Innovation Manager - Stakeholder Relations (FTC)

Job Title - Innovation Manager (Knowledge Transfer Manager) - Stakeholder Relations

Contract - Fixed term until 28th March 2025 with a possibility to extend

Hours - Full time (37.5 hours)

Location - Home based (UK)

Salary - £34,215 to £40,000

Purpose of the Role

IUK BC works with strategic partners across the ecosystem to ensure that innovation is driven from a more diverse base that supports better innovation outcomes and helps the UK become a leading nation in innovation nationally and globally.

The main purpose of this role will be to work with the relevant Innovate UK team that the express aim of increasing the procurement of innovation by the UK public sector (both public procurement of innovation and pre-commercial procurement of innovation). By doing so you will also contribute towards to IUK’s and IUK BC’s success by working with colleagues on cross-sector collaboration projects and engaging with Innovate UK, the rest of UKRI and relevant government departments, and the wider public sector that add value to all parties and create long lasting collaborations and partnerships. This role will help develop and deliver a stakeholder strategy to ensure IUK and IUK BC builds and maintains these relationships with the public and private sector. This position will manage stakeholder relationships through a CRM system and identify opportunities and gaps as well as monitoring existing relationships.

The post holder will be expected to leverage relationships to promote Innovate UK & IUK BC externally and assist IUK and IUK BC’s role in delivering UK government policy that is related to procurement and innovation.

Roles & responsibilities

• Work with IUK and IUK BC colleagues to develop and deliver a stakeholder strategy that delivers against IUK and IUK BC’s strategic plans
• Build and maintain a wide range of stakeholder relationships across the UK on behalf of IUK and IUK BC
• Work across IUK and IUK BC to assist the delivery of a stakeholder management and relationship strategy, specifically for IUK and IUK BC leadership and support of the public procurement of innovation.
• Build and maintain a good rapport with key stakeholders, including private and public organisations
• Work across IUK and IUK BC teams and senior leadership to provide intelligence on important emerging stakeholder relationships
• Act as a network facilitator within and across communities
• Work with the IUK BC CRM system to capture and promote diverse networks and individuals for engagement across all BC sectors and UK regions
• Identify new opportunities with potential and existing partners to secure projects that align with IUK and IUK BC priorities
• Deliver key business metrics agreed with the line manager, and track progress, capturing outcomes and success stories
• Lead on workshops/programme delivery, with high levels of company seniority or complexity

Essential experience

• Experience and aptitude in business and public-sector stakeholder engagement and management at all levels, with a good professional profile and network
• A strong general understanding of political and policy environment around innovation
• An understanding of the procurement environment and how this is evolving
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders and utilising tools such as a CRM
• Strong personal network of senior figures in many companies/public bodies/organisations and demonstrable reputation for representing their organisation at conferences and workshops.

Skills

• A self-starter, able to demonstrate high levels of initiative and motivation
• Strong business orientation and alignment with company values.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships
• Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment
• A good communicator with well-developed written and verbal skills, able to translate complex topics for broad audiences, including both business and policymakers
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation, and project management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Diplomatic sensitivity
• Adaptability

About Innovate UK Business Connect

We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking - accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.

Benefits

• This role has a salary of £34,215 to £40,000
• 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays
• Enhanced Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme
• Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme

This is a currently a fixed term contract until 28th March 2025 with a possibility of extending.

This advert will close on Wednesday 18th December.

First stage interviews to be held w/c 6th January.

Second stage interviews to be held w/c 13th January.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided. Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to recruitment@iukbc.org.uk

Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.

If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing recruitment@iukbc.org.uk