Executive Director of IUK Life Sciences in Swindon

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for an Executive Director of IUK Life Sciences - Inside IR35 for a contract until 31st March 2027 (possible extension) working on a Hybrid basis - 3 days per week in a UKRI office (full list of office locations included below) or at external stakeholder engagement and remaining WFHUK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields - from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.Context:Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency and part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Our vision is a UK where breakthrough ideas become industry leaders. We back innovative companies for national benefit, investing over £1 billion annually to accelerate business innovation for the nation.We are partners in growing and scaling innovation—working with companies from early-stage startups to scaling businesses and industry leaders. We prioritise sectors, technologies and companies that deliver maximum economic impact: creating high-value jobs, attracting investment, and generating global opportunities aligned to the Government's Modern Industrial Strategy.Our strategy is focused on programme primacy around six of the industrial strategy sectors.Life Science is a key sector with high growth potential and a strong heritage in the UK. This leadership role will address focuses on building a holistic and ambitious programme that harnesses breakthrough ideas, identifies the highest potential businesses and accelerates these with the ambition of creating industry leaders.We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.Job Purpose:The ideal candidate will bring clarity of vision and strategic thinking, with the ability to take multiple diverse inputs and create a seamless programme that creates future opportunities in areas in which the UK has competitive advantage.The main duties and responsibilities of the Director of Life Sciences would be to:* Lead and inspire talented cross-functional teams, fostering a high-performance, inclusive, and innovative culture.* Play a key role in shaping and delivering innovation programmes in response to the UK or UKRI Life Science strategies, including the Life Science Sector Plan, 10 year plan for the NHS, to build a pipeline of high-potential innovative businesses.* Provide thought leadership on emerging technologies (e.g. genomics, AI in health, advanced therapeutics) and sectoral trends to inform programme design, policy development, and strategic investment.* Identify, prioritise and leverage breakthrough ideas from the Research Councils and wider research base.* Collaborate with government departments, devolved administrations, and industry bodies to ensure Innovate UK programmes are responsive to evolving policy, market needs, and Life Science priorities.* Lead the full lifecycle of innovation programme delivery — from scoping and stakeholder engagement to launch, monitoring, and evaluation.* Create interventions that accelerate UK life sciences SMEs with high potential business opportunities in scaling, accessing finance, and navigating regulatory and procurement pathways.* Actively manage a portfolio of programmes and businesses to accelerate innovation, prioritising investments based on strategic alignment, feasibility, and impact.* Ensure programmes identify and support high-potential businesses, leveraging the Innovate UK ecosystem to provide tailored support and scale-up pathways.* Take an active role in managing the Life Science Catapults as part of the innovation ecosystem. With a focus on CGTC, MDC and HVMC (CPI), shape priorities for investment of core grant, ensuring maximum return on investment. Hold them to account for delivery of this and drive an increased focus on sharpened outputs and outcomes.* Longer term, participate in shaping the evolution of the Catapult operating model to increase alignment and impact for Life Sciences, while maximising RoI.* Oversee governance, budget management, and risk mitigation across multiple concurrent programmes, ensuring delivery of milestones on time and in full.* Build and maintain strategic relationships with government departments (e.g. DHSC, NHS, MHRA), trade associations, industry leaders, academia, investors, and regional innovation clusters.* Convene cross-sector partnerships to co-create solutions and foster collaboration across supply chains, disciplines, and innovation communities.* Represent Innovate UK and UKRI at high-level forums, conferences, and advisory boards, acting as a visible and credible ambassador for Life Science innovation. Actively manage relationships with key trade associations, e.g. BIA, ABPI and ABHI.* Role model organisational values, champion diversity and inclusion, and promote wellbeing across teams and partners.* Lead the activation of our Innovate UK and UKRI strategy as part of Innovate UK's executive leadership team.Essential:* Leadership of large, diverse teams in a fast-paced environment and building high-performance teams* Experience in designing and delivery of complex innovation programmes in Life Sciences* Successful management of multi-million-pound budgets and contracts with delivery partners* Experience in communicating programme outcomes to diverse audiences* Management of a range of diverse, senior stakeholders* Working as a member of a C- level team, co-creating organizational strategy and accountable for delivery* Ability to translate national policy priorities into actionable innovation programmes.* Exceptional stakeholder management across government departments, industry and academia.* Working knowledge of public sector financial management, budgeting and procurement.* Inspirational leadership with a commitment to inclusive leadership, talent development and organisational culture* Ability to influence at senior level* Educated to degree level or equivalent in a technical fieldDesirable:* Familiarity with innovation funding mechanisms* Management of delivery partners* Leading through periods of significant change and high-profile delivery* Commercialisation of new products or services across the Life Sciences sector* Degree or postgraduate qualification in the Life SciencesPlease be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.Innovate UK works with businesses and stakeholders across every nation and region of the UK. As part of UKRI, our hybrid working approach is built around one simple principle: time should be spent where it delivers the greatest impact.This means working across three settings: a designated UKRI site, time on the ground with businesses, partners and stakeholders and working from home. It's an approach designed to support collaboration, connection and impact.We expect 60% of time to typically be spent either at a UKRI site or engaging with external businesses and stakeholders across the UK.UKRI sites:Swindon, London, Harwell, Daresbury, Keyworth, Cambridge and Edinburgh.Disability ConfidentAs a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following \"this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different\". #J-18808-Ljbffr