CANDIDATE BRIEF Head of Innovation Development, Research and Innovation Service Salary: Grade 9 ( 49,149 56,950 p.a.) Reference: CSRIS1088 We will consider flexible working arrangements
Head of Innovation Development Research and Innovation Service Are you an experienced and ambitious Research and Innovation Professional looking to further your career in one of the UK s leading research intensive Universities? Would you like to help progress UK leading research through effective partnerships with industry and help secure investments from national funding streams to help drive innovation, productivity and growth in industrial partners? Are you a confident leader capable of building an excellent team that leads effective working relationships with academic and industrial colleagues? The University s Strategic Plan (2015-2020) sets out a clear vision to increase the volume, quality and impact of our research; at Leeds we have created a world leading and vibrant environment that gives rise to exciting multidisciplinary research opportunities. The challenge is to harness ideas that have significant impact potential and a timely market need, and translate them into tangible research initiatives that engage industry partners and satisfy the requirements of major government funders. The Innovation Development team focus on helping academics to engage with Innovate UK and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and support the development of effective partnerships with companies to drive collaborative RandD. The team leads the development and delivery of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) and also oversees research translation budgets that support the process of translating proven science into validated technologies that companies have the confidence to take all the way to market. The Innovation Development team is a key team within the Research and Innovation Development team. The Head of Innovation Development will report to the Director of Research and Innovation Development and will work closely with the Head of Research Development who leads on our interactions with UKRI. The Head of Innovation Development will lead the Innovation Development team who have a wide network of colleagues with whom they work to deliver collaborative innovation, including academics, industry partners, the wider Research and Innovation Development team and the Commercialisation team. Playing a key role in leading the development and implementation of strategic plans for innovation development, you will proactively develop new collaborative innovation and research translational opportunities, horizon-scan and gather intelligence on
industrial engagement activities and capitalise on such opportunities. You will establish and manage high level relationships with a wide range of world leading academics, and research and innovation support staff, across the University and will build strong relationships with industrial partners and innovation funding bodies, particularly Innovate UK. Possessing a relevant degree (or equivalent) in Sciences, Technology or Engineering, and with relevant research knowledge gained via a PhD or equivalent experience in industry or academia, you will have capability in developing research and innovation strategies in complex organisations, excellent project management skills, and the ability to build effective and value creating partnerships. You will work with colleagues across the University to provide a coordinated service across the full range of industrial strategy to collaborative innovation. You will work with the full range of innovation funders including Innovate UK, Industrial Strategy Challenge Funds and local business innovation schemes led by the Local Enterprise Partnership. What does the role entail? As Head of Innovation Development, your main duties will include: Leading the Innovation Development team to work effectively as part of the wider UK Research and Innovation Development team to ensure that the right capabilities are prioritised and academics and external partners are supported to secure collaborative innovation projects; Leading on innovation development projects and programmes, including leadership of the University s approach to the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, to help grow collaborative income and establish effective partnerships with companies; Leading the development of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) scheme to ensure opportunities to maximise value from KTPs are harnessed and that companies benefit from a smooth process from application through to award and its delivery with the lead academic; Leading the design and implementation of research translation funding that includes EPSRC Impact Accelerator Accounts (IAA), STFC IAA, ESRC IAA and MRC Confidence in Concept schemes, to ensure the right projects and opportunities are identified and successfully progressed to accelerate the delivery of impact from world leading research;
Leading the University s relationship with Innovate UK and form strong partnerships with key individuals within the Knowledge Transfer Network and network of Catapults, the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and other business intermediaries; Acting as a senior leader for innovation development and partner engagement within the University, and proactively seeking new external research and innovation opportunities and income, e.g. from industry, and through working in partnership with the Commercialisation team, the Nexus team, the Corporate Relationship and Major Research Initiatives team at the University to build effective partnerships with companies and partners that deliver value and impact; Leading on and proactively managing high quality, user-informed innovation proposals with strong industrial engagement, supporting key academics and research groups to identify opportunities and pathways to fund collaborative innovation activity. This would include identifying innovation-ready academics across all career stages so that the right academics can be targeted for the right innovation development opportunity; Building and managing external relationships of trust and credibility with local, national and global innovation funding agencies, other HEI partners and senior academics, and in particular companies. Through these relationships, gathering and developing strategic intelligence on new national and international collaborative innovation opportunities that match the University s strengths; Planning, designing and delivering development meetings and workshops to promote the University s capabilities and develop new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund opportunities and other collaborative innovation projects; Working with the wider UK Research and Innovation Development team to provide support for impact and innovation related requirements associated with research grants; Working with the University s marketing and communications teams to develop promotional routes for collaborative innovation and partner engagement at Leeds for both internal and external audiences; These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties will be required consistent with the grade of the post.
What will you bring to the role? As Head of Innovation Development you will have: A degree and relevant research experience within Sciences, Technology or Engineering and a PhD or equivalent research experience within industry/academia; Substantial proven experience of management and leadership through working with a variety of stakeholders in innovation development or research translation within a Higher Education Institution or other research and development environments, including in industry; Experience of working with or within industry, and a proven track record of initiating commercial opportunities and delivering industry funded collaborative research projects, with an awareness of the associated challenges and opportunities; A proven track record of translating cutting edge research and innovation into successful new commercial activities; Knowledge of UK innovation funding bodies and schemes that include support mechanisms for successful research translation, including: Innovate UK, the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Collaborative RandD, Catalyst Funding and opportunities available through the Catapult network. You will also have knowledge of the Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability as a confident leader to influence and communicate effectively and sensitively with individuals from a range of backgrounds, building trust and influence at all levels. This will include managing national and international relationships with senior representatives from academia, industry and funders in a manner that aligns with the University s values; Experience of working with academic researchers and industrial funders, including previous experience and understanding of the challenges in conducting collaborative innovation, and experience of facilitating collaborations for innovation funding applications; A confident and inspiring personal leadership style, as evidenced by a trackrecord of having successfully influenced organisational strategy and of developing and leading the implementation of strategies, policies and processes across complex organisations and national boundaries; Experience of facilitating workshops and sandpit-style events;
Excellent project management skills, with a proven track record in delivering results; The ability to demonstrate a high level of initiative and adaptability, with strong analytical, creative and problem-solving skills. You may also have: Experience working for a research funding body or commercial organisation; Project management qualification e.g. PRINCE2, or suitable project management experience; Extensive experience and knowledge of University or industry research and/or innovation best practice. How to apply You can apply for this role online; more guidance can be found on our How to Apply information. Applications should be submitted by 23.59 (UK time) on the advertised closing date. Contact information To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: Dr Ceri Williams, Director of Research and Innovation Tel: +44(0) 113 343 6050 Email: c.j.r.williams@leeds.ac.uk For additional information on working in the UKRI Development team contact: Dr Rachel Woolley, Head of Research Development Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 4663 Email: r.l.woolley@leeds.ac.uk
Additional information Working at Leeds You can find out more about our generous benefits package and more about what it is like to work at the University and live in the Leeds area in our Working at Leeds information. Candidates with disabilities Information for candidates with disabilities, impairments or health conditions, including requesting alternative formats, can be found in our Accessibility information or by getting in touch with us at disclosure@leeds.ac.uk. Criminal record information Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 A criminal record check is not required for this position, however, all applicants will be required to declare if they have any unspent criminal offences, including those pending. Any offer of appointment will be in accordance with our Criminal Records policy. You can find out more about required checks and declarations in our Criminal Records information.