligence for Board discussions.

Executive Communication Drafts

Need to draft a compelling Board presentation, an investor update, or a company-wide memo on innovation strategy? AI can generate first drafts in minutes, capturing the right tone and key messages, leaving you to refine and add your unique executive voice.

Innovation Portfolio Risk Prediction

Use AI to analyse historical project data (e.g., budget overruns, timeline delays, market acceptance) to predict potential risks and bottlenecks across your entire innovation portfolio. It'll flag projects needing your attention before they become crises.

Partnership & Acquisition Scouting

AI can rapidly scan the start-up ecosystem, identify potential strategic partners or acquisition targets based on your defined criteria, and even summarise their value proposition and market fit. This speeds up your deal flow and strategic options.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship?

Common routes in include Director of Innovation / Head of R&D (Large Enterprise) (5-10 years at this level), CEO / Founder of a Successful Scale-Up (Acquired or Independent) (7-15 years leading a high-growth company) and Management Consultant (Partner/Principal focused on Innovation) (10-15 years in top-tier consulting, with 5+ years as Partner/Principal). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (3-7 years) and Board Member / Non-Executive Director (NED) (2-5 years (often alongside other roles)), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship?

Increasingly, AI-Driven Strategic Decision Making and Ecosystem Orchestration & Platform Strategy. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

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Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in innovation

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Experience in enterprise-level innovation and intrapreneurship transfers across industries such as FinTech, HealthTech, retail, manufacturing and energy. It can lead to a similar senior role in another large organisation, a role leading a private equity-backed business, or a move into venture capital or strategic advisory work. The ability to drive growth and manage change at scale applies across sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my VP, Innovation & Intrapreneurship plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.