Strategic Partnerships Lead

Location: Liverpool City Region

Reporting to: Director of Devolved and Local Government

Working hours: Full time (9 day fortnight)

Band: 3.1

Salary: £51,000 - £55,000 (depending on proven ability)

Contract type/duration: Permanent

About Connected Places Catapult

Connected Places Catapult serves as the UK's innovation accelerator for urban areas, transportation, and community development. Our mission is to provide unbiased 'innovation as a service' for public entities, enterprises, and infrastructure stakeholders, facilitating transformative advancements in the quality of life, work, and travel. We bridge the gap between businesses and public sector leaders, connecting them with pioneering research to ignite innovation and foster new market growth. Our initiatives include technology demonstrations and SME accelerators designed to scale innovative solutions that promote economic growth, enhance prosperity, and reduce carbon emissions.

Our approach is centered on human needs and driven by solutions. We advocate for standards that enable interoperability, replicability, and scalability. Collaborating with partners across the UK and internationally, we provide access to research and development resources, delivering impactful results. We engage with local economies and organizations to embed and transfer innovation capabilities, while also leveraging our global connections to stimulate demand for UK innovations abroad and create opportunities for international expansion.

This position is integral to our team focusing on the devolved administrations, city regions, and local authorities throughout the UK. Our goal is to assist the sector in establishing favorable conditions for innovation to thrive, securing commercial and other opportunities for city regions, local authorities, universities, and the Connected Places Catapult ecosystem. In the Liverpool City Region, we aim to solidify our presence as a vital innovation partner, making this role essential for our efforts.

Job Purpose

We are looking for a professional to enhance engagement and partnerships within the Liverpool City Region. This role will support the Director of Devolved and Local Government and the broader regional team in actively engaging, collaborating, and forming partnerships within the regional innovation ecosystem. While the primary focus will be on the Liverpool City Region, support will also extend to the wider team, including the Head of Sales and Engagement in the West Midlands and Glasgow City Region as we expand.

This position will also work in conjunction with Government Departments, other Catapults, and Innovate UK to advocate for the region as a key driver of innovation benefiting the UK.

In the Liverpool City Region, a primary focus will be on advancing the Maritime Innovation Action Plan and the Inclusive Innovation project and programs, as well as relevant components of the City Region's Innovation Prospectus.

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively develop and engage with key partners across the innovation ecosystem in city regions.
• Assist Connected Places Catapult colleagues in engaging effectively with the City Region. Collaborate closely with CPC leads to drive relevant program delivery across Global, Academic, SME, and Ecosystem Directors.
• Formulate collaboration and partnership agreements to support the Regional Team in generating new business opportunities for the benefit of the Regions and Connected Places Catapult.
• Oversee the development of regional projects. Manage and contribute to research papers and policy-based reports to advance the objectives of the City Region.
• Contribute to the implementation of recommendations from local and regional government and other entities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Local, Regional, and Central Government, promoting the aims and ambitions of the City Region within national agendas.
• Lead the creation and execution of a proactive communications and engagement strategy, including digital media channels, to enhance the visibility of the CPC Regional Team.
• Organize events such as webinars, roundtables, dinners, and site visits, while supporting potential digital media communications to ensure information remains relevant and current.
• Drive the development and strengthening of existing and future strategic partnerships.
• Identify funding opportunities and coordinate bids to support the development of projects and activities that align with the objectives of the City Regions.
• Manage projects within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards, delivering on specified requirements, realizing stated benefits, and managing the expectations of key stakeholders and any changes in commercial scope.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic goals and ensuring effective business operations.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge and demonstrable experience in place-based innovation, inclusive innovation, and innovation related to ports and places, as well as digital and net-zero initiatives.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills tailored to senior managers and policymakers.
• Ability to proactively engage with and influence senior managers and decision-makers.
• Experience interacting with governance boards. Proven project management skills with a track record of managing projects in both public and private sectors to meet agreed objectives.
• Exceptional collaboration skills, with the ability to engage and work constructively across the organization and with external partners.
• Capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment, rapidly learning and mastering diverse technologies and techniques.
• Flexibility to work within a dynamic program of policy research and advocacy, including a willingness to accept secondments or postings within other organizations or government departments to best support the role's objectives.

Benefits

• 9 day fortnight for everyone: We implement a full company shutdown every other Friday.
• 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone: Pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, including a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
• Competitive pension: Up to 10% company contribution to assist in saving for your future.
• Two paid days of volunteering leave per year: Pro-rata for part-time employees to support charitable activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Offering 24/7 confidential work/life support services for you and your immediate family members.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: With bike racks and showers available, promoting a healthy and sustainable commute.
• Cash Health Plan: Providing reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
• Payroll Giving scheme: Enabling regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
• Discounts and offers: Access to a variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.

Employment is based solely on individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. We also make all reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under laws protecting the rights of the disabled.