This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI). Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UK's Workday system may apply via the "Careers" application within the system). If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the "About Us information on the right". If you wish to apply for the position below, please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally, you should also advise your manager of your application. Applications must be submitted by 08-05-2025 Partnership Manager - Europe The post holder will contribute to supporting innovative high growth and scaling UK businesses to achieve success across Europe, by strengthening our and their relationships and partnerships with European counterparts Please note this advert will close on the 7th May 2025 at 23:59pm. Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here. Title: Partnership Manager - Europe Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs) Salary: £56,745 gross per annum Reports to: Head of Europe, European Programmes & India 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 be based in the UK, and will operate within Innovate UK's Europe team, part of the Global Team under the Place & Global Directorate. You will report to the Head of Europe, European Programmes & India, and work alongside the already existing Partnership Manager for Europe. There will be strong links to other teams within the organisation through this broad policy orientated role. With value chains operating globally and 95% of research and development (R&D) conducted outside of the UK, access to overseas markets, partners, investment, knowledge and skills is critical to enabling the growth of UK businesses. This is supported by the economic evidence, which shows a strong positive correlation between companies that internationalise and their subsequent growth trajectory. Innovate UK’s Global team exists to support innovative businesses across the UK to achieve faster growth and scale by enabling their international engagement. We help break down the barriers hindering businesses' ability to internationalise and put them at the forefront of international innovation opportunities. We help businesses through our knowledge, insight, relationships, and our toolkit of support. This toolkit includes support to identify relevant international opportunities; in getting ready for global growth by building business capability and capacity; and in enabling innovation partnerships with counterparts from other countries, accessed through bi- and multi-lateral collaborations, including to date through the EU’s flagship Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Innovate UK is increasing its investment in creating global innovation opportunities for UK businesses. It is imperative that Innovate UK is ensuring opportunities for UK businesses and the wider innovation ecosystem by deepening our relationships across Europe and developing collaborations on a bilateral basis as well as through existing networks, in particular Eureka & Horizon Europe. Job Purpose: This is an important role within Innovate UK’s Europe team, responsible and accountable on a day-to-day basis for managing the organisation's relationships and activities with Europe. The post holder will contribute to supporting innovative high growth and scaling UK businesses to achieve success across Europe, by strengthening our and their relationships and partnerships with European counterparts. The post holder will be responsible for building strong links between Innovate UK and partners including innovation agencies and other public and private sector partners in leading knowledge economies across Europe. Activities within this multi-faceted role will include being the principal Innovate UK point person for a number of European countries, building and managing relationships and agenda and direction setting in terms of Innovate UK’s engagement with Europe. This role will work in parallel and in addition to the existing Partnership Manager for Europe and reflects the growing interest and demand for bilateral collaborations with European countries outside of the Horizon Europe Programme. The role will include supporting delivery of our Global Expert Mission and Global Business Innovation Programmes and other programmes in the region, identifying and securing funding to take forward other activities with the region, setting up appropriate collaboration opportunities, and working closely with Innovate UK’s sector, domain and operation teams. Overall, it will provide a clear focus and overview of Innovate UK’s current programme of activity in the region and its future evolution. This role will work closely with the team of Horizon Europe National Contact Points (NCP) that supports UK participation in the EU’s flagship research and innovation programmes. Whilst drawing on the knowledge and experience of the NCP team where required, the main focus of this role is not on developing relationships with the EU institutions. It will also interact regularly with the Eureka and Eurostars Programme Manager, in supporting the decision-making and delivery related to the various Eureka programmes that Innovate UK participates in. Reporting to the Head of Europe, European Programmes & India, the role has a significant degree of freedom to operate, and the expectation is that the candidate will be of a sufficient level of experience to employ this freedom to operate effectively. Candidates should also be sufficiently experienced to ensure a strategic approach and to enable positive relationship building with key people in businesses, peer innovation agencies, ministries, and UK representatives in-country, such as the Government’s Science and Technology Network (STN) in Europe and the Department for Business & International Trade. There are currently no line management duties for this role. Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: Work collaboratively with the existing Partnership Manager for Europe and across the global team to define and drive strategic priorities for Innovate UK engagement in Europe for the next 3-5 years. Develop, manage and strengthen the organisation's strategic partnerships with key agencies in Europe, enabling business-led innovation activities and collaboration at national but also where appropriate, regional/state level. Define where there is need and opportunity to work outside but alongside Horizon Europe work programmes for UK benefit. Act as the organisational focal point for information and expertise and provide thought leadership on all matters relating to business-led innovation opportunities with Europe. Represent Innovate UK (and where required, UKRI) in senior level meetings and events in the UK and Europe (and other countries as appropriate), with a view to informing and negotiating priorities for business-focused activities. Work with colleagues and with overseas partner agencies to initiate, direct and deliver a portfolio of activities that will enable opportunities for UK businesses – this could include Global Expert Missions, Global Business Innovation Programmes, Global Incubator Programmes and joint R&D and innovation programmes. Maintain close relationships with colleagues in the UK and in country including across UKRI, Science and Technology Network, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and other UK government departments in order to retain understanding and influence wider UK Government engagements with Europe, as appropriate. Prioritise, manage and deliver our European activities, including CR&D competitions, as well as provide strategic direction and oversight to the Global Expert Missions and Global Business Innovation Programmes. 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. Shortlisting criteria (S) – Assessed at shortlisting (I) – Assessed at interview (S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview Person Specification: Experience & Qualifications: Essential – Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience. (S) Working in innovation, preferably in an industrial or business context (S) Working in an international environment and understanding of relevant business cultures (S) Initiating, negotiating and building effective internal and external organisational-level partnerships (S&I) Working with senior stakeholders to develop and implement strategy (S&I) Successfully managing and delivering external complex multi-stakeholder programmes (S&I) Influencing and coordinating stakeholders remotely/from a distance (S&I) Working with autonomy and successful decision-making; and managing multiple strands of activity and prioritising accordingly (S&I) Strong understanding of the UK’s innovation ecosystem and the role of key private/public sector players (S&I) Desirable – Experience working in international science and innovation (S&I) Knowledge and experience of working in or with European partners (S) 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 Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification. Travel Requirements: Field-based: There will be a requirement to travel, national & international, 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; 08-05-2025