Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point (Digital)

National Contact Points (NCPs) work to promote successful UK engagement and participation in Horizon Europe programmes, including answering queries, supporting partner and funding identification, and support throughout the application and assessment process. There are 20 current NCPs in the UK, with international counterparts, who sit across UKRI, the Research Councils, and within Innovate UK. 14 of the 20 UK NCPs sit within Innovate UK, positioned throughout the relevant domain or international teams.
The network of NCPs is the main structure through which Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme influence priorities and provide essential guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. The objective being to increase UK engagement and success in the programme.
This role sits within the Digital & Technology domain, reporting to the Head of Europe & European Programmes. Innovate UK’s Global team supports innovative businesses across the UK to achieve faster growth and scale by enabling their international engagement. We help break down the barriers hindering businesses' ability to internationalise and we put them at the forefront of international innovation opportunities. We help businesses through our toolkit of products and services. These include for example, support to UK applicants to: identify relevant international opportunities; get ready for global growth by building awareness, capability and capacity; work with businesses from other countries on R&D and innovation; and access support from the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. This role also includes representing the UK at relevant Programme committees and Joint Undertakings, and supporting strategically across our participation in Horizon Europe.
The role is based in Innovate UK’s Digital and Technology directorate, which includes teams focused on Enabling technologies. Collectively, the team delivers dedicated R&D funding to the UK’s digital sector. As well as UK opportunities the team also seeks to influence and support UK businesses and others in securing partnerships and funding through European programmes, Horizon Europe in particular., + Help UK entities understand and navigate the matrix of opportunities across the domestic and international landscape
+ Influence and shape future priorities for the digital aspects of the Horizon Europe programme, as the nominated UK representative attending meetings online, in Brussels and elsewhere as necessary
+ Leading on the Digital Tech partnerships and relevant Cluster activities of Horizon Europe on behalf of Innovate UK
+ Influence the development of future Work Programmes through engaging with relevant European Commission officials, partners in UK Government and other delegates to the Programme Committee and external partnerships
+ Develop a strong understanding of UK capabilities and their requirements of international partners with a view to identifying the most relevant partners
+ Continue to support UK participation in Horizon Europe programmes, within the spirit of Commission guidance on NCPs, being the subject matter expert for the UK on European programmes in the digital technologies area
+ Work within UKRI including Innovate UK to develop a strategy for the area, and focus their efforts on the highest potential opportunities that delivers optimum results for the UK R&I community through proactive outreach to stakeholders looking to benefit from the opportunity of European programmes
+ Build strong relationships with relevant bodies and networks such as businesses, research organisations, trade associations, government departments and agencies/local authorities, private investors, and regulatory bodies.
+ Support relevant programmes beyond those run by the EU, drawing on corporate resources such as Customer Support Services (CSS), Innovate UK Business Growth, Catapults and Innovate UK Business Connect.
+ Support impact analysis of UK participation and outputs of engagement with digital technologies focused programmes
This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

This position requires a person with commercial awareness who can manage competing priorities and a complex domestic and international stakeholder environment. The role holder will need to make sense of multiple data sources, to establish underlying patterns and articulate a clear and compelling vision and strategy of what needs to be done, as well as being able to engage an external audience on regular occasions through being an accomplished communicator. A good team player, willing to share knowledge and ideas with others and to learn from them. Able to self-start when needed., + Degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant science or discipline, or equivalent experience, + Knowledge of European Framework programmes e.g. as participant, adviser, or National Contact Point (S & I)
+ Up-to-date and broad-based knowledge of innovation in digital applications, including but not limited to: AI, Data, Robotics, Electronics, sensors and photonics, Quantum, Future Telcomms, and IoT (S & I)
+ Appreciation of the wider industrial landscape in the UK, including the key businesses and initiatives relevant to digital technologies (I)
+ Familiarity with the wider research environment, both in the UK and globally (I)
+ Stakeholder and resource management experience, including working in a cross-functional team and with senior level individuals managing conflicting demands and priorities (S & I)
+ Communication and presenting experience, including online (I)
+ Previous experience of working with the European Framework programmes would be desirable, ideally with technical knowledge and experience in collaborative R&D projects (S & I)
Skills:
+ The ability to respond calmly under pressure and to make impartial and well-considered judgments in complex situations, when required (I)
+ The capability and gravitas to engage effectively with senior representatives from business, UK and other Governments, and the EU (S & I)
+ Excellent presentation skills with the ability to hold an audience large or small in your specialist role (I)
+ Strong written and oral communication skills in developing papers/reports for Innovate UK and others, including the ability to produce clear, concise and accurate reports (S & I)
+ Highly developed team working skills, able to form effective working relationships both internally and externally (S & I)
+ Self-starter, able to work unsupervised and on own initiative with the ability to prioritise and multitask (I)
+ Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact, discretion and experience of liaising with senior stakeholders and staff (I)
+ High competency of ICT skills/ IT systems and applications including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access (S & I)
Travel Requirements:
Field-based: There will a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.

Alongside your salary of £56,745, Innovate UK contributes £16,439 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Selection process details
1st interview incl presentation.
Interviews will either take place remotely via Zoom/Teams or in person face to face.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.