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. The role holders will report to the Challenge Senior Team and work closely with the wider R&D MAP Hub and Challenge Teams. This position requires a person with a deep understanding of the pathway to commercialisation, they need to be technically literate and business-aware, with strong interpersonal skills. They should be capable of leading the thinking in their area of expertise, contributing to the creation and implementation of wider R&D MAP strategies.

Requirements

• Degree in a relevant subject to the Safer Streets, 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, such as technology assessment, product development, regulation and commercialisation routes for new partnerships.
• 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, including across the third and private sector.
• Demonstrative ability to facilitate cooperation/partnership working, and to work across boundaries.
• Experience tracking impacts and managing a portfolio of activities or investments.
• 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 Safer Streets Mission.
• Knowledge and experience of managing projects across challenge specific area that:
  • Have had strong community-led and/or place-based dimensions, and/or have included people with lived experience.
  • Are implementable and affordable, have credibility with front line staff and the public, are sustainable within the context of public service policy, finance and prioritisation of issues.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Ensuring that resources are targeted at the companies and technology areas that are most likely to create impact.
• 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.

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.

About Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

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 Government has identified the key problems faced by the UK, to which the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme has designed Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenges to develop solutions. Importantly, these solutions will then be directly utilised in addressing public sector needs.

The programme is currently developing its approaches across the Missions, and therefore by joining at this stage there’s a significant opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme.

Contact

Recruitment@ukri.org