Innovation Lead - Ofgem SIF

Job summary

Context:

Innovate UK is Ofgem’s delivery partner for the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund is the largest UK energy innovation fund. It was established in 2021 as a £450 million funding programme, designed to drive innovation and transformation in energy networks. From 2026, this funding is increasing by a further £500m +. Innovation is critical to ensuring networks can facilitate decarbonisation across Britain's energy system. SIF accelerates transformational whole energy system innovation to address climate change and ensure value for money for people who use and pay for networks.

For more information about the Strategic Innovation Fund visit: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

The role holder will operate within the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Team which sits within the Net Zero Domain.

Job Purpose:

This is an exciting and varied role developing and delivering the technical aspects of the Ofgem SIF programme. A good understanding of energy markets, price controls, Ofgem and network companies is key. You will be responsible for working with project teams throughout the idea generation and development, application, assessment, delivery and evaluation lifecycle of the project. Alongside project level work, you will be responsible for coordination of cross-sector working groups (SIF Innovation Delivery Groups). Launching in 2026, these groups will play a key role in ensuring a collaborative, coordinated and focused approach to achieving Innovation Challenge objectives and making sure wider learnings from projects are disseminated effectively.

We are keen to hear from applicants who demonstrate understanding of how innovation funding drives investible propositions, and the types of projects that could deliver a net-zero future.

This role requires you to work in an agile manner with Ofgem, network companies and other partners. You will be iterating and developing the ongoing innovation strategy for the programme and working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the sector. We aim to increase the pipeline of innovative ideas entering the programme and the number of projects successful achieving deployment as they leave the programme. The role will involve working alongside technical, regulatory and policy teams within partner organisation, acting as a technical authority and thought leader.

Job description

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Be a subject matter expert in a technical theme relevant to the SIF (such as network planning, flexibility and resilience or physical network infrastructure, green gases, data and AI,) and participate and support Innovation Delivery Groups related to this theme.
• Manage and facilitate the delivery of a portfolio of strategically important innovation projects that will be instrumental in achieving UK decarbonisation and climate targets, including coordination of the assessment process, Stage Gates, reviewing project deliverables and attendance at kick off and quarterly review meetings.
• Gather key insights and learnings from a portfolio of SIF projects to enable programme level analysis and lead the drafting of learning and insight materials.
• Support Innovation Managers and Head of Innovation in insight dissemination activities.
• Represent the programme and providing thought-leadership in key public and government forums, including conferences, meetings and workshops and in the media as appropriate.
• Deliver and continuously improve all steps of the competition and assessment process, in partnership with the other team members.
• Build strong working relationships with relevant bodies and groups. This includes networks, businesses, trade associations, Catapults, government departments, private investors, regulatory bodies and research organisations.
• Promotion of the programme based on an excellent understanding of relevant industries and technologies.
• Facilitate collaboration between stakeholders and the formation of high performing project partnerships.
• Identifying and establishing new partnership arrangements to utilise a range of funding types and support to businesses.
• Support Innovation Managers in facilitating collaboration across UKRI and UK government departments, helping to align energy systems funding and using the knowledge and capability of other teams to realise success.
• Ensure that UK activity is internationally recognized, competitive, and builds on regional strengths across the UK.
• Line management responsibilities may be required in this role and cross team working is essential.

Person specification

Person Specification:

This position requires a person with technical and commercial awareness who can manage contending priorities between multiple partners and organisations. We are looking for someone able to make sense of multiple information sources and articulate a clear and compelling vision. Someone who can is passionate about and can effectively communicate what needs to be done to deliver a world leading Net Zero innovation programme, and whom can translate this vision into a series of targets.

The successful applicant should be a team player, willing to share knowledge on clean growth and to learn from others. We are looking for a motivated self-starter with an excellent ability to communicate to wide audiences in an engaging manner. Someone with the ability to identify and build positive collaborations and strategic partnerships to deliver against Innovate UK’s Net Zero Innovation Strategy.

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential

• Degree in electrical engineering, energy, or a related technical discipline or equivalent relevant experience. (S)
• Strong technical knowledge and interest in energy networks and energy system innovation. (S&I)
• Experience in energy system decarbonisation, grid innovation, or network operations. (S&I)
• Proven experience coordinating and delivering complex technical programmes, particularly in energy networks, innovation projects, or regulated industries. (S&I)
• Experience in managing and reviewing technical deliverables, assessing feasibility, compliance, and benefits realisation. (S&I)
• Experience in translating technical outputs into accessible insights for non-technical audiences. (S&I)
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience, including building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders, regulators, government departments, network operators, and industry partners. (S&I)
• Clear ability to develop, grow and use personal and business networks (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

To view the full job description, please click ‘Apply’ to visit our careers site, where you can download the candidate pack and learn more about the role.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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).

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org