Head of Commercialisation: UKRI

Job Title: Head of Commercialisation
Salary: £50,702 per annum
Grade: UKRI F
Location: Swindon
Hours: Full time  
Contract type: Open Ended
Closing Date: 3rd October 2021

Head of Commercialisation, reporting to UKRI Deputy Director of Commercialisation.

Purpose Specific to Head of Commercialisation:

The role of Head of Commercialisation, reporting to UKRI Deputy Director of Commercialisation is a unique opportunity to influence research and commercialisation policy and delivery on a national stage, within the UK’s largest public research funding organisation.

Commercialisation is the process by which new or improved technologies, products, processes and services are brought to market. It requires an intent and mindset to develop and apply an idea to a real problem or unmet need, and to successfully progress along the technical and/or commercial readiness pathway towards it being sold on the market.

This post is based within the UKRI Commercialisation shared capability.  The shared capability was created in 2020 with the aim to focus UKRI on commercialisation and to embed and strengthen commercialisation across all UKRI activities.  The team works closely with all UKRI councils, and other parts of UKRI such as the UKRI Strategy and analytical teams, complementing and adding value to commercialisation activities, funding and support provided by individual councils.  

As Head of Commercialisation, you will:

  • work with the Director and Deputy Director of Commercialisation, and across UKRI to develop, champion and deliver its vision and approach for commercialisation
  • lead UKRI commercialisation policy and projects to develop how UKRI leads the world in harnessing and exploiting research – irrespective of the source of its original funding – in order to deliver economic impact for the UK and contributing towards strong inward R&D investment as part of the UK ambition for 2.4% GDP in research and innovation
  • lead on agreed interactions within UKRI and with partner organisations (including universities, business, and government departments, charities and others) to ensure that UKRI is working effectively within the broader research and innovation ecosystem and to create the best possibly commercialisation environment
  • provide effective management, working with the Deputy Director, to the cross-council commercialisation team providing a central UKRI commercialisation function
  • lead an agreed range of initiatives and work-streams, which includes working across UKRI, to ensure an accessible continuum of responsive funding for translation and commercialisation, ensuring innovative businesses can access the finance and support they need to grow, developing the commercialisation ecosystem (including for example skills, IP, promoting commercialisation within UKRI institutes and faculties)
  • work to increase UKRI’s commercialisation profile
  • contribute to the evaluation of UKRI’s success in commercialisation and plans for realisation of benefits

Purpose – As a Head of:

  • you will be given specific responsibility for managing strategic relationships with key partner organisations
  • you will, from time to time, be required to take on specific projects and other representational roles
  • line manage several direct reports expected to be approx. 3 individuals
  • contribute to UKRI’s success through the appropriate participation in key strategy and governance structures with colleagues
  • contribute to UKRI’s transformation programme, embedding into the organisation a set of common values and approaches that help turn UKRI’s vision into reality
  • contribute to UKRI’s success through the appropriate participation in key strategy and governance structures with colleagues, lead the effective implementation of UKRI’s transformation programme, embedding into the organisation a set of common values and approaches that help turn UKRI’s vision into reality

Main Outputs & Activities:

Strategy Development:

  • contribute to the development and implementation of policy and strategies for UKRI commercialisation of research

Analysis and Use of Evidence:

  • help identify and evaluate the success or otherwise of commercialisation activities

Communications and Influence:

  • build influential networks and communicate and engage with others effectively in a wide range of settings internally and externally
  • communicate effectively with and gain the respect of the UKRI senior colleagues,  commercialisation leads and teams across UKRI, senior academics, universities, industry, Government Departments.

Programme Management:

  • lead and deliver on streams of work in complex environments
  • set up and direct programmes which address UKRI’s goals in commercialisation which draw support or are delivered in partnership with other parts of UKRI, government agencies, industry and other parties.

People Management:

  • good leadership, management and coaching skills, including working with and directing flexible and high performing teams, as well as leading people through change

Financial Management:

  • financial management and budget control
  • understanding of the principles of public sector finance, including the need to demonstrate efficiency, effectiveness and value for money.

Corporate Governance:

  • uphold the principles of public service through personal actions and as a role model for others

Representational:

  • manage strategic relationships with some key partner organisations in the research base and the user community
  • represent UKRI in working groups and with other research funders, and wider Government bodies
  • represent UKRI through building relationships with key partners and industry sector groupings in commercialisation.

Working Relationships:

  • reporting to Deputy Director of Commercialisation, UKRI, and working with the Deputy Director and Director of Commercialisation
  • direct reports, up to 3 band Es
  • Directors and Deputy Directors of research and innovation or equivalent across UKRI
  • UKRI-funded researchers
  • universities (including pro-Vice Chancellors, and university commercialisation offices)
  • representative or other organisations with an interest in thriving business and economic success, such as the British Business Bank, the CBI, Institute of Directors
  • relevant government departments, including the Department for International Trade and the Science and Innovation Network
  • venture capitalist organisations

Position and Person Requirements:                     

Shortlisting & Interview Criteria:

Essential:

  • practical knowledge and/or direct experience of university commercialisation or R&D within business, or the wider Research & Innovation ecosystem (S/I)
  • effective management, and the ability to motivate and inspire others to work effectively to deliver their own personal objectives and contribute to meeting corporate goals (S/I)
  • an ability to establish effective working relationships and networks both internally and externally with a wide range of organisations at a senior level (S/I)
  • Understanding of the fundamentals of project management and working within project management principles
  • ability to innovate, to lead the development and implementation of new ideas and approaches and positively challenge established thinking in yourself and others (S/I)
  • experience of managing budgets and the exercise of financial control (S)
  • a degree (S)

Desirable:

  • an understanding of the research and commercialisation of research environments (S/I)
  • demonstrable evidence of delivering successful partnership arrangements, including
  • achieving strategic alignment between organisations (I)
  • understanding of the political and strategic environment in which UKRI operates (I)
  • a higher degree (S)

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). 

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org


How we support EDI in the workforce 

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’


Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. 

 
How to apply 

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application. 

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us. 

Additional Information

Salary: 
£50,702
Closing date: 
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Originating organisation: