Head of International & Investment Readiness

To lead the Innovate UK EDGE Internationalisation and Investment Readiness team, within the wider Business Growth team, in delivering the service offer and ensuring it remains dynamic and relevant to UK growth-focused innovators and delivery partners within the wider innovation and growth ecosystem. Working with the Head of Innovation Management and Scaleup to ensure the continuous development and improvement of the Innovate UK EDGE 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 KTN. 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 EDGE activities and new services as they emerge, are
closely aligned with overall Innovate UK strategy and objectives.
As such, they will have a key role in the leadership team responsible for innovating Innovate UK EDGE, to better serve the wider organisation and ultimately the UK’s R&D-focused growth businesses.
Key relationships:
The post holder will directly line manage the IUK EDGE Innovation Lead International Ecosystem, IUK EDGE International Ecosystems Manager and IUK EDGE Innovation Lead Investment Readiness, and work closely with the Head of Innovation Management and Scaleup for a joined-up approach across the team and their reports. The post holder will be expected to work closely with the other Heads of Function across the team and wider organisation, particularly within Products and Services, Domains and Global teams.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role., + Coordinate closely with Business Growth senior leadership colleagues to inform development of the Innovate UK EDGE 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 EDGE’s service portfolio. Driving Innovate UK EDGE’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 EDGE’s value proposition and Innovate UK’s Products and Services Directorate’s priorities
+ Direct the Innovate UK EDGE 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 EDGE 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., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
+ Seeing the Big Picture, We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process

+ 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., + Experience of or interest in science, technology and innovation and its role in society and economic performance

Alongside your salary of £65,262, Innovate UK contributes £18,906 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
1st interview incl presentation
Interviews will either take place remotely via Zoom/Teams or n person face to face
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.