Knowledge Transfer Manager – Place – Local Partnerships

Place represents one of Innovate UK’s strategic priorities and our commitment is to connect national and regional innovation to encourage distribution of economic and societal well-being across the UK. One of the ways we do this is through a series of innovation showcase events called Innovate Local. Our objective is to inspire people to innovate by showcasing the various types and levels of support and finance available to help progress their innovation journey.

The Knowledge Transfer Manager (KTM) Place – Local Partnerships role will work across the innovation ecosystem in regions across the UK to deliver an engaging and inspiring programme of activity. Key partners for the work includes:

• Innovate UK
• Innovate UK Business Growth delivery partners
• Innovate UK Catapults
• Combined Authorities
• Devolved innovation agencies

We are looking for a dynamic individual to support our engagement with local partners, working within our Place team. The post requires someone with excellent people skills and a good understanding of the innovation ecosystem across the UK sector.

Scope

The role will focus on the delivery of local partnerships to support:

• Design and delivery of the Innovate Local event programme
• Delivery of local innovation action plans
• Innovation Accelerators, Launchpads and other place-focused programmes

The successful candidate is expected to scope out opportunities for working with local partners, building on national policy.

The successful candidate will be required to work closely with our sector and place-based colleagues to ensure coverage across the UK. This post is responsible overall for the programme of engagement, leading on the offer/ask to local partners, and joining up opportunities arising across the country from the engagement.

Key accountabilities

• Work with leadership to define innovation priorities and translate them into structured innovate local platform.
• Design and manage portfolios of Innovate Locals across the UK with domains or sector teams.
• Identify trends internal and external, emerging technologies, and market shifts that could impact products and services on offer within UK regions.
• Work closely with combined authorities and local stakeholders to develop regional events, aligned with Innovate UK priorities and local innovation objectives.
• Maintaining an up to date understanding of regional strengths and examples of best practice across the UK
• Being an active member of the Innovate UK Business Connect Place team and supporting the development and delivery of the Place programme

Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead on the co-design with local partners of the Innovate Local event programme, working with Reach and Engagement colleagues to ensure effective delivery
• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of the Innovate Local programme, including scoping, resourcing, budgets, risks, execution, and evaluation.
• Matrix manage regional delivery teams across stakeholders and internal teams.
• Manage regional third-party stakeholder relationships to deliver the Innovate Local as partnerships.
• Engage with relevant external partners such as startups, universities, accelerators, and industry groups.
• Ensure agile methodologies and innovation frameworks (e.g. design thinking, innovation support, ecosystem collaboration) are effectively applied.
• Develop follow-up mechanisms, metrics and measures to monitor and track outcomes across multiple stakeholders.
• Develop onboarding processes to manage the programme delivery.
• Communicate progress and insights to senior stakeholders and adapt programmes based on feedback and results.
• Maintain a good knowledge of Products and Services offered by Innovate UK.
• Work with the communication team to develop a comms package to advertise the Innovate Local and impact.

Experience & Skills

Essential Experience

• Experience managing/ matrix managing cross-functional teams and complex programmes.
• Demonstrable experience of building partnerships and working relationships across a broad range of organisations.
• Strong understanding of local innovation ecosystem across the UK.
• A broad interest across innovation and technology.

Desirable Experience

• A track record of co-creating programmes of activity with external organisations.
• Good understanding of Innovate UK offering.

Skills

• Excellent people skills, particularly relationship building and management.
• Excellent communication skills across all levels of an organisation.
• Well-developed written & verbal presentation skills.
• IT literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft packages.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to connect ideas to action and results.
• Motivated & a self-starter.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently and build effective relationships.
• Motivated to connect people for positive change.
• Able to deliver effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work alone and as part of a team.
• Flexible, reliable, and adaptable with good time management skills.
• Excellent presentation skills – desirable.
• Familiarity with Monday.com project management tool – desirable.

Benefits & how to apply

• This is a Grade 5 role with a salary of £35,926 to £42,000 pa
• 28 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank and public holidays
• Enhanced Pension Plan (up to 10% employer contribution)
• 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 Tuesday 17th June.

First stage interviews to be held w/c 23rd June.

Second stage interviews to be held w/c 30th June.

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 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.

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.