Applications must be submitted by; 28-11-2024 Vacancy for Head of International & Investment Readiness Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It complements Innovate UK project funding with intensive, specialist-led support for such ambitious businesses. Please note this advert will close on the 27th November 2024 at 23.59pm. Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here. Title: Head of International & Investment Readiness Band: UKRI Band G (UKRI Ts & Cs) Salary: £65,262 gross per annum Reports to: Deputy Director Business Growth Service 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: Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It complements Innovate UK project funding with intensive, specialist-led support for such ambitious businesses. “I f we can get more innovative UK businesses to grow and scale - and do so globally, we can build a strong and sustainable future UK economy” Innovate UK Business Growth has been developed to help us deliver that mission to help the great companies we work with, and the one we might work with in the future, achieve their full potential. Signalling Innovate UK’s intention - to explicitly focus not just on projects but on the businesses - helping our award-winning companies fulfil the promise of their Innovation and if we get it right -helping them to make a real contribution to UK economic recovery. Through our bespoke support our goal is that more of the companies we work with -will be better quality, investor ready and have the very best chance to go onto grow and scale. Job Purpose: Reporting to the Deputy Director Business Growth, the post-holder will have leadership and management responsibility for Innovate UK Business Growth Internationalisation and Investment Readiness,: leading, developing and managing operational delivery of the Innovate UK Business Growth service in line with our strategic objectives and commitments as part of the Products and Services Directorate. Working with the Head of Innovation Management and Scaleup to ensure the continuous development and improvement of the Innovate UK Business Growth core service offer, supporting partner and Innovation Growth Specialist and Ecosystem Innovation and Growth Specialist delivery. Managing and developing effective partnerships with the Innovate UK Investor Partnerships and Loans team, the Global, International Partnerships team and relevant teams within Innovate UK Business Connect. In addition, ensuring close coordination and coherence between the activities of the regional investment community, Enterprise Europe Network and DBT. Ensuring that current Innovate UK Business Growth activities and new services as they emerge, are closely aligned with overall Innovate UK strategy and objectives. Key relationships: The post holder will directly line manage the IUK Business Growth Innovation Lead International Ecosystem, IUK Business Growth International Ecosystems Manager and IUK Business Growth Innovation Lead Investment Readiness, and working with the Heads of function for Service Design and Service Development, the post holder will play a key role in the leadership team responsible for innovating Innovate UK Business Growth. We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role. Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: Coordinate closely with Business Growth senior leadership colleagues to inform development of the Innovate UK Business Growth portfolio, identifying areas of strategic need and opportunity Ensuring relevant risk management process and practice is developed and adhered to. Steer the evolution of Innovate UK Business Growth’s service portfolio. Driving Innovate UK Business Growth’s international and investment readiness offers, ensuring fit with core support. In turn informing the shape of the Innovation and Growth Specialists’ professional development. Developing and integrating new and enhanced service components aligned to Innovate UK Business Growth’s value proposition and Innovate UK’s Products and Services Directorate’s priorities Direct the Innovate UK Business Growth Innovation Leads to implement the delivery strategy and optimise the Innovate UK Service offer With the Head of Service Design and Engagement, oversee Business Growth’s interface with the Global International Partnerships and Investor Partnership teams: build strong relationships, raising awareness of the service and encourage them to harness it, thereby delivering Innovate UK’s growth at scale agenda Contribute to Innovate UK’s efforts towards a joined-up approach to supporting innovation-focused business across the innovation spectrum and UK regions through relationships with relevant bodies and networks Line management of the Innovate UK Business Growth Innovation Leads International Ecosystem and Investment Readiness, providing leadership and guidance Set objectives for the team, manage their development and direct and enable them to deliver to a high standard Contribute to the development of Innovate UK / DSIT strategies for growth at scale Be a strong advocate of the core values of UKRI and Innovate UK, representing the team and organisation at meetings, workshops and conferences including giving presentations Deputising for Deputy Director Business Growth as directed, including briefings for the EMT, as necessary Manage budgets for service delivery, working with the Head of Operations and Deputy Director Business Growth; including having personal authority to determine grant funding limits and changes for delivery partners appropriate to and for implementation of service delivery 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: Qualifications: Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or relevant equivalent experience Experience: Essential – Experience in a senior management role in a business support environment, professional, business services organisation, or of running own business Familiar with the UK & international innovation growth ecosystem(s), barriers, drivers and opportunities and roles of key public sector players Experience in creating, leading and maintaining productive relationships between organisations where there is a high degree of ambiguity in the boundaries between them including being robust when required Experience of achieving results through influencing skills rather than direct control Utilisation of economic evidence to inform strategy, policy and planning Experience of developing new approaches to solving business problems or exploiting new opportunities Experience of developing and implementing strategies to deliver the benefits of such opportunities Experience of managing a central team and / or regionally distributed workforce Experience of developing and implementing new processes and organisational change, delivering business critical changes into active environments Desirable – Experience of or interest in science, technology and innovation and its role in society and economic performance Facilitation / training for development Understanding of the investment environment Understanding of national and global factors impacting the management and growth of small / medium sized businesses Skills: Strategic thinking underpinned by proven analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to quickly understand new and complex issues and to propose solutions Clarity of thought and the ability to ‘think on one’s feet’, delivering effective project management Ability to work creatively and collaboratively within a team environment, and also capable of working independently to deliver results Persuasive and effective communicator, with experience of public speaking and exceptional influencing and interpersonal skills Demonstrable credibility and impact with senior business people The ability to effect culture change in a variety of organisational settings 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; 28-11-2024