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

Job summary

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.

Job description

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 both 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.
• Developing matrix delivery approaches by 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 IUKs 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.

Person specification

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience. (S)
• Up-to-date and broad-based knowledge of innovation in the defence, and security sector.(S&I)
• 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.(S&I)
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across government and industry. (I)
• Technical credibility with strong collaborative skills. (S&I)
• Experience designing operating models and governance.(S&I)
• Willingness and ability to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. Further information available here.(S&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 (opens in a new window).

• 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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org