Director of Innovation Development

Director of Innovation Development

Us

We are health innovation specialists. We work with others to transform healthcare through innovation. We help generate new ideas and innovations or adapt existing ones. We test evaluate and scale the best approaches working with NHS colleagues to implement these solutions in hospitals communities GP practices and beyond. We draw on diverse expertise from healthcare universities industry and communities breaking down silos and creating connections as we build healthcare fit for the future.

Please visit our website to find out more about us our values and how we work.

The Role

TheDirector of Innovation Developmentis a senior leadership role responsible forshaping how innovationneed isidentifiedprioritised developed and assured acrossUCLPartners.

Operating horizontally acrossinvention and other directorates the postholder will lead a set ofcorecross capabilitiesthat ensureUCLPartners work is strategically aligned to system need underpinned by robust processes measurable in its impact and supported by sustainable grant funding.

The role will oversee four coreareaseach delivered through the delivery teams. The Director will set direction define methodsestablishcadenceand provide assurance enabling delivery teams tooperateat pace while maintainingconsistencyqualityand strategic coherence across theorganisation.

This role requires strong leadership strategicclarityand operational discipline with credibility across NHS providers academiafundersand regional stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

DemandSignallingand Innovation Strategy

• Own and evolveUCLPartnersdemand-signallingapproach defining how innovation needs areidentifiedarticulatedandprioritisedacross invention and other directorates. This will require collaborative working with existing leadershipteamsand capabilities within theorganisation.

• Design and deliver aclear repeatable demand-signallingmethod and cadence supporting consistent application across delivery teams.

• Design and run frameworks fordemandsignalingprioritisationandselection ensuring focus on the highest-value opportunities.

• Lead an annualcross-UCLPartnersdemand-signallingevent engaging NHS partner leadership teams and senior system leaders producing a clear written output to informorganisationalpriorities.

• Support delivery teams to apply demand-signallingapproaches for individualprogrammesand initiatives ensuring alignment with systemneedandorganisationalstrategy.

Cross-Pipeline Capabilities and Processes

• Support the developmentand continuous improvement ofcross-pipeline capabilities and processes( assessment/prioritisation prototyping testing solution sourcing market-readiness assessment progression criteria).

• Ensure these processes arerobust class-leading and kept up to date drawing on best practice and system learning.

• Work with teams acrossUCLPartners toestablishclosepartnership working with NHS partners. SupportingUCLPartners teams in collecting data from NHS partners around core capabilities and processes andto developinnovation teams within NHS partners withstandardised streamlined processes to support innovators.

• Work closely with leadership across delivery capabilities to embed consistent approaches while allowingappropriate localflexibility.

• Partner with the Director of Education to ensure these capabilities areembedded into staff developmenttrainingandorganisationallearning.

Performance Measurement Reporting and Assurance

• Own the development ofcross-delivery team performance frameworksensuring clear KPIs and outcome measures are defined and consistently applied.

• Oversee portfolio tracking performancereportingand corrective action where progress is off track.

• Oversee the production of performance reporting for the CEO and Board providing insight into progressimpactand areas of risk.

• Ensureappropriatenationalcommissioner reporting and regional assurancerequirements are met across invention and other directorates.

• Use performance insight to support organisational learningimprovementand strategic decision-making.

Grant Fundraising and Funding Alignment

• Leadgrant fundraising strategyacross directorates with a focus on:

• invention and commercialisation grants (e.g. UKRI) and
• adoption and evaluation grants (e.g. SBRI).

• Coordinate bids and submissions with delivery teams providing strategic oversightprioritisationand quality assurance.

• Work with colleagues to align grant funding with pipeline priorities and delivery capacity.

• Ensure clarity of distinction between grant-funded activity and competitive commissioned work which will typically be led by delivery teams.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation

• Build andmaintainstrong relationships with NHS Trust innovation leads academic partnersindustryand investors.

• Enable effective collaboration jointworkingand knowledge exchange across the innovation ecosystem.

