Knowledge Transfer Adviser – North Wales, Merseyside and West Cheshire

The Knowledge Transfer Adviser team sits within the Place, Skills, & Knowledge Transfer Directorate of Innovate UK Business Connect. The mission is to have powerful connections with the UK research base and strong networks within local innovation eco-systems helping to shape innovation communities of the future.

Our deep expertise is shared across Innovate UK Business Connect by partnering with teams within the other directorates to ensure ideas and innovations are shared across sectors and in so doing build connections and communities to address key global challenges.

Purpose of the role

The job purpose is to facilitate knowledge transfer and innovation linkages between UK business and the UK research base (Universities, Research and technology organisations), especially via promotion, brokerage, mentoring and support of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). The role is an important component of Innovate UK’s strategic relationships with the UK research base.

We create powerful connections, with business at the heart of everything we do.

Assisting UK businesses to innovate, grow and profit from effective transfer of knowledge from the research base into business – covering all disciplines and industries. The KTP portfolio has a diverse range of academic disciplines represented from technical disciplines through to business and management and the arts and humanities and the environment. Business partners are equally diverse, spanning most sectors and including third sector and some public sector organisations.

We shape the innovation communities of the future.

All KTAs have both a local role and a national role, acting as a knowledgeable conduit between Innovate UK, the local research base and innovation ecosystem. A significant part of the role will be the facilitation, brokerage, mentoring and support of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) funded by Innovate UK and other KTP sponsors.

We have wide ranging expertise and convene the expertise of others.

The role will suit an individual who knows how businesses work and enjoys helping them to innovate better. This will mean working with many different organisations at a senior level. KTAs work across all sectors and disciplines, therefore a passion and ability to translate academic knowhow into new and improved products, processes and services, irregardless of sector and discipline, is vital.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Oversee and support a portfolio of KTP projects in the designated region from inception to completion.
• Brokerage of new KTP projects for high growth-potential innovative businesses, by helping identify suitable research base partners (utilising the knowledge and awareness of Innovate UK Business Connect colleagues).
• Assisting suitable new Partnerships to develop high-quality projects and the provision of on-going monitoring and support throughout the duration of the KTP project.
• Identification of and liaison with key innovation stakeholders within the region.
• Creating and sustaining a strategic relationship with the senior management of research and knowledge organisations (for example: Universities, FE colleges and Catapults) in your region and in so doing help to increase their support for business innovation.
• Promotion of KTP through strategic conversations with key stakeholders.
• Assess and score KTP applications and participate in moderation panels.
• Coaching and mentoring of KTP Associates to encourage their development towards being an innovation leader of the future.
• Project completion review and reporting, including active connection of businesses to the appropriate follow-up support across the Innovate UK family and other suitable support sources mechanisms.
• Participation in the local innovation eco-system including but not limited to liaison with Innovate UK Regional Managers, local Catapult activity, Innovate UK Business Growth, Local Enterprise Networks, other Innovate UK or Innovate UK
• Business Connect supported activities.
• Contribute to the sharing of case studies across Innovate UK to help evidence impact.
• Timely and accurate completion of reports within Innovate UK Business Connect and to Innovate UK.
• Any other reasonable tasks consistent with the job purpose and the needs of Innovate UK Business Connect.

Experience & Skills

Experience

• Notable business experience or demonstrated business awareness – credible with a wide range of stakeholders and clear ability to understand business strategy and the needs of a wide variety of businesses.
• Experience of building and managing collaborative partnerships to deliver innovation.
• Experience and awareness of the needs and drivers of the research base and credibility with senior academics across a range of disciplines.
• Ideally with experience of coaching and mentoring early career scientists in industry or the research base.
• Evidence of working alone and as part of a team to deliver innovation outcomes.

Skills

• Results oriented self-starter with demonstrated delivery capability, with good levels of numeracy (including business finance).
• Innovative and creative – able to see the big picture and identify new ideas and opportunities.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, explaining complicated matters simply.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships.
• Team player with good relationship building and influencing skills; enjoys working in a collaborative manner in an open, honest, and diverse environment.
• Demonstrated analytical thinking, experience in roles that require accurate record keeping and attention to detail.
• Adaptability and flexibility, demonstrable initiative and openness to work in new areas.
• High level of IT literacy.

Benefits & how to apply

• This role has a salary of £50,000 to £55,000
• 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 7th March.

Interviews will be held 26th March/1st April.

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.

This role will be home based (UK) covering North Wales, Merseyside and West Cheshire.

Applicants must have the existing and ongoing 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.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

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

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@iukbc.org.uk.

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.