Innovation Lead in Swindon

The R&D Missions Accelerator Programme represents an exceptional opportunity to create real world impact through R&D investment. The programme will utilise a £500m budget to bring together the private sector, the third sectors and academia to collaboratively develop innovative solutions to public sector problems, resulting in new technologies, services, IP and more. The programme has been designed to solve the key problems facing HMG's five national Missions and enable delivery of the milestones in the Plan for Change.

The Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission seeks to ensure every child and young person can succeed, regardless of background. It aims to give children the best start in life through high quality early education, childcare and accessible family support services. The mission will help every child thrive at school by improving teaching standards, tackling absence, and supporting those with special educational needs. It will also build skills for opportunity and growth so that every young person can follow the pathway that is right for them.

As an Innovation Lead, the role holders will be responsible for developing and implementing, with partners, the innovation strategy for R&D MAP. It will involve coordination of private, third sector, and government support taking a key role in development of future strategic initiatives in this fast-moving programme. Commercially minded with significant industry/sector experience, the role holders will seek to deliver the objectives of our investments and to ensure that opportunities for UK businesses are maximised in line with the aims of the programme.

Main Outputs and Activities:

• Lead the development and implementation of R&D MAP challenge strategies and funding to enable industry to develop and commercialise new products, processes, business models and services.
• Build and manage relationships with businesses, trade associations, Catapults, government departments and agencies, private investors, regulatory bodies, and research organisations.
• Work with funding partners and industry groups to ensure alignment of activities to maximise impact on relevant sectors.
• Support communications and engagement activities, representing R&D MAP at leading industry events, raising awareness of the innovation opportunities that exist.
• Support international activities to ensure that UK activity is set in an international context.

Personal Specification:

• Essential: Degree in a relevant subject to the Opportunities Mission, or equivalent experience.
• Strong commercial acumen, ideally with commercial experience, particularly in the start-up and innovation space.
• Specific experience in one or more aspects of policy translation and commercialisation of research and innovation across different sectors.
• Proven ability to deliver major and complex programmes to time, cost and required quality.
• Strong experience in managing relationships with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrative ability to facilitate cooperation/partnership working, and to work across boundaries.
• Experience tracking impacts and managing a portfolio of activities or investments.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the wider research, policy and innovation environment.
• Understanding of regulatory pathways for different geographies.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with third-sector commercial activity e.g. social enterprises, community interest companies, trading charities.
• Technical skills in an area related to the Opportunities mission.
• Knowledge and experience of managing projects that aim to improve education, promote social mobility and opportunities for children and young people, and address wider inequalities.

Benefits:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.