Innovation Sector Lead

Contract:             Permanent

Hours:                  Full Time

Reports to:          Innovation Sector Team Lead

Location:             York / Harpenden / Dundee / Warwick

Salary:                 Dependent upon experience

Crop Health and Protection Limited (“CHAP”) is one of the four Centres for Agricultural Innovation and a key component of the UK Government’s Agri-Tech Strategy, aiming to spark scientific and technical innovation that enables transformational change and sustainable productivity in agriculture.

About the Role

This role will report to the Innovation Sector Team Lead and support continued development of a successful and growing CR&D programme at CHAP. The post holder will provide technical expertise to CHAP and support the delivery of strategic priorities in both the short and long term. This will include liaising with CHAP Partners, Members and External Stakeholders to enhance networks, build consortia and write bids, drawing upon your technical expertise and working collaboratively with the Innovation and wider CHAP teams to secure income for CHAP.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Initiate, develop and lead successful applications and bid proposals to maximise use of current CHAP capabilities and secure future income
• Create and develop partnership and consortium networks with CHAP partners and wider communities
• Proactively research and engage with the sector to understand current opportunities and challenges
• Act as a key scientific/technical point of contact for CHAP
• Provide accurate technical assessment of applications, bids and projects and present those findings to technical and non-technical audience including Exec Team and Board
• Raise awareness of CHAP and its capabilities
• Provide relevant documentation and reports internally
• Produce briefing documents and presentations as required for colleagues, Board and wider audience
• Assist with appropriate reporting to the Innovation, Operational, Commercial teams and Monitoring Officer as required
• Participate in company training and skill enhancement programmes as required
• Attend and represent CHAP at event nationally and internationally as required

Skills, Experience, and Behaviours – Essential

• Experience of working in academia and/or commercial environments
• Degree level qualification in Biology/Agriculture/Agronomy/Soil Science
• Clear understanding and experience of U.K. and international funding programs available including Innovate UK, UKRI, EU and charitable bodies
• Have project management skills facilitating end-to-end delivery of projects from design stage to evaluation and monitoring
• Be confident in developing professional networks and liaising with both internal and external stakeholders to gather strategic information to support effective decision-making
• Effectively plan and manage workload
• Able to work to tight deadlines
• Attention to detail
• Independent thinker – able to take the lead
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team
• Excellent presentation skills (written and oral) with ability to engage with stakeholders at any level
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office packages
• The ability to represent CHAP nationally or internationally as required
• Full UK driving licence

For more information and an informal confidential discussion please e-mail your CV and covering letter TO officemanager@chap-solutions.co.uk