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 Commercial Lead The role holder will operate within Innovate UK’s Ofgem: Strategic Innovation Fund team, which is part of the Net Zero Directorate. Innovate UK is Ofgem’s delivery partner for the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). This £450 million, five-year programme supports the gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks as well as the Electricity System Operator. Please note this advert will close on the 10th November 2024 at 23.59pm. Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here. Title: Commercial Lead Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs) Salary: £54,043 gross per annum Reports to: Head of Commercial – OFGEM Programme Location: Field based Contract: Permanent Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements. Context: The role holder will operate within Innovate UK’s Ofgem: Strategic Innovation Fund team, which is part of the Net Zero Directorate. Innovate UK is Ofgem’s delivery partner for the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). This £450 million, five-year programme supports the gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks as well as the Electricity System Operator. The SIF is part of the regulated price control system managed by energy regulator Ofgem and is funded by a very small proportion of the payments received from energy consumers. SIF accelerates innovation to transition the electricity and gas networks to net zero at lowest cost to consumers. The programme connects innovators with energy network operators and supports the best ideas towards commercialisation. Since the first round of Innovation Challenges were launched in 2021, the SIF has committed £136 million of SIF funding across 165 projects, leveraged a further £35.8m from industry and connected 215 project partners. For more information about the Strategic Innovation Fund visit: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif and explore the SIF Youtube Channel. We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role. Job Purpose: This is an exciting and varied role focused on delivering a transformational package of activities that will enable the successful development, commercialisation and deployment of innovative technology, products and services. The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) already funds projects with the potential to deliver massive carbon reduction, and consumer value. The role will focus on the existing and growing portfolio of demonstration projects to identify and deliver the right support and incentives to increase the speed of delivery, acceleration of rollout, and the likelihood of project benefits being realised. It will take a leading role in owning and driving forward some of our wider benefits analysis: from our contribution to the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA), to the forecasts and modelling for our portfolio of activities. The Programme is also identifying other activities that can support the SIF in finding and funding ambitious, truly transformational innovation, such as: technology foresighting for future SIF applications, collaborative development of pre-SIF ready innovation, the migration of successful innovation from international demonstration into GB Network Licensees, greater collaboration amongst licensees, projects requiring a mix of SIF and private funding and embryonic innovation requiring incubation. This role will engage across the SIF team, working closely with team members from our Innovation squad and Impact and Insights squad to find impactful interventions that can help in-flight projects be rolled out to business as usual (BAU) at scale and with pace. We are keen to hear from applicants who can demonstrate a good technical understanding of energy system innovation and the operating models of Ofgem regulated monopolies. We are looking for someone who can critically evaluate in-flight projects, as well as imagine future projects that can appeal to GB Network Licensees and harness innovation with substantial potential. As an expert in whole system thinking, you will be leading our approach to "doing things differently” and “being the difference”. This role requires you to work in an agile manner with Ofgem, energy network companies and other partners. You will be responsible for identifying and developing interventions on nationally significant energy system projects. The role requires the ability to scrutinise evidence, identify barriers, challenge statements and assumptions, and deliver activity that will strengthen the value of current and future projects in the SIF. Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: Own and manage the commercial relationships with projects and project partners Lead the identification of portfolio projects where further intervention can enable commercialisation and innovation deployment Support and facilitate projects to give them the best chance of successful commercialisation and roll out beyond SIF funding Critically challenge the commercialisation and rollout planning of in-flight demonstration projects Analyse and synthesize commercial and economic data for GVA analyses, alongside quantitatively drive market intelligence and insight development Find and foster engagement with critical technologies where a future fit with SIF could be encouraged Enhance support to ‘pre-SIF’ companies and innovators who have future ambitions to engage with Licensees for innovation funding Lead on engagements with international demonstration projects that could transition to GB demonstration via SIF Work closely with Innovation squad and Impacts & Insights squad colleagues to design the most efficient approach for engaging and supporting in-flight demonstration projects Host/Participate in Innovation & Commercial ‘surgeries’ with innovators Provide commercial leadership to the Call for Ideas process, focused on finding and nurturing energy system innovators 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: This position requires a person with a robust understanding of the energy system, a commercial grasp of network operations, and a good understanding of the price control and incentive mechanisms. As well as being comfortable challenging the norms, the successful candidate will be an expert in visualising the bigger picture when it comes to developing commercially viable innovation in a monopoly environment. We are looking for someone who is able to make sense of multiple information sources and deliver original thinking on how best to ensure we identify the projects with high-potential, and pull the relevant levers to help those projects realise their potential. The candidate should demonstrate a thorough understanding of innovation development and deployment, at-scale, within and across regulated monopolies. We have built an ambitious, supportive and knowledgeable team environment. The successful applicant should be a team player, be willing to share their knowledge of economic impact evaluation and to learn from others. We are looking for a motivated self-starter with an excellent ability to communicate to wide audiences in an engaging manner. Someone with the ability to identify and build positive collaborations and strategic partnerships to deliver against Innovate UK’s Net Zero Innovation Strategy. Qualifications: Degree or post-graduate qualification in a subject relevant to engineering, energy, economics, physical sciences. Experience: Essential experience of some of the following: Robust understanding of the energy sector; energy transmission, distribution, sustainability, renewable energy Experience of regulation and monopolies in a regulated sector. Significant experience of involvement in the at-scale deployment of innovation or new business process, ideally within a regulated utility Knowledge of commercial investment & other mechanisms of funding to support growth companies and project finance requirements Commercial contracting and management of technical energy installations Skills: An ability to work unsupervised, take personal initiative, and be able to prioritise and multitask. Ability to think and act strategically. Capable of applying a “client-focused” approach. Ability to analyse and make sense of financial and technical information. High degree of organisational ability and attention to detail. IT competency. Engaging written and oral communication skills, able to present to a wide range of audiences with confidence. Excellent consultation and influencing skills. Ability to take broad concepts and move these through to achievable schemes. Excellent social skills and ability to engage with a wide network of partners professionally and with integrity. 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 be 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