Competition Lead
Competition Lead
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Job Description
This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI).
Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UKs Workday system may apply via the Careers application within the system).
If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the About Us information on the right. If you wish to apply for the position below please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally you should also advise your manager of your application.
Applications must be submitted by
Competition Lead
The Competition Lead will lead a team to efficiently deliver the endtoend processes of competitions from the initial inception of the competition idea to its completion in supporting successful applicants in receiving their grant offer letter and subsequently starting their project.
*Please note this advert will close on the 9th of May 2025 at 23.59pm
Watch our video Why Join Innovate UK here.
Title: Competition Lead
Band: UKRI Band E(UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: 45272 gross per annum
Reports to: Customer Relationship Manager
Location: Swindon (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Fixed Term Until 31/03/2026
Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood prior to a move taking place.
Innovate UK recognises the importance of worklife balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Context:
The Competition Delivery Team are responsible for managing all the tasks and processes associated with the endtoend delivery of competitions namely allocation of competitions application assessment project setup successfully and robustly within the specified timeframes. You will work closely with the Customer Relationship Manager Resource Demand Manager Innovation Leads and Competition Delivery Managers to provide support and knowledge to internal teams members ensuring the endtoend processes are completed efficiently.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are underrepresented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Job Purpose:
The Competition Lead will lead a team to efficiently deliver the endtoend processes of competitions from the initial inception of the competition idea to its completion in supporting successful applicants in receiving their grant offer letter and subsequently starting their project. A key requirement of the role is the ability to work as part of a team but to also work independently to achieve results and complete tasks to a high standard within a specified timeframe.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
- Manage the daily operations of the teams supporting the endtoend process allocating work to the individual team members ensuring training across all activity is in place to maintain a fully functional team.
- Deputise for the Customer Relationship Manager and help inform policy decisions and continuous process improvement.
- Deputise for other Competitions Leads and help support the teams to ensure a consistent approach across the competition landscape.
- Take ownership of your teams decisions and focus on delivering exceptional service through all preaward activities
- Support other areas of Operations i.e. Customer Support Services and the Post award teams in understanding the specifics of a competition to enable them to maintain high levels of support to applicants
- Work with the Customer Relationship Manager to produce regular reports on all preaward activities to track performance and service levels
- Act as the escalation point for any queries which cannot be resolved by a team member collaborating with other Operations management team members for assistance on resolution as necessary
- Conduct monthly 121s with all team members managing each persons objectives in line with their performance development reviews
- Define and create realistic SLAs to measure team performance
- Ensure that your team is successfully completing all activities within agreed SLAs.
- Ensure that all internal approval steps are completed and that your team issue the correct advice and guidance through the relevant channels
- Perform regular quality assurance checks and reviews with team members to ensure high levels of customer service
- Represent the team at Operations management meetings in absence of Customer Relationship Manager
- Work in an agile manner to respond to demands for change as the business needs
- Monitor the delivery of competitions to ensure they are delivered on time and at the appropriate quality.
- Manage and mentor all your direct reports including conducting regular 121s and ensuring that PDRs are conducted with associated objectives set
- Ensure high quality internal and external customer service is maintained by your team
- Be a strong advocate of the core values of UKRI and Innovate UK
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.
Shortlisting criteria
(S) Assessed at shortlisting
(I) Assessed at interview
(S&I) Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Person Specification:
The postholder should have operational/project management experience in a fast paced and customer serviceoriented environment. They must be passionate about customer service and have an engaging and encouraging manner for mentoring their teams.
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential
- Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
- Management experience within a changing fast paced administrative team in a customer facing environment
- Proven ability to build effective working relationships with administrative teams and stakeholders at all levels of the organisation
- Experience leading to an understanding and commitment to the values of accountability probity openness and diversity and a significant grasp of public accountability and the associated obligations
- Experience of working in a managerial role in a funding assurance or related discipline
- Experience of working with procurement regulations
- Experience of working to strategic goals
- Experience of setting smart objectives for your direct reports
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to make decisions and operate independently.
- Excellent diplomacy and balanced judgement.
- Exceptional influencing negotiation and relationshipbuilding skills
- Strong team working skills with the ability to network beyond the core team throughout the organisation and UKRI.
Desirable
- Commercial acumen developed in the privatesector or at the public/privatesector interfac
Competencies:
All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving Stakeholder management Communication skills Influencing Selfawareness/selfmanagement Strategic awareness Working with others Project management
Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage in addition to the criterias listed in the person specification.
Travel Requirements:
Swindonbased: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion:
Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally with fairness respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria setout in our role profiles.
Equal Opportunities:
We are an equal opportunities employer committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments some of which will be online and others may be inperson. If you have a disability heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion providing further information. In confidence Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.
UK Research and Innovation:
Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online Benefits:
We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days annual leave 10.5 public and privilege days flexible working hours an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Flexible Working:
We understand the importance of worklife balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Preemployment Screening:
To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive preemployment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or rerun security clearance as required during the course of employment.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health agriculture and food security and bioscience for health which includes research on animals genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive preemployment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.
Applications must be submitted by;
Employment Type
Full-Time
