Innovation Lead - National Security & Defence

Job summary

Context:

Innovate UK is adapting its strategy to align more closely with the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy (2025). A new area of focus will be supporting National Security & Defence (NSAD) objectives and the growth of companies involved in the development of dual-use technologies. To fulfill these objectives, a new programme launched in April to be delivered by the new [National Security &] Defence (NS&D) Growth Sector team, and a key part of the broader UKRI NS&D programme.

The aim of the Dual-Use Technology Innovation Programme (DTIP) is to help deliver a resilient, sovereign, and technologically advanced UK NS&D ecosystem by 2030 through targeted, collaborative, and regionally inclusive innovation investment in dual-use technologies. This will create opportunities for a high-growth economy that catalyses rapid growth amongst our most promising businesses alongside delivering NS&D specific objectives.

Working with stakeholders across government to identify and exploit the commercial potential of these technology flows will be a key theme of the DTIP programme. We will support the transfer of technologies from civil to defence and unlock new markets for defence and security applications, with a key focus on positioning public-sector users and defence supply-chains as launch customers. We will also work to build the industrial capability and resilience of key dual-use sectors and remove barriers to adoption for the use of autonomous platforms and enabling technologies.

Job description

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Build strong working relationships with relevant bodies and networks to support the development and delivery of thematic programme priorities. These include, but are not limited to, businesses, trade associations, Catapults, government departments and agencies, private investors, regulatory bodies and research organisations.
• Identify, negotiate and establish new partnership arrangements to leverage private and other public funding and support to businesses, to deliver an improved (business) customer experience and outcomes.
• Work with internal colleagues to ensure the dissemination of results and sharing of key learnings.
• Identify and support the active management of high potential businesses within the NS&D sector and support their growth journey via targeted interventions.
• Take on responsibility for managing a portfolio of complex R&D projects, working closely project tea ms, Monitoring Service Providers (MSPs) and internal colleagues to support their operational and technical needs throughout their project lifecycle.
• Undertake project visits as appropriate, working with other internal parties to ensure stakeholder disputes are handled efficiently and successes are recognised and communicated effectively.
• Represent Innovate UK at events such as conferences, meetings, workshops, developing a strong network of stakeholders.

Person specification

Qualifications:

• Degree or post-graduate qualification in a subject relating to engineering, defence or autonomous systems or with proven relevant experience (S)

Essential –

• Appreciation of the wider industrial landscape in the UK, the key businesses and support initiatives and the main challenges and opportunities that exist for R&D and growth. (S&I)
• Knowledge and experience of innovation and a general understanding of the support needed by both SMEs and larger companies to develop and deploy new technologies (S&I)
• Familiarity with the wider research environment, and how research and innovation programmes move through to deployment and measurable impact (S&I)
• Experience in communication, negotiation, and liaison with businesses, government departments, trade bodies, regulators, and research institutes to develop partnerships and influence agendas (S&I)
• Willingness and ability to obtain at least Security Check (SC) level clearances. Further information available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/sc-guidance-pack-for-applicants (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

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org