Innovation Manager - Life Science & Biotech

Job Title - Knowledge Transfer Manager (Innovation Manager) - Emerging & Enabling Technologies (Life Science & Biotech)

Contract - Permanent

Hours - Full time (37.5 hours)

Location - Home based (UK)

Salary - £46,367 to £50,000 pa

About the Emerging and Enabling Technologies Team

Our Emerging and Enabling Technologies team’s core purpose is to connect innovators with new partners and to develop new opportunities in a collaborative effort. The team is dedicated to identifying and supporting the development of cutting-edge, cross-sector technologies that have the potential to transform the UK’s economy and society. Embracing a broad range of technologies that represent a step change from those that already exist, the team is passionate about staying at the forefront of innovation and constantly exploring the horizon looking for the latest breakthroughs and trends, future scoping to create space for emerging and enabling technologies in the relevant market ecosystems and landscapes.

We work closely with businesses, academia, policy makers, regulators, and other innovation partners to provide expertise, connections to help turn game-changing ideas into successful commercial products and services, and access to funding and investment opportunities.

Purpose of the Role

The Knowledge Transfer Manager – Emerging and Enabling Technologies will lead projects and activities relating to emerging Life Science and Biotech opportunities. The scope of this role can include, but is not limited to neurotechnology, human augmentation, bacteriophage technology and in silico medicine. Part of the role will involve scouting for, and assessing, new technologies.

Working across Innovate UK Business Connect teams and key stakeholder groups, the successful candidate will design and lead a programme of activity that will accelerate the development and uptake of emerging life science and biotech opportunities, in particular where there is convergence with “deeptech” such as quantum and AI.

In alignment with Innovate UK Business Connect’s strategy, the candidate will be expected to support the acceleration of innovation through engaging with academia, industry and relevant stakeholder groups, building their networks of innovators, creating diverse connections to drive positive change, not just in terms of economic prosperity but also through sustainable societal and environmental benefits.

Key responsibilities

• Lead in the development and delivery of emerging Life Science and biotech programmes, and support projects across the team
• Design and lead on horizon scanning activities relating to life science, biotech and other sectors
• Build and maintain effective professional relationships with all stakeholder groups, including Government, business, universities, Catapults and third sectors, to help successfully deliver Innovate UK Business Connect’s Emerging and Enabling Technology programmes
• Development, management and delivery of projects and programmes within the Emerging and Enabling team, including the development of articles, case studies, white papers and reports.
• Engage with businesses directly and provide support through knowledge transfer, making relevant new connections, facilitating collaborations and access to funding.
• Track progress of businesses to determine outcomes resulting from Innovate UK Business Connect interventions, seeking case studies and metrics (KPI) capture.
• Organise meetings, workshops and networking events in a variety of commercial and scientific areas.
• Support KPI delivery and provide regular reporting of activity and outcomes.

Essential Experience

• Degree level or equivalent industrial experience in life science, biotech, or a related discipline such as chemistry
• A good working knowledge of the application of technology to life sciences/biotech
• Experience of working with stakeholder and leadership groups
• A demonstrable track record of business development and/or knowledge transfer, both in support of collaborative opportunities and in the creation of new opportunities.
• Experience of working across sectors and disciplines to support, lead and manage the delivery of complex projects or programmes.
• Experience and aptitude in business, university, and public-sector engagement.
• A demonstrable track record of project design, leadership, management and delivery.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of “deep tech” such as quantum tech, AI, photonics
• Experience in the creation and management of technology or innovation networks

Skills

• Highly motivated, self-starting and results oriented individual with a strong desire to deliver economic and societal impacts through collaborative partnerships.
• Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment.
• An open, adaptable and inquisitive mindset, able to take a holistic view and thrive in fast moving and changeable environments.
• A ‘systems thinker’ with the ability to identify innovative opportunities and solutions across highly complex problem spaces.
• Strong communicator with well-developed written and verbal skills, able to translate complex topics for a broad audience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with and understand the needs and capabilities with stakeholders across a range of technical and/or industrial disciplines.
• High level of IT literacy and organisational skills.

About Innovate UK Business Connect

We connect ideas, people, and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. Innovate UK Business Connect exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking - accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development, and innovation.

Benefits

• This role has a salary of £46,367 to £50,000 pa
• 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays
• Enhanced Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme
• Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme

This advert will close on Friday 25th October though some circumstances may require us to close earlier, so early application is advised.

First stage interviews to be held w/c 4th November.

Second stage interviews to be held w/c 11th November.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided. Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to recruitment@iuk.ktn-uk.org.

Innovate UK Business Connect strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry: people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, women, disabled people, people of any age or family status. We know that diversity makes us stronger and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive, and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to removing barriers for individuals with conditions, illnesses or disabilities and we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, and in their future role.

If you would like to request any reasonable adjustment, for any part of the recruitment process (including application), please let us know by emailing recruitment@iuk.ktn-uk.org.