Innovation Lead – Future Flight

Over the past 4-years, the challenge has created a vibrant community with members from across the aviation industry and wider technology sector. Linking new entrants, established global players, academia and regulators to collaboratively develop new aviation system concepts and working with communities to secure early involvement with new technologies. It has worked to inspire and accelerate the next generation of sustainable aviation to position the UK as a world leader in aviation products and markets. This will enable the UK to build, use and export new, greener ways of flying that will facilitate new modes of travel and new services. Now in its latter stages, there is a significant need to ensure the successful completion of the programme whilst at the same time planning for future programmes to transition from R&D to commercialisation.
Due for completion in March 2025 but with new activities likely to continue for some time after, the programme has a significant amount of work still to be delivered. In parallel, we are working to ensure the legacy of this work and build proposals for future government programmes and interventions.
Job Purpose:
Joining a team of experts and specialists at the heart of this fast-moving and high-profile challenge to transform the future of aviation.
Reporting to the Deputy Challenge Director, this role is part of an exciting research programme. The successful candidate will work with a wide range of industry and public-sector partners to deliver this significant R&D programme. By using the insight gained from stakeholders the role-holder will be asked to propose and deliver activities, studies and further funding suggestions to help the Future Flight programme meet its objectives. As a knowledgeable advocate of the technologies being developed, you will engage with colleagues across the public sector to support integration with complementary innovation programmes. Engaging with wider technical and business communities will also be required, as is working internally with colleagues at InnovateUK and in the broader civil service., + Build strong working relationships with relevant bodies and networks. These include, but are not limited to, businesses, trade associations, Catapults, government departments and agencies, private investors, regulatory bodies and research organisations and the Knowledge Transfer Network.
+ Identify, negotiate and establish new partnership arrangements to leverage funding and support to businesses.
+ Work with internal colleagues to ensure the dissemination of results and sharing of key learnings.
+ Support the generation of new strategic proposals for future R&D programmes.
+ Take on responsibility for managing complex R&D projects, working closely with Monitoring Officers and our Impact & Performance Manager to support their operational and technical needs throughout their project lifecycle.
+ Represent Innovate UK and UKRI at events such as conferences, meetings, workshops, developing a strong network of stakeholders.
+ Undertake project visits as appropriate, working with other internal parties to ensure stakeholder disputes are handled efficiently and successes are recognised and communicated effectively.
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 role requires an individual with a blend of commercial awareness and technical acumen who can manage competing priorities in a complex stakeholder environment. The post holder will need to work with and make sense of multiple information sources and clearly articulate what needs to be done to support the delivery of a complex and broad aviation innovation programme and translate this into a series of deliverable activities. Possessing excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, the role holder should be able to work comfortably with industry executives, civil servants and internal colleagues. We are looking for a team player with the ability to work effectively with others and support emerging tasking that may be unfamiliar. Identifying and negotiating positive collaborations and partnership opportunities is also desirable.
Experience:
Essential –
+ Degree or post-graduate qualification in a subject relating to aerospace, aviation or with proven relevant experience (S)
+ Up-to-date and broad-based knowledge of innovation in the aerospace and aviation sectors (I)
+ Appreciation of the wider industrial landscape in the UK, the key businesses and initiatives relevant to aviation and the main challenges and opportunities that exist (I)
+ Knowledge and experience of innovation and a general understanding of the support needed by both SMEs and larger companies to develop and deploy new technologies (S & I)
+ Familiarity with the wider research environment, and how research and innovation programmes move through to deployment and measurable impact (I)
+ Experience in communication, negotiation, and liaison with businesses, government departments, trade bodies, regulators, and research institutes to develop partnerships and influence agendas (S & I)
+ Demonstrated capability in at least one of the following: aerospace vehicles, airspace management, air transport systems/infrastructure, flight operations, aviation safety and regulations, and skills development (S & I)
Desirable –
+ Evidence of further qualifications in business or economics-related disciplines., All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management
Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.

Alongside your salary of £47,000, Innovate UK contributes £13,615 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.