Junior Programme Manager – Emerging Technologies and Robotics

techUK is the trade association which brings together people, companies and organisations to realise the positive outcomes of digital technology. With over 1100 members (the majority of which are SMEs) across the UK, techUK creates a network for innovation and collaboration across business, government and stakeholders to provide a better future for people, society, the economy and the planet. By providing expertise and insight, we support our members, partners and stakeholders as they prepare the UK for what comes next in a constantly changing world.

Role Purpose

This new role offers an exciting opportunity to join our fast-paced Tech and Innovation programme that leads techUK's activity around a range of emerging technologies including Robotics, Quantum, Web3, and more. Through our emerging technologies activity, techUK plays an active role in convening the UK's technology sector, showcasing world-leading innovations, exploring the opportunities for cutting edge technology development to the UK, and identifying key challenges or barriers that need to be addressed on behalf of our membership.

The Junior Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies and Robotics will not only support the wider team to deliver a successful programme of activity and engagement with techUK members, key stakeholders, and the wider technology and innovation sector, building on techUK's already established work in this area but it will also play an instrumental part in helping to set up and deliver techUK's new Robotics activity. This will involve building upon techUK's soon-to-be-released Robotics report.

Their main deliverable for this role will working closely with the Head of Emerging Technology to deliver a regular drumbeat of varied activity and range of outputs that add value for techUK's members and stakeholders. This will include member meetings, events and campaign weeks to showcase world-leading innovations, technologies or industries, each of which will require a strong sense of ownership, creativity, the development of a clear and consistent narrative. This role will play an instrumental part in working with members to develop and support the creation of the Robotics programme as well as support our horizon scanning and future gazing work as well as help to deliver techUK's annual Tech & Innovation Summit.

This role is an opportunity to develop close relationships with leading industry figures, techUK members, decision makers, civil society, and other key stakeholders, plus much of their activity will feed directly into the wider Tech and Innovation programme's work around current technologies such as AI, Digital Ethics and Quantum.

A central focus for this role is to work to ensure that techUK's Emerging Technologies content, activity, policy asks, strategy, and other outputs remain relevant and credible, in particular through its recommendations for key audiences, such as Government, to ensure the UK has an ecosystem and environment in which innovation and R&D can be not just supported by supercharged.

This role requires an individual who can serve as a champion of techUK's Emerging Technologies and Robotics members and activity, excel in an exciting and fast-paced environment spanning a range of projects and techUK teams, build strong connections and relationships with a variety of stakeholders, work independently and as part of a team, and consider the short, medium, and long term implications of emerging technologies on the UK economy, society, and planet. The role is not technical and it would best suit an individual with a strong interest in technology policy, strategy, or ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring techUK's Emerging Technologies content, activity, policy asks, and strategy are relevant, credible and influential by becoming an active and trusted participant in the UK's emerging technologies communities, cultivating excellent relationships with key stakeholders, and ensuring key web pages and spreadsheets are accurate and current.
• Assisting with the scoping, planning, launch and delivery of the brand-new Robotics programme, conducting insightful research and creating a calendar of impactful activities including roundtables and workshops to help equip techUK with an understanding regarding the strategic importance Robotics technologies to the UK
• Effectively leveraging techUK's networks, reach, and expertise to support team objectives and goals by convening the UK's emerging technologies sector through panel discussions, workshops, roundtables, and more to advance the development, application, and commercialisation of emerging technologies or industries
• Serving as an ambassador for the Tech and Innovation programme, techUK, and the organisation's emerging technologies activity by writing articles, speaking at events, and networking
• Contributing to the planning and delivery of Tech and Innovation initiatives that have an emerging technologies focus, including but not limited to events, reports, policy formulation, insight or interview series, Councils or Working Groups, and annual campaign weeks or Summits. In particular, support the development and delivery of techUK's annual Tech & Innovation Summit by liaising with sponsors, partners, and members
• Collaborating with other techUK programme areas, including across techUK's Markets and Policy teams, to ensure the organisation's emerging technologies content, activity, policy asks, and strategy are coherent, consistent, and effectively promoted
• Proactively maintaining and growing techUK's membership base in emerging technologies and Robotics, including by playing an active role in the identification and recruitment of new techUK members and by supporting colleagues by suggesting and exploring new business ideas or processes

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Competencies

• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to produce clear and concise written communications such as articles and consultation responses and craft a compelling and relevant narrative for events, reports and sprint campaigns that will land well with key stakeholders
• The ability to take ownership of the planning and delivery of events and meetings related to Robotics as well as other aspects of the wider Emerging Technologies programme, including proactively identifying and addressing potential challenges and opportunities while ensuring timelines are monitored, deadlines are met, and key stakeholders are briefed
• The ability to deliver a broad programme of activity while maintaining strong attention to detail in areas such as policy formulation or analysis and proofreading
• Highly motivated and organised with an eagerness to learn and keep up to date with the latest emerging technology developments and proactively contribute innovative and creative ideas towards what is a constantly evolving programme
• The ability to take on responsibility for key activities of the programme and be held accountable for actions and outcomes
• Strong personal and professional integrity, both of which are necessary for building and maintaining trusted working relationships with key stakeholders, leading by example, and serving as an approachable point of contact across the organisation

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong capability in researching, collating, and presenting information
• A team player committed to helping colleagues meet their objectives
• Experience of planning and hosting webinars or events
• Experience of developing a programme of work or conducting product / programme management
• Experience in stakeholder and membership engagement including recruitment

Desired knowledge and experience

• A broad understanding of the key emerging technologies set to transform industries and drive economic growth
• An appreciation for the technical, ethical, policy, financial and regulatory issues facing emerging tech and in particular the UK's Robotics sector

Additional Information

This is a full time role based out of techUK's London offices, however techUK operates a flexible working policy.

This role profile is a guide to the work that is required but does not form part of any contract of employment and may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.

The successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK prior to the commencement of employment.

The salary range for this role is £28,000-£33,000 per annum based upon experience plus discretionary bonus and comprehensive benefits.

About techUK

techUK is a membership organisation that brings together people, companies and organisations to realise the positive outcomes of what digital technology can achieve in collaboration with our sister company We collaborate across business, government and stakeholders to fulfil the potential of technology to deliver a stronger society and more sustainable future. By providing expertise and insight, we support our members, partners and stakeholders as they prepare the UK for what comes next in a constantly changing world.

Department

Tech & Innovation

Employment Type

Permanent - Full Time

Location

London

Workplace type

Hybrid

Compensation

£28,000 - £33,000 / year