Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by
11-11-2024
Vacancy for Deputy Challenge Director - Industrial Decarbonisation - Maternity Cover
The ISCF Deputy Challenge Director role will be responsible for ensuring the bi-directional flow of information between the specific ISCF challenge and the wider sector. Your work will ensure high levels of sector engagement in the translation of the challenge strategy into operational delivery, supporting the Challenge Director in this specific ISCF challenge. Your work will also ensure that the ISCF challenge programme board fulfils its remit to ensure the transfer of knowledge back to UKRI and the wider clean growth sector.
*Please note this advert will close on the 10th November 2024 at 23.59pm. on the
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Title: Deputy Challenge Director - Industrial Decarbonisation - Maternity Cover
Band: UKRI Band G (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: £65,262 gross per annum
Reports to: Challenge Director
Location: Field based
Contract: Fixed Term (Maternity Cover) (Until 30th September 2025) Full-time (part time/job share considered)
Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Context:
The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) aims to bring together the UK’s world-leading research with business to meet the major industrial and societal challenges of our time and is being delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Challenge programmes delivered by the fund will be industry-led and powered by multi-disciplinary research and business-academic collaboration. The ISCF provides funding and support to UK businesses and researchers. The fund is part of the government’s £4.7 billion increase in research and development over 5 years.
UKRI’s ISCF Portfolio of work is hosted by Innovate UK.
The Deputy Challenge Director is responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of the Challenge including management of the competition portfolio, cross-government liaison, and the day-to-day operations of the Challenge Team.
The Deputy Challenge Director reports directly to the Challenge Director and carries responsibility for integrating the Delivery Plan for the Challenge with the day-to-day operation of the team, including wider UKRI support and ensuring that an evaluation and benefits realisation framework is in place to assure delivery of the business case. The Deputy is expected to deputise in the absence of the Challenge Director.
We are looking for a leader who will ensure the research and business focused elements of the programme are strategically aligned and monitored effectively for the benefit of the UK economy.
This is a critical programme for the UK economy and this challenge is looking to accelerate positive economic impact across the sector through innovative programmes. The successful applicant will have excellent stakeholder management skills, and the ability, focus and drive to successfully deliver complex programmes.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
The Team:
The post-holder’s team will be based in Swindon, London and across the UK, thus the role will require some travel around the UK (and potentially international), to Swindon and London and attendance at some evening events. Base location is flexible as a consequence.
As this role will be dealing with varying groups of dynamic business, academic institutions, research and technology organisations as well as government stakeholders, the role-holder must be able to build strong relationships with virtual and remote teams.
Job Purpose:
The ISCF Deputy Challenge Director role will be responsible for ensuring the bi-directional flow of information between the specific ISCF challenge and the wider sector. Your work will ensure high levels of sector engagement in the translation of the challenge strategy into operational delivery, supporting the Challenge Director in this specific ISCF challenge. Your work will also ensure that the ISCF challenge programme board fulfils its remit to ensure the transfer of knowledge back to UKRI and the wider clean growth sector.
The role reports to the Challenge Director who is accountable (on behalf of UKRI) for ensuring that the challenge is developed and exploited by not only UKRI but also UK business to generate growth and in response to industrial challenges and commercial opportunities.
The Deputy Challenge Director role requires mature self-awareness and excellent personal resilience, as well as a high level of professionalism, discretion and tact.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Leadership
- Provide day to day leadership and direction to the Challenge Team, ensuring coordination of activities from permanent staff, project staff from within UKRI and external organisations .
- Leadership of the evaluation and benefits realisation for the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge to ensure the agreed outputs and outcomes are delivered.
- Lead the planning, evidence and engagement of the Challenge to deliver the intended benefits.
- Support the development and delivery of the communications strategy.
- Provide clear, collaborative and collective leadership to inform senior executives and ensure the smooth operation of the Challenge and broader ISCF portfolio.
Delivery
- Responsible to the Challenge Director for the development and maintenance of the Challenge Delivery Plan that defines the portfolio of activities needed to deliver the business case.
- Providing clear thought leadership for the programme team and the challenge to enable better delivery for the transformational change required.
