Manchester changed the world once. With Unit M, we’re ready to do it again through a new kind of university innovation: faster, more connected, and more inclusive.
From a university that shaped the industrial age, to a team building what comes next, the University of Manchester has been redefining what’s possible for nearly 200 years. From splitting the atom to founding the modern computer, our legacy of innovation runs deep.
Today, we’re not just looking back. We’re building forward.
Unit M is the University’s new innovation unit a bold, future-focused initiative designed to turn world-class research and talent into real-world impact. We’re here to supercharge start-ups, forge transformative partnerships, and unlock new paths for economic and societal growth. And we’re looking for an Accelerator Manager to help us lead that charge.

THE ROLE:

As Accelerator Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in designing and delivering Unit M’s portfolio of high-impact start-up accelerator programmes. These initiatives support some of the UK’s most exciting early-stage ventures in fields like deep tech, AI, health innovation, sustainability, and more.
You’ll combine strategic leadership with hands-on delivery, shaping programme content, guiding founders through growth journeys, and cultivating the investor, mentor, and corporate relationships that make innovation happen.
This is a rare opportunity to lead from the centre of a world-class university, working across public and private sectors to drive real change: regionally, nationally, and globally.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Design and deliver accelerator programmes that help early-stage ventures grow, raise investment, and enter new markets
• Guide and mentor founders, offering insight into business models, growth strategies, and commercialisation paths
• Curate a powerful network of mentors, investors, and partners to drive value across each programme
• Build strategic relationships with corporates, funders, innovation networks, and policymakers
• Lead high-quality events from hands-on workshops to inspiring demo days and investor showcases
• Manage programme impact through smart data collection, reporting, and continuous improvement
• Establish and lead a high-performing team, embedding a collaborative, mission-driven culture

WHY THIS ROLE, WHY NOW?

This is your opportunity to help shape how a civic university delivers economic growth and social value, by enabling bold ideas, supporting visionary founders, and building the innovation infrastructure of the future.
You won’t just be joining a team. You’ll be helping to define a movement.