Leadership and Ways of Working

• Provide clear visible leadership for cross-cutting innovation development functions.

• Buildleadand develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team

• Lead and support a team delivering the four core areas settingexpectationsand enabling high performance.

• Work collaboratively with delivery function directors to support coherence without duplication or overreach.

• Promote inclusivecollaborativeand values-led ways of working acrossUCLPartners.

• Promotehigh standardsaccountabilityand continuous professional development.

• Exercise judgement in complex ambiguous situations involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

You

Qualifications

• Educated to postgraduate level or equivalent senior professional experience in a relevant field such as healthcare research innovation public policybusinessor a related discipline.

• Professional qualification or leadership training in innovation strategy management or organisational leadershipor equivalent senior professional experience.

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within healthcare researchinnovationor related sectors.

• Demonstrable experience shaping and delivering strategic programmes or organisational initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.

• Experience developing and implementing frameworks processes or systems that support innovation or programme development.

• Experience working collaboratively with senior leaders across organisations including NHS providers academicinstitutionsand other partners.

• Experience developing and overseeing complex programmes or portfolios with multiple workstreams and stakeholders.

• Experience working in innovation development translationalresearchor health system improvement.

• Experience working across NHS academic and industry partnerships.

• Experience overseeing funding programmes or supporting grant development activity.

• Experiencerepresentingan organisation externally within innovation or research ecosystems.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of the health and care system and the challenges facing the NHS.

• Understanding of how innovation can support system improvement servicetransformationand improved patient outcomes.

• Knowledge of innovation development processes including identification of need solution developmenttestingand implementation.

• Understanding of programme governance performancemanagementand organisational assurance processes.

• Knowledge of the UK research and innovation funding landscape.

• Understanding of adoption pathways and evaluation approaches within healthcare.

• Familiarity with national policy and strategy relating to health innovation and data-enabled research.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong strategic leadership skills with the ability to set direction and align teams around shared priorities.

• Ability to design and implement organisational frameworksprocessesand governance mechanisms.

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders across organisations.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences.

• Ability to analyse complex information and translate insight into strategic action.

• Strong organisational leadership skills including the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and foster collaborative working.

• Experience developing and leading organisational performance frameworks.

• Experience coordinating complex funding bids or supporting grant development processes.

• Experience working across innovation ecosystems involving academiaNHSand industry partners.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and systems thinker with the ability to see connections across programmesorganisationsand priorities.

• Credible and confident leader able to influence senior stakeholders across the health and innovation ecosystem.

• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style fostering partnership working and shared ownership.

• Comfortable working in complex and evolving environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Strong judgement and decision-making capability in situations of uncertainty or ambiguity.

• Commitment to improving health and care outcomes through innovation.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with interest in developing new programmes and partnerships.

• Enthusiasm for building organisational capability and supporting the development of others.

Terms and Conditions

Job details

The Director of Innovation Development will report to the Chief Research Officer with a secondary reporting line to the Chief Executive Officer. The role is a full-time permanent position with a 37.5-hour work week. Theremunerationfor this post is competitive.

We offer flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working at UCLPartners. All staff will typically spend a minimum of 40% of their working time at the UCLPartners office i.e. for a minimum of 2 days/week if full-time or 40% of your working time for part-time staff. This can be averaged over a 3-month period.

As part of our benefits package employees are entitled to 27 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays) company pension (employer contribution 10% of annual salary) life assurance coverage cycle to work scheme and flexible working.

If you require this information in a different format please let us know by emailing

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equality diversity and inclusion. We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard valued and a sense of belonging; and for our work to help tackle wider health inequalities. Read more about our approach. UCLPartners is committed to equal opportunities and all people acting on its behalf must perform their duties in a manner that supports and promotes this commitment.

We welcome applications from candidates who are neurodiverse have a disability or long-term health condition.

Please note: The postholder is expected to view this job description as a guide rather than an exact description of all duties and responsibilities which may be subject to change as our work develops.

Required Experience:

Director