- Accountable for ensuring the challenge operates within the agreed governance structures for decision-making and audit trails
- Leadership of programme-level reporting for key stakeholders and decision-makers, in conjunction with the Challenge Director and portfolio manager
- Accountable for the effective planning of the challenge and delivery against the programme plan, working with Challenge Director on alignment of challenge team resourcing
- Leadership of effective risk and assurance management
- Support the Challenge Director in the delivery of the Challenge budget, within the timescales and spend profile agreed in the delivery plan
Stakeholder Management
- Support the Challenge Director in delivery of the stakeholder engagement plan, including:
- Development of the stakeholder analysis for the challenge
- Ensuring appropriate engagement with key stakeholders
- Ensuring an effective internal and external communication plan is in place for the challenge, with appropriate links with the wider ISCF communications plan
- Leading on key stakeholder relationships as agreed with the Challenge Director, including cross-Government liaison
- Active support of external and internal events for the challenge as agreed with the Challenge Director
- Ensuring effective engagement with the Advisory Group to maximize the benefit of the group for the challenge
- Supporting the Challenge Director in evolving and communicating a compelling vision for the overall challenge, including the identification of clear success criteria and end parameters for the challenge programme and its project portfolio;
- Work across UKRI, key government departments and businesses to ensure that the ISCF challenge meets its aims and continues to be in line with the national need
- Oversee the investments to ensure they are meeting their aims and draw on lessons learned from them to share widely
- Leadership of multi-disciplined, matrix teams, both internal and external across the breadth of the UK economy to achieve challenge deliverables;
- Deputising for the Challenge Director; representing the challenge at high-profile events and meetings as required;
- Engagement of senior and executive stakeholders across UKRI, academia, industry and government to shape and define the scope and objectives; addressing issues with stakeholders ensuring they are fully engaged and able to support delivery;
- Work to ensure consistent engagement with and involvement of varied partners (academia/Industry etc.) across the challenge, cultivating effective integration of all involved parties;
- Ensure lessons learned from the oversight of investments and assurance in meeting their aim are shared widely, in line with UKRI priorities
- Championing diversity and inclusion to influence internal and external audiences, including developing a plan to address challenges and realise opportunities
This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.
Person Specification:
- Proven leadership skills with an ability to motivate and develop capability within a team.
- The post-holder will be able to work in an agile and flexible manner, capable of identifying the right approach to the challenge in hand and translating that approach into effective delivery;
- Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships and influence with senior and executive people across the breath of the UK economy; academia, industry and government.
- Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable and proactive, with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
Qualifications:
- Educated to degree-level (or with equivalent experience)
Desirable:
- Post-graduate and professional qualification in a relevant discipline advantageous.
Experience:
Essential –
- Strategic experience in the delivery of a complex, public sector programmes delivering policy-led change.
- Proven track record, at senior leadership level, of strategic planning and delivery.
- Considerable experience of leadership of stakeholder management, working at senior level with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrable achievement of results through influencing skills and negotiations rather than direct control;
- Effective management of significant budgets, implementing cost-control and forecasting in a tightly controlled environment.
- Successful management of multiple senior stakeholders with conflicting demands and priorities.
- Managing complex programmes and delivering a broad range of benefits, across the public and/or private sectors;
- Leading and developing a high-performance team across multiple locations to deliver exceptional results.
Desirable –
- Understanding of the structure and governance of key UKRI partner organisations as well as its constituent agencies and brands, as well as the devolved administrations;
- Strategic leadership across the range of activities covered by delivery of this challenge programme.
- Working extensively with stakeholders in a range of fields associated with delivering this challenge (for example, BEIS and other government departments, consultancies, research organisations, local authorities, funders, etc.).
Skills:
- Management of diverse and complex stakeholders and with the ability to negotiate successfully to meet the needs of individual parties;
- Ability to think strategically and then translate into actionable and achievable plans;
- Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to quickly understand new and complex issues and to apply creative solutions;
- A willingness to challenge preconceptions and offer well-reasoned and considered judgements to all levels of stakeholders
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, delivered consistently;
- Proven ability to work at board and executive-level;
- Strong networking capability, able to demonstrate excellent commercial and political judgement;
- Proven ability to lead a diverse group of stakeholders around a common challenge;
- Recognisable influencing skills, with credibility as a dynamic leader;
- Sound financial acumen with the ability to provide efficiency and value for money;
- Leading by example, promoting an ethos of high performance, instilling a clear sense of purpose, priority and direction in order to set the standards;
- Excellent planning and delivery across concurrent projects.
Competencies:
All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management
Travel Requirements:
Field-based: There will a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.
Equal Opportunities:
We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.
UK Research and Innovation:
Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/
Employee Benefits:
We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Flexible Working:
We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Pre-employment Screening:
To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.
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.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.
Applications must be submitted by;
11-11-2024
