Job Description

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Description

As a key member of the Innovate UK Business Connect Design in Innovation team, your purpose will be to manage capability-building products and services of the Innovate UK Business Connect Design in Innovation portfolio. This will include strategic development and delivery of Ignite Labs, which promote and foster the use of design skills and approaches in key sectors, and development of the Capability Compass, mapping core business needs and challenges to respective design capabilities and skills.



Demonstrating a keen and self-driven understanding of the demand for design in innovation, you will be responsible for strategic development of this section of the portfolio. You will work closely with the Head of Design, team colleagues and relevant sector teams to engage with high-potential businesses to understand their innovation needs, to articulate the fundamental role design must play in their plans, and to plan capability building activities in response to those needs.



You will lead on the design and delivery of first-class activities, tools, workshops and site visits, as well as the creation and publication of supporting media content, overseeing the marketing and communications strategy and outputs, and managing budgets at a project level.



More widely, you will contribute to Innovate UK Business Connect's success, connecting businesses with the innovation support ecosystem, the wider UKRI and other relevant government departments and leadership bodies around the UK and globally.###

Roles & Responsibilities

Lead and be a team member who supports innovation and business growth through the building of design capability, in particular leading the ongoing delivery of the strategic objectives of the Design Capability project. Work with senior leaders (internally and externally) to think and act innovatively and creatively, especially with regards to the role of design in innovation. Identify key thematic opportunities (sector, technology or challenge-based) for design to have significant impact and work closely with industry, government, and policy stakeholders to address strategic silos. Work with your Head of Team to translate strategy into business decisions and plans for Innovate UK Business Connect Design in Innovation Team projects and plans. Deliver key business metrics agreed with your line manager, and to track progress, capturing outcomes and success stories. Develop a broad network of strategically aligned contacts and building senior level partnerships, using your network of contacts to provide industry and government intelligence. Influencing strategies around future projects and priorities by using industry and government knowledge and contacts. Directly engage with businesses providing support through access to investment and making new connections and collaborations. Engage businesses with UK research and innovation assets (including Catapults and Research Centres) and engage with business communities through our networks and sector development growth projects. Undertake reporting obligations in line with Innovate UK Business Connect goals for impact measurement and take responsibility for complex and new areas, scoping out the challenge and defining knowledge transfer activities to meet a defined outcome.


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Experience & Skills

Essential Experience

Deep understanding of design disciplines appropriate for innovation across multiple sectors, technology areas and challenge themes including planet-centred design, systems-aware design, and inclusive design. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of working with innovation processes and design in innovation. Extensive experience of facilitating conversations and workshops to deliver meaningful outcomes. Managing and maintaining oversight of project budgets, expenditure, and targets. Capturing and analysing the outcomes and impacts of design in innovation activities and projects. Experience planning, coordinating, and delivering complex and innovative programmes of activity that require multi-stakeholder buy-in and commitment.

Desirable Experience

Experience in business environments that span a range of functions including R&D, innovation and business development and growth. Experience facilitating conversations and workshops to deliver meaningful outcomes. Experience of integrating government policies and research and innovation strategies into practice.

Essential Skills

Leadership in key areas of design with excellent links into key UK research centres and design practices. Track record in knowledge transfer and innovation, demonstrating the impact of such experience. An ability to switch between strategic and operational levels of thinking quickly and seamlessly. Leadership of teams of people, through projects involving innovation, leading with inclusive clear decisions, using judgement and evidence and taking responsibility. Curiosity and openness to change and learning. Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment. Adept at influencing and persuading. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships. Results-orientated and demonstrated delivery capability including for complex projects. Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, explaining complicated matters simply. Ability to deliver outcomes to agreed expectations and timelines. High level of IT literacy.

Desirable Skills

Confidence in working with (and stimulating) senior leaders to act innovatively and creatively. Commercially aware - acting on information to improve strategies (internally and externally). Adaptability and openness to work in new emerging business niches and across other relevant business sectors.


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Benefits & how to apply

This is a Grade 5 role with a salary of 35,926 to 42,000 pa 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays Enhanced Pension Plan (up to 10% employer contribution) 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 advert will close on Friday 25th July.


First stage interviews to be held w/c 4th August.



Second stage interviews to be held w/c 18th August.


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 and ongoing 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.



This role requires employees to

complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

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.###

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.