Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point (Digital) - Maternity Cover

Job summary

.Context:

National Contact Points (NCPs) work to promote successful UK engagement and participation in Horizon Europe programmes, including answering queries, supporting partner and funding identification, and support throughout the application and assessment process. There are 20 current NCPs in the UK, with international counterparts, who sit across UKRI, the Research Councils, and within Innovate UK. 14 of the 20 UK NCPs sit within Innovate UK, positioned throughout the relevant domain or international teams.

The network of NCPs is the main structure through which Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme influence priorities and provide essential guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. The objective being to increase UK engagement and success in the programme.

This role sits within the Digital & Technology growth sector team, reporting to the Head of Foundational Capabilities - AI & Digital and operates as part of the UKRI global delivery model. Innovate UK’s Global team supports 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 we put them at the forefront of international innovation opportunities. We help businesses through our toolkit of products and services. These include for example, support to UK applicants to: identify relevant international opportunities; get ready for global growth by building awareness, capability and capacity; work with businesses from other countries on R&D and innovation; and access support from the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. This role also includes representing the UK at relevant Programme committees and Joint Undertakings, and supporting strategically across our participation in Horizon Europe.

The role is based in Innovate UK’s Digital and Technologies domain, which includes teams focused on the UK Government’s frontier technologies. The team are responsible for helping breakthrough technologies become scalable businesses — turning innovation into commercial and economic growth. As well as UK opportunities the team also seeks to influence and support UK businesses and others in securing partnerships and funding through European programmes, Horizon Europe in particular. The post holder will also work with the global directorate, seeking to influence and support UK applicants in securing partnerships and funding through European programmes, Horizon Europe in particular.

Job description

Job Purpose:

The role holder is one of the UK’s focal point for the Digital opportunities within the EU’s Horizon Europe programme as the Digital National Contact Point (NCP). The Digital programme encompasses Robotics, Electronics, Photonics, Data and Computing (including cloud), Artificial Intelligence, Communications (5&6G/IoT), Decentralised digital technologies), Immersive/Extended Reality (+Quantum, Semiconductors, High Performance Computing). An NCP is a European Commission-recognised technical expert with privileged access to Commission officials, who works closely with and advises UK Government policy leads responsible for the relevant programme area. This is achieved by helping ensure future calls are informed by UK interests and priorities, proactively identifying key UK organisations that could benefit from engagement in the programme, and by enabling UK entities to navigate and identify the most suitable opportunities and partners to take forward their research and innovation priorities.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Help UK entities understand and navigate the matrix of opportunities across the domestic and international landscape.
• Influence and shape future priorities for the digital aspects of the Horizon Europe programme, as the nominated UK representative attending meetings online, in Brussels and elsewhere as necessary.
• Leading on the Digital Tech partnerships and relevant Cluster activities of Horizon Europe on behalf of Innovate UK.
• Influence the development of future Work Programmes through engaging with relevant European Commission officials, partners in UK Government and other delegates to the Programme Committee and external partnerships.
• Develop a strong understanding of UK capabilities and their requirements of international partners with a view to identifying the most relevant partners.
• Continue to support UK participation in Horizon Europe programmes, within the spirit of Commission guidance on NCPs, being the subject matter expert for the UK on European programmes in the digital technologies area.
• Work within UKRI including Innovate UK to develop a strategy for the area, and focus their efforts on the highest potential opportunities that delivers optimum results for the UK R&I community through proactive outreach to stakeholders looking to benefit from the opportunity of European programmes.
• Build strong relationships with relevant bodies and networks such as businesses, research organisations, trade associations, government departments and agencies/local authorities, private investors, and regulatory bodies.
• Support relevant programmes beyond those run by the EU, drawing on corporate resources such as Customer Support Services (CSS), Innovate UK Business Growth, Catapults and Innovate UK Business Connect.
• Support impact analysis of UK participation and outputs of engagement with digital technologies focused programmes

Person specification

Person Specification:

This position requires a person with commercial awareness who can manage competing priorities and a complex domestic and international stakeholder environment. The role holder will need to make sense of multiple data sources, to establish underlying patterns and articulate a clear and compelling vision and strategy of what needs to be done, as well as being able to engage an external audience on regular occasions through being an accomplished communicator. A good team player, willing to share knowledge and ideas with others and to learn from them. Able to self-start when needed.

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

• Degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant science or discipline, or equivalent experience. (S)
• Knowledge of European Framework programmes e.g. as participant, adviser, or National Contact Point (S&I)
• Up-to-date and broad-based knowledge of innovation in digital applications, including but not limited to: AI, Data, Robotics, Electronics, sensors and photonics, Quantum, Future Telcomms, and IoT (S&I)
• Appreciation of the wider industrial landscape in the UK, including the key businesses and initiatives relevant to digital technologies (I)
• Familiarity with the wider research environment, both in the UK and globally (I)
• Stakeholder and resource management experience, including working in a cross-functional team and with senior representatives from business and Governments managing conflicting demands and priorities (S&I)
• Strong oral communication skills and presenting experience, including online (I)
• Strong written skills in developing papers/reports for Innovate UK and others, including the ability to produce clear, concise and accurate reports (S&I)
• Ability to respond calmly under pressure and to make impartial and well-considered judgments in complex situations, when required (I)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,589, Innovate UK contributes £16,973 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%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

1st interview incl presentation.

Interviews will either take place remotely via Teams or in 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 security 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.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment@ukri.org
• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org