Non-Executive Director

NonExecutive Director Exeter Science Park

Role: Average of 1 day per month for a 3year term

Location: Exeter Devon

Salary: Nonremunerated post

The Company:

Exeter Science Park Ltd (ESPL) is the result of a vision to develop a science park in Exeter Devon to facilitate the growth of innovative fastgrowing STEMM (science technology engineering mathematics and medical) companies that exploit worldclass research create highquality jobs attract and retain talent and drive productivity and economic growth.

The Science Park is designed to encourage collaboration amongst businesses and academic institutions promoting innovation and the commercialisation of scientific advancements. It often hosts events conferences and networking opportunities to facilitate interactions between professionals researchers and entrepreneurs.

ESPLs shareholders are Devon County Council (DCC) East Devon District Council (EDDC) Exeter City Council (ECC) and the University of Exeter (UoE). It is effectively a notforprofit company which is operated on a not for distribution basis to ensure that all income and capital is used for the benefit of the business. The Science Park also has a strategic partnership with the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.

The Role:

In the next nine months we will see the tenure of some of our existing NonExecutive Directors come to an end and we are looking to fill these gaps with NonExecutive Directors who have the passion experience and connections in science technology innovation and finance to take Exeter Science Park to the next stage of its development.

Your role as NonExecutive Director will be to guide and challenge the strategic direction of the Science Park and take it to the next stage of its development. Critical to the next stage of development is securing private financial partners and enhancing business development strategies to ensure the viability and prosperity of the park in the future.

Your role will be to provide expert advice and guidance to shape and challenge the strategic direction of the Science Park so that it delivers an environment that enables innovation. Coupled with this we would like to use your experience of existing networks to connect businesses and attract finance to the region.

As an ambassador for the Science Park you will also take pride in promoting the Park to relevant stakeholders in your existing network in order to attract interest and funding into the Science Park for the benefit of the local economy.

The Person:

As a person you are energetic and passionate about promoting innovation science and technology and can effectively combine this with your experience of leading organisations to constructively challenge and support the strategic direction of the Science Park.

Ideally you will have boardlevel experience or held a Chief Executive role and a background and connections in science parks would be a significant advantage.

In the coming year we will be looking for expertise in corporate finance business development and property development. You will therefore ideally have experience working in corporate finance and selecting private financial partners to lead an organisation to its next stage of development in a similar Science Park environment or from an organisation with private sector funding.

Additionally handson experience of working in property development or property maintenance demonstrating an understanding of the challenges involved in developing and maintaining a site as well as ensuring suitable usage of buildings would be highly beneficial. Knowledge and experience of Local Development Orders (LDOs) would be an advantage.

You have the vision independence of judgement and commitment to help the Science Park thrive in the years to come combined with the ability to judge which decisions are yours to take. Experience knowledge and a network of local and national innovation communities would be advantageous including Universities funding bodies and meet ups that you can draw upon and use to support the Science Parks development.

As someone with a proven track record within executive leadership you will come with the commercial aptitude and financial acumen to provide strategic oversight and contribute to the growth and success of the Science Park. You are entrepreneurial in your style and through experience understand the different needs of startup companies and large publicly funded organisations and can use this insight to advise and guide business plans and growth.

We welcome your application to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our Science Park. Join us and contribute significantly to steering the future trajectory of our success.

The Rewards and Term:

This is a 3year term nonremunerated post providing you with the opportunity to play an influential role in one of the most exciting projects the South West has to offer. As well as contributing to the success of the Exeter Science Park this role gives you the opportunity to broaden your experience and enhance your own career developing knowledge and skills that you can use in your other leadership roles. On average you could expect to spend 12 days per month on this role.

Interview:

We will be holding the interviews on Week commencing 26^th February 2024

If you possess the experience passion and attitude to make this role a success then we would love to hear from you. Please apply with your CV and a cover letter by 2^nd February 2024.