Senior Innovation Associate

Salary: £33,966 to £36,024 with progression to £44,263 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 30 May 2024

The Role
 
Following the success of Newcastle University’s Arrow programme, we have rolled-out the model across the regional universities to expand the offer to business. To continue this expansion, we require an experienced Senior Innovation Associate to work on the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funded Arrow innovation support programme. Working in the Arrow team within the University’s Business Development and Enterprise directorate, the post-holder will co-ordinate, project manage and deliver a portfolio of collaborations between Newcastle University, regional organisations, and external partners. Further information on Arrow is available on our website here. 

In order to be successful in this post you will have a degree in business and management, or other humanities and social science degree with relevant business experience related to the creative and/or cultural sectors. Previous experience of delivering short-term collaborative research, innovation, or business improvement projects in digital innovation, market development or evaluation within the creative and/or cultural sectors would be beneficial.

You will support the research and innovation activities of Newcastle University Business School (NUBS) and its collaborators, taking a hands-on role to deliver short, focussed projects for regional organisations. 

We are open to discuss flexible and/or blended/hybrid working arrangements.

Proposed date for interview 10 June 2024

This post is part-funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and reports to the Arrow Programme Manager. The post is fixed term until 31st March 2025. 

For an informal discussion on this opportunity, please contact Chris Angus (Arrow Programme Manager), 0191 222 5834, christopher.angus@ncl.ac.uk

To apply, please upload a CV and letter of application which outlines how you can evidence the skills, knowledge and abilities set out in the person specification.

Arrow is part of the In-TUNE project, which is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Durham County Council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Key Accountabilities
•    You will be expected to work flexibly with academics, researchers and commercial staff to deliver business and innovation support and collaborative activities for SMEs. This could include project scoping, assessing needs, conducting literature reviews, conducting primary/secondary research, facilitating consultations and supporting project team staff to analyse and make sense of the knowledge from various sources to provide meaningful insight directly supporting the aspirations of the SME
•    Act as the main point of contact for all parties involved in an allocated portfolio of projects on a day-to-day basis by continuous communication with client project staff, investigators, clinical study teams, internal and external collaborators
•    Identify and liaise with University staff and network partners to secure their commitment to elements of work for which they are required
•    Responsible for the effective management of project plans; ensuring projects hit decision gateways and other identified milestones.  Identifying and resolving any potential issues in meeting these milestones
•    Organise regular project update meetings, maintaining appropriate communication with all stakeholders
•    Organise, prepare documentation for, attend and write minutes for meetings of the individual projects
•    Prepare regular reports and presentations for the Programme Manager
•    Prepare for, and facilitate any audits, inspections and client meetings
•    Prepare and deliver presentations to internal and external audiences
•    Coordinate and contribute to programme management, steering group and project-specific team meetings to ensure appropriate progress against objectives is maintained
•    Manage relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders
•    Develop case study information for all managed projects
•    Undertake other duties, as specified, commensurate with the effective operation of the organisation overall

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 
•    Proven relevant experience in an R&D or innovation project with a commercial focus
•    Ability to collate, analyse and synthesise solutions from a number of sources, including literature reviews, large datasets and industry / research and technology academic experts
•    Experience of project management and relevant business operating procedures (e.g. contract approval, financial understanding, project close out, etc.)
•    High level of organisational and time management skills and able to manage a range of tasks simultaneously
•    Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to create lasting and effective working relations with colleagues at all levels
•    Excellent IT skills including MS Office
•    Strong analytical and problem solving skills
•    Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
•    Ability to work effectively in and lead a project team
•    Ability to analyse and make sense of multiple information sources for management use

Attributes and Behaviour

•    Ability to work in a ‘proof of concept’ environment and comfortable dealing with a level of uncertainty
•    A positive customer focussed attitude
•    Ability to work collaboratively and manage time effectively
•    Self-motivator with the ability to accept responsibility and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines
•    Strong negotiation and persuasion skills
•    Flexibility and willingness to be involved in multiple projects across a broad range of topics
•    Ability to work collaboratively with others, play a positive role in teams and establish and grow relationships across the University, with external stakeholders and organisations
•    Ability to work calmly and efficiently under pressure

Qualifications

•    Degree in business and management, or other humanities and social science discipline with relevant business experience related to the creative and/or cultural sectors; associates/diploma degree in the above with significant appropriate work experience

Desirable
•    Relevant higher degree 

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 27013

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