Head of Strategy and Business Planning

Location: London or Milton Keynes (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)

Working model: We are Hybrid, two days a week working in the office and three days working from home.

Reporting to: Strategy & Portfolio Director

Working hours: Full time (9 day Fortnight companywide)

Contract type/duration: Permanent

Band: 4.1

Salary: £68,890 to £79,386. Dependent on experience and location

Closing date: 9am 8th May 2025

The Role: To lead and coordinate strategy development and Business Planning across CPC.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead market appraisal including identification of market barriers in CPC’s core innovation focus areas.
• Provide actionable market insight on Connected Places Catapult, define market focus areas and innovation themes in collaboration with Business Unit Leads.
• Provide actionable internal insight based on our performance and impact data.
• Advise on Business Unit’s strategic direction, by providing strategic assessment and horizon scanning on state of the market, including insight into penetrating a new geography, new business, new UK leading innovation ideas.
• Facilitate the development of organisational ‘points-of-view’ informing technology roadmaps (with relevant BUs), policy consultations (with Public Affairs), etc.
• Ensure appropriate information management of up-to-date supporting material (consistent bid/proposal material for innovation focus areas, case studies, etc).
• Provide content for briefings aligned with the stakeholder engagement plan (signed off by BU lead or Managing Directors).
• Develop approach and content for producing the State of the Nation and annual report.
• Own and prepare the annual strategy and business planning process and outputs, with all areas of CPC, working in close partnership on design with Finance and Chief of Staff.
• Drive the annual business planning cycle, working closely with all CPC Leads to produce inputs required to support the process.
• Support Business Unit Directors in developing strategic initiatives and programmes through shaping and leading targeted strategy development projects.
• Support Business Unit leads with strategic insight to assist them in securing opportunities across the innovation imperatives, coordinate strategic initiatives/programmes/projects where cross cutting or part of CPC’s internal research and development.
• Work with Business Unit Leads and marketing colleagues to ensure pre-sales material and opportunities are strategically aligned.
• Ensure an ethos where equity, inclusivity and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities.
• You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Adept at leading, managing and developing people to deliver organisational objectives and nurture talent, using excellent collaboration and influencing skills.
• Ability to set deadlines and support others to meet them effectively.
• Experience driving planning activities in complex fast paced environments.
• Experience with using collaboration and influencing skills to support others to iterate strategy and business planning effectively.
• Working knowledge of business tools for effective strategy development and prioritisation.
• Demonstrable experience of working with colleagues to build and deliver plans.
• Working knowledge of operational management in a projects environment, including project and programme management methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience in instigating and delivering business change.
• Confident influencer and communicator with the ability to adapt style and message for a variety of different audiences.
• Experience of managing relationships with very senior stakeholders.
• Focused on achieving impact for the organisation.
• Showing determination, drive, and commitment always and particularly when faced with challenges and setbacks.
• Be a champion of embedding sustainability and EDI principles into strategy development.