Commercial Lead
Innovate UK
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 10th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Context:
The role holder will operate within Innovate UK’s Ofgem: Strategic Innovation Fund team, which is part of the Net Zero Directorate. Innovate UK is Ofgem’s delivery partner for the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). This £450 million, five-year programme supports the gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks as well as the Electricity System Operator.
The SIF is part of the regulated price control system managed by energy regulator Ofgem and is funded by a very small proportion of the payments received from energy consumers. SIF accelerates innovation to transition the electricity and gas networks to net zero at lowest cost to consumers. The programme connects innovators with energy network operators and supports the best ideas towards commercialisation.
Job Purpose:
This is an exciting and varied role focused on delivering a transformational package of activities that will enable the successful development, commercialisation and deployment of innovative technology, products and services. The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) already funds projects with the potential to deliver massive carbon reduction, and consumer value. The role will focus on the existing and growing portfolio of demonstration projects to identify and deliver the right support and incentives to increase the speed of delivery, acceleration of rollout, and the likelihood of project benefits being realised. It will take a leading role in owning and driving forward some of our wider benefits analysis: from our contribution to the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA), to the forecasts and modelling for our portfolio of activities.
The Programme is also identifying other activities that can support the SIF in finding and funding ambitious, truly transformational innovation, such as: technology foresighting for future SIF applications, collaborative development of pre-SIF ready innovation, the migration of successful innovation from international demonstration into GB Network Licensees, greater collaboration amongst licensees, projects requiring a mix of SIF and private funding and embryonic innovation requiring incubation.
We are keen to hear from applicants who can demonstrate a good technical understanding of energy system innovation and the operating models of Ofgem regulated monopolies. We are looking for someone who can critically evaluate in-flight projects, as well as imagine future projects that can appeal to GB Network Licensees and harness innovation with substantial potential. As an expert in whole system thinking, you will be leading our approach to "doing things differently” and “being the difference”.
Job description
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
- Own and manage the commercial relationships with projects and project partners
- Lead the identification of portfolio projects where further intervention can enable commercialisation and innovation deployment
- Support and facilitate projects to give them the best chance of successful commercialisation and roll out beyond SIF funding
- Critically challenge the commercialisation and rollout planning of in-flight demonstration projects
- Analyse and synthesize commercial and economic data for GVA analyses, alongside quantitatively drive market intelligence and insight development
- Find and foster engagement with critical technologies where a future fit with SIF could be encouraged
- Enhance support to ‘pre-SIF’ companies and innovators who have future ambitions to engage with Licensees for innovation funding
- Lead on engagements with international demonstration projects that could transition to GB demonstration via SIF
- Work closely with Innovation squad and Impacts & Insights squad colleagues to design the most efficient approach for engaging and supporting in-flight demonstration projects
- Host/Participate in Innovation & Commercial ‘surgeries’ with innovators
- Provide commercial leadership to the Call for Ideas process, focused on finding and nurturing energy system innovators
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.
Person specification
Person Specification:
This position requires a person with a robust understanding of the energy system, a commercial grasp of network operations, and a good understanding of the price control and incentive mechanisms. As well as being comfortable challenging the norms, the successful candidate will be an expert in visualising the bigger picture when it comes to developing commercially viable innovation in a monopoly environment.
We are looking for someone who is able to make sense of multiple information sources and deliver original thinking on how best to ensure we identify the projects with high-potential, and pull the relevant levers to help those projects realise their potential. The candidate should demonstrate a thorough understanding of innovation development and deployment, at-scale, within and across regulated monopolies.
We have built an ambitious, supportive and knowledgeable team environment. The successful applicant should be a team player, be willing to share their knowledge of economic impact evaluation and to learn from others. We are looking for a motivated self-starter with an excellent ability to communicate to wide audiences in an engaging manner. Someone with the ability to identify and build positive collaborations and strategic partnerships to deliver against Innovate UK’s Net Zero Innovation Strategy.
Qualifications:
- Degree or post-graduate qualification in a subject relevant to engineering, energy, economics, physical sciences.
Experience:
Essential experience of some of the following:
- Robust understanding of the energy sector; energy transmission, distribution, sustainability, renewable energy
- Experience of regulation and monopolies in a regulated sector.
- Significant experience of involvement in the at-scale deployment of innovation or new business process, ideally within a regulated utility
- Knowledge of commercial investment & other mechanisms of funding to support growth companies and project finance requirements
- Commercial contracting and management of technical energy installations
Skills:
- An ability to work unsupervised, take personal initiative, and be able to prioritise and multitask.
- Ability to think and act strategically.
- Capable of applying a “client-focused” approach.
- Ability to analyse and make sense of financial and technical information.
- High degree of organisational ability and attention to detail.
- IT competency.
- Engaging written and oral communication skills, able to present to a wide range of audiences with confidence.
- Excellent consultation and influencing skills.
- Ability to take broad concepts and move these through to achievable schemes.
- Excellent social skills and ability to engage with a wide network of partners professionally and with integrity.
Competencies:
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
Travel Requirements:
Field-based: There will be a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.
Benefits
- 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 will either take place remotely via Zoom/Teams or Face to Face.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Recruitment Team
- Email : recruitment@ukri.org
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukri.org
