Innovation Director – 3 days per week on site

Colchester, Essex
Oxford Innovation Space

ICKG is a purpose-built space at the heart of the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus. It is home to a dynamic community of innovators, start-ups and SMEs, drawn from the local area and sub-region, as well as students, graduates and researchers from the University.

We are seeking an innovative and strategic thinker with strong relationship building skills for the role of Innovation Director. The Innovation Director will provide pragmatic, high quality strategic business coaching and innovation support to businesses based in the centre, with the objective of enabling business growth, innovation development and commercial success, drawing on the University’s expertise and research strengths.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in business; either working at a senior director level within large corporates or as a small business owner themselves. Whilst direct experience of providing quality business coaching to early-stage businesses is favourable, we would consider candidates with the inherent skills and aptitude to develop this capability within the role. However, crucial to being successful in this role will be the ability to build relevant business, investment and innovation networks for ICKG, and to proactively drive the benefits of collaborative working. More specifically, the Innovation Director will be responsible for delivering on several targets relating to business growth & development and innovation activity. Please see the attached job description for full details.

This is an on site, part-time role at 0.6FTE, reporting into the Business Support Director.

Essential experience:

• Degree level standard of education or a recognised professional business qualification
• An understanding of the business support landscape and the needs of SMEs
• Credibility and ability to influence at owner/manager or senior director levels
• A proven track record in business leadership, either working at senior director level within large corporates or as a small business owner
• A successful track record of achievement in enterprise and innovation development and a background in a relevant data, digital, creative, or knowledge intensive sector business
• Previous experience of delivering business management and development either as a consultant or business coach to early-stage businesses or relevant experience within such a business
• Negotiation of commercial partnerships
• A track record in budgeting, forecasting and the management of financial and other resources

Desirable experience:

• Operating/managing business support or incubation programmes
• Providing business coaching
• A knowledge of funding landscape for SMEs would be beneficial

Personal Competences:

• Data and ROI driven, with a strong understanding of contract delivery KPIs and ability to provide and interpret information in management reports
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and a detailed knowledge of the key functions within a business particularly sales & marketing, financial management and operations
• Ability to use own initiative and to be able to identify quickly and effectively how problems can be solved
• Strong networking and relationship building skills with a personal network beneficial to the business support needs of the role
• A passion for innovation and solving problems
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Ability to interact with and co-ordinate various stakeholders

What’s in it for you?

• Salary of up to £52,000, pro rata
• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, pro rata
• Flexible benefits package comprising:
  • Contributory pension
  • Ability to increase or decrease amount of annual leave
  • Ability to increase or decrease amount of life assurance cover
  • Private medical and dental insurance
  • Health screening
  • Bicycle purchase
  • Charitable Giving
• Friendly, informal and flexible working environment – so you can make the most of your home and your work life.

We’ve also got access to a whole load of discounts so you can save money on high street favourites and holiday providers.

If you think you could be a great member of team and would like an exciting opportunity in return, then this is the role you have been looking for – click ‘apply’ today to become our new Innovation Director or to find out more information about the role. We would love to hear from you!

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we would advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.