Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist

Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist

Full-Time 55000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Analyse market trends and emerging technologies to drive innovation in energy trading.
  • Company: Join bp, a leader in energy trading with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Flexible working options, competitive pay, and generous parental leave.
  • Other info: Hybrid work environment with opportunities for career growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of energy markets.
  • Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and a passion for technology and innovation.

The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.

We're excited to welcome an Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist to our Supply Trading & Shipping (ST&S) team as we continue to connect and transform global energy markets. This role offers variety and depth for someone who enjoys translating market signals into actionable insights and identifying emerging technologies, trends and partnership opportunities that matter to the business. This role plays an important part in helping Vista understand external developments, working closely with business stakeholders and the wider ecosystem to identify areas of interest and inform future priorities.

The Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist will join Vista, our business-led team focused on exploring emerging technologies, business models and partnerships that are relevant to ST&S. Our work focuses on three areas:

  • Applying current technologies to address existing business challenges.
  • Understanding how emerging technologies may affect our business and markets.
  • Helping the business navigate change in an evolving market environment.

Working closely with stakeholders across front, mid and back offices, as well as internal and external technology partners, Vista focuses on making innovation practical and relevant to the business. The team also shares trends, progress and insights across the organization, providing research and analysis that supports decision-making.

What You'll Do:

Ecosystem & External Insights

  • Work with business stakeholders to define key focus areas and identify areas for exploration. By monitoring the external ecosystem, analyse emerging technologies, market developments and industry trends, helping Vista form a clear point of view on the topics that matter most.
  • Deliver both proactive and on-demand insights that support decision-making, producing high-quality outputs such as thematic research, trend reports, technology landscapes and strategic briefs. Translate findings into engaging content that highlights business relevance and can be shared through channels such as Viva Engage, Innovation Forums and the Crunch Newsletter.
  • A key part of the role involves contributing to Vista's approach to external engagement while building strong relationships with startups, corporate innovators, consultants and internal teams across Technology Insights, Technology and Ventures.

Innovation Pipeline, Technology Scouting & Landscape Development

  • Identify, assess and shortlist technology providers, startups and potential partners aligned with business priorities. Through landscape analysis, benchmarking and structured technology scouting, support decision-making and early-stage opportunity development.
  • Contribute to the identification of new opportunities and support partnerships and collaborations that address business needs.

Events & Community Management

  • Support Vista's internal and external presence by managing online channels, including websites and Yammer communities, showcasing projects, insights and emerging developments.
  • The role also includes supporting the growth of Vista's global presence and owning the marketing calendar, including end-to-end planning and delivery of internal events ranging from innovation forums to flagship initiatives such as Innovation Treks and the Innovation Summit.

About You:

We welcome candidates who enjoy analysing complex information and exploring how emerging technologies can support business priorities. Experience may include:

  • Strategic business analysis, with the ability to identify key insights and evaluate commercial impact.
  • Market and technology trend analysis that informs decision-making.
  • Research and investigation, with strong attention to detail and a willingness to explore unfamiliar topics.
  • Communicating complex ideas through clear and engaging narratives.
  • Managing ambiguity while maintaining focus on deadlines and outcomes.

An interest in innovation and finding practical solutions to business challenges will help someone succeed in this role.

Desirable Experience:

We'd also be interested in candidates who have:

  • Experience in, or a strong understanding of, commodity trading, shipping or energy markets.
  • Exposure to corporate venturing, startups or innovation ecosystems.
  • Experience with technology scouting, benchmarking or market mapping.
  • Familiarity with innovation, data and insight tools, including external intelligence platforms.

Why Join bp?

At bp, we believe our workforce should reflect the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We welcome different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds, and we're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is respected and treated fairly. We also recognize that work is just one part of life. That's why we offer benefits designed to support flexibility, wellbeing and long-term growth, including flexible working options, generous paid parental leave and competitive retirement benefits. We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process. If reasonable adjustments or accommodations are needed at any stage of the application process, support will be available.

Travel Requirement: Negligible travel should be expected with this role.

Relocation Assistance: This role is not eligible for relocation.

Remote Type: This position is a hybrid of office/remote working.

Skills: Agility core practices, Analytical Thinking, Authenticity, Communication, Conflict Management, Creativity and Innovation, Decision Making, Digital Automation, Digital Collaboration, Digital Communication, Digital Fluency, Digital Visualization, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Exposure Management, Group Problem Solving, Influencing, Listening, Market Knowledge, Negotiating value, Negotiation planning and preparation, Presenting, Statistics, Strategic Thinking.

Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist employer: BP PLC

At Castrol, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Digital Portfolio Lead, you'll have the opportunity to drive impactful digital transformation initiatives while enjoying a flexible hybrid working model in vibrant locations like London or Pune. We are committed to your professional growth, providing competitive rewards and a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, ensuring you can make a meaningful impact in your role.

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Contact Details:

BP PLC Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist

Leverage Innovation Hubs

Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!

Showcase Your Projects

Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like BP PLC.

Connect at Industry Conferences

Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.

Use Your University’s Resources

If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like BP PLC.

We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Ecosystem & Insights Specialist

Analytical Thinking
Market Knowledge
Technology Scouting
Research and Investigation
Communication Skills
Strategic Thinking
Attention to Detail

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.

Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at BP PLC that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.

Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at BP PLC and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!

Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.

How to prepare for a job interview at BP PLC

Show Off Your Innovative Thinking

In an Innovation R&D Management role at BP PLC, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.

Familiarity with Tools and Technologies

Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show BP PLC that you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Demonstrate Collaboration Skills

Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At BP PLC, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.