Innovation Lead - National Security and Defence (Strategy and Systems)

Innovation Lead - National Security and Defence (Strategy and Systems)

Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Reports to: Director, NS&D

Location: Field based

Contract: Permanent

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work life balance and is happy to discuss flexible working arrangements.

Context

This is a new, critical role helping lead the development and delivery of Innovate UK's National Security and Defence strategy and systems. The role operates across Innovate UK, UKRI, and the wider defence and national security ecosystem to establish a coherent partnering approach and an effective dual use operating model.

We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.

Job Purpose

The Innovation Lead - National Security and Defence will lead the design and delivery of Innovate UK's approach to national security and defence innovation, creating a dual use operating model that supports high potential businesses to scale and deliver critical capability.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Strategy and Partnerships - Lead the development of Innovate UK's National Security and Defence innovation strategy, working across the NS&D programme team, wider IUK and helping to shape and integrate this with the broader UKRI programme. Build partnerships across government, industry, Catapults and the wider ecosystem. Embed innovation fundamentals including inclusive innovation, regulation & standards, skills and place & global across the programme. Work with the Catapult MoD Alliance group to develop relevant capability across the Catapult Network to support Industrial Strategy priorities: directly into Security & MoD, and through effective integration with the UKRI programme.
• Dual Use Operating Model - Design and shape changes to enhance Innovate UK's dual use operating model. Develop matrix delivery approaches drawing on expertise from other growth sector teams including Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Digital & Technologies. Ensure effective programme join up and pathways from the wider UKRI programme, built around translation of research excellence into high potential businesses. Support the development of a 'Fit for Defence' Velocity capability for high potential businesses, helping develop the core IUK offer and working with ecosystem partners to ensure IUK's new offer enhances and doesn't compete with other offers. Working with the Governance and Operations teams, establish an enhanced trusted research and innovation framework to deliver the NS&D programme and other dual use technologies, covering policy, people, processes and systems.
• Other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the band and level of responsibility of this post.

Person Specification

Experience & Qualifications

• Essential: Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Up to date and broad based knowledge of innovation in the defence and security sector.
• Appreciation of the wider industrial landscape in the UK, the key businesses and initiatives relevant to security and defence and the main challenges and opportunities that exist.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across government and industry.
• Technical credibility with strong collaborative skills.
• Experience designing operating models and governance.
• Willingness and ability to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

Shortlisting Criteria

• (S) - Assessed at shortlisting
• (I) - Assessed at interview
• (S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Competencies

• 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, with some flexibility. Innovate UK staff use telepresence tools for meetings to minimise travel.