Associate Director, EU

With association to Horizon Europe secured, this is a critical time to reinvigorate the UK’s research and innovation relationship with the EU. We are creating a new network of colleagues from across UKRI to coordinate and maximise the impact of our support for UK participation in Horizon Europe, including the National Contact Points (NCPs) and the UK Research Office (UKRO). The Associate Director, EU will be responsible for leading this network.

Purpose

The Associate Director, EU will lead UKRI’s research and innovation relationship with the European Union and our work to boost UK participation in Horizon Europe. The post holder will also be the International Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member responsible for the team within UKRI International delivering the Government’s Horizon Guarantee. The role is located within UKRI International with reporting lines into International and Innovate UK.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Leadership: Lead a newly formed pan-UKRI network to meet UK and UKRI strategic objectives in relation to the EU, including boosting UK participation in Horizon Europe. This will require leadership in multiple forms, from direct management to indirect influencing, to help ensure expert individuals and teams operate as a cohesive, high-performing and mutually supportive network. Lead UKRI’s National Contact Points and hold overall responsibility for the relationship with DSIT on all aspects of boosting participation. Develop strategy and manage performance against objectives agreed with DSIT. Lead the UKRO team as their service offer changes and develops as part of the new pan-UKRI network whilst maintaining support for European Liaison Offices drawing upon UKRO’s 40-year heritage of enabling UK-EU collaboration. Build a collaborative, supportive atmosphere among the members network. Contribute to the overall leadership and management of International and UKRI more broadly, as a member of UKRI International’s senior leadership team, Innovate UK’s Global team and the cross-UKRI International Committee. Work flexibly to support the whole UKRI International portfolio.
• Strategy and engagement: Develop and inform UKRI and wider UK research and innovation policy and strategy in relation to the EU, including understanding and influencing the development of Framework Programme 10. Develop relationships with key EU stakeholders, including the European Commission and its agencies and committees, and among member states and associated countries, including through regular European travel. Develop high-trust, productive relationships with DSIT, the UK Mission to the EU and key stakeholders within the UK’s research and innovation community to coordinate and maximise the impact of UKRI activity.

Criteria

• A well-developed understanding of UK and EU research and innovation programmes and policy (S&I)
• Demonstrable leadership skills showing the ability to create positive and inclusive working cultures (S&I)
• Demonstrable ability to translate strategy into effective operational leadership, informed by data and evidence and with the ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances and tight timetables as priorities evolve and escalate. (S&I)
• Proven strengths in stakeholder management, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships and to influence externally and internally, including with senior leaders (S&I)
• Demonstrable ability to translate technical knowledge appropriately for the audience and extrapolate technical understanding into strategy. (S&I)
• Flexibility to accommodate periodic travel (S)

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.