Could you provide analysis support for place-based innovation and effectiveness? Join our team!
A vacancy has arisen for an Analyst for The Smart Specialisation Hub. Apply before the 31st August.
The role fits within the Innovation and Effectiveness directorate and encompasses aspects of research and analysis of innovation and policy with a specific focus on place-based analysis.  The role will include partnering with outside organisations and collating external research.  The role involves evaluation of external practice and data, including for enabling the comparison or benchmarking of LEPs (and other geographies) against other innovation actors.  It also seeks to build analytical capability in support of external innovation processes and policy, be that through KTN projects (as in Smart Specialisation) or in response to requests from the Executive team. The role will include building relationships with peers in other organisations around the country.
Job responsibilities
●       To support key KTN projects that address innovation capabilities, in particular Smart Specialisation Hub
●       To maintain and expand the Smart Specialisation Hub comparative mapping of UK innovation activities
●       To help design parameters to measure innovation capabilities, and curate measurement of these
●       To collate and synthesis innovation and other relevant analysis from external bodies
●       To build and maintain a strong relationship with counterparts in relevant innovation stakeholders
●       To support the Head of Place and Hub Director in assessing effectiveness of local innovation interventions
Background
Place-based innovation is of growing importance in the UK.  As a key part of the Industrial Strategy, ‘ideas’ (or innovation) are part of how the UK is to address the need for better jobs, higher productivity and greater economic growth. Further, the Industrial Strategy, alongside devolution, metro mayors, Science and Innovation Audits, ‘rebalancing’ and ‘the economy that works for all’ have brought the issue of Places into national focus.
Innovate UK and KTN have an evolving and growing focus on Place. The Smart Specialisation Hub is managed by KTN in cooperation with NCUB with the purpose to support and improve local and national understanding of innovation capabilities. The Hub’s remit is to surface place-based data, insights and interventions in order to support local actors as they identify their innovation activities and align them with national policy.
The Hub plays an important role alongside Innovate UK’s regional team in supporting Science and Innovation Audits and the emerging Local Industrial Strategies supporting evidence use and encouraging evidence-based decision-making.
Application Details
Location:
Home or office-based working with some UK travel expected. KTN have offices in London and Edinburgh.
Salary:
Business Support Manager level 2. Salary: £29,361 to £34,500pa
Applications close:
31 August 2018