Regional Partnership Manager

Job Description

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: FTC - End of 30th September 2025

Closing Date: 23rd September2024

About CPC

Connected Places Catapult is the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, Transport, and places. We provide impartial ‘innovation as a service’ for public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers to catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work and travel. We connect businesses and public sector leaders to cutting-edge research to spark innovation and grow new markets. We run technology demonstrators and SME accelerators to scale new solutions that drive growth, spread prosperity, and eliminate carbon.

We are human centred and solution-led. We advocate for standards which enable interoperability, replicability and scale. We work in partnership with others across the UK and beyond to provide access to R&D assets and deliver impact. We support local economies and organisations by being present within them to embed and transfer innovation capabilities. We are globally connected to stimulate demand for UK innovations overseas and create opportunities for companies to expand globally.

This role is part of the team that focusses on the devolved administrations city regions and local authorities across the UK. We aim to support the sector in creating the right conditions for innovation to flourish, securing commercial and other opportunities for Places, City Regions Local Authorities Universities and CPC ecosystems. For Liverpool City Region, CPC is looking to build presence in the region as a key innovation partner and this role is critical in supporting that.

Job Purpose

We are seeking a colleague to support the engagement and partnering within the Liverpool City region. This post will support the Director Devolved and Local government and the wider regional team to actively engage, collaborate and partner with the wider innovation ecosystem within the region. This role will primarily be focused on the Liverpool City Regions but will also provide some support to the wider team i.e. the Head of Sales and Engagement within the West Midland and Glasgow City Region as we grow.

The position will also collaborate with Government Departments, other Catapults, and Innovate UK to advocate for the Region as an asset that drives innovation for the benefit of the UK.

Within the Liverpool City region a key focus will be in driving forward the Maritime Innovation Action Plan and Inclusive Innovation project and programmes and relevant parts of the City Regions Innovation Prospectus

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and engage effectively with key City regions partners across the innovation ecosystem

• Support CPC colleague to engage effectively with the City Region. Working closely with CPC leads, drive relevant programme delivery, including across Global, Academic, SME and Ecosystem Directors

• Develop collaboration and partnership agreements supporting the Regions Team to grow new business for the benefit of the Regions and CPC

• Oversee the development of Regional projects. Manage and contribute towards research papers and policy-based reports to further the aims of the City Region

• Contribute to the implementation of recommendations from local and regional government and other bodies.

• Responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with Local, Regional and Central Government, helping promote the aims and ambitions of the City Region within national agendas.

• Lead the development and implementation of a proactive communications and engagement plan, including digital media channels, ensuring increased visibility of the CPC Regional Team.

• Organise events, including webinars, roundtables, dinners and site visits as well as supporting potential digital media communications ensuring information is relevant and up to date.

• Lead in developing and strengthening existing and future strategic relationships with partners

• Identify opportunities for funding and co-ordinate bids to support the development of projects and activities, underpinning the aims of the City Regions

• Manage projects to time, cost and quality, delivering on the agreed requirements, realising the stated benefits and managing the expectations of key and strategic stakeholders and any commercial scope changes.

• You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge and demonstrable experience of place-based innovation, Inclusive innovation and innovation around ports and place, digital and net zero.

• Excellent analytical and report writing skills to audiences of senior managers and policy makers.

• Ability to effectively and proactively engage with and influence senior managers and decision makers.

• Experience of interacting with governance boards. Excellent Project Management skills with demonstrable experience of managing projects within both the public and private sector, to their agreed objectives.

• Excellent collaborator with the ability to engage and work constructively across the business and with external partners

• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment, learn rapidly and master diverse technologies and techniques quickly.

• Ability to work flexibly within a fluid programme of policy research and advocacy, including a willingness to accept secondment or postings within other organisations or government departments to best support the delivery of the role’s objectives.

Benefits

• 9 day fortnight for everyone, we have a full company shutdown every other Friday.
• 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
• Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save 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) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
• Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
• Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
• Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
• Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.

Employment here is based solely upon individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, 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.