Non-Executive Director, UK Research and Innovation

Non-Executive Director, UK Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation

Various

With the recent creation of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Government has signalled its strong commitment to the UK's research and innovation sector. DSIT is here to champion the science and research base through our Science and Technology Framework which sets how we will build and further develop the UK's science superpower status by 2030. DSIT is supported in this by its family of public bodies, the largest of which is UKRI, our key partner and delivery organisation.

Role description

UKRI was established in 2018. It exists to fund ground-breaking research and innovation throughout the UK either in universities and research institutes or in innovative businesses and startups. UKRI's combined strength and cross-cutting capabilities mean it plays a critical part in delivering key Government strategies for the sector. All of this requires UKRI to become much more proactive, flexible and agile as an organisation, with the risk appetite needed to seize new opportunities.

UKRI's mission is supported by an exceptional Board of experts and thinkers within their respective fields, including leaders from industry, academia, and government, all with non-executive experience. We are now seeking to appoint up to three additional Non-Executive Directors, with a particular interest in areas of expertise set out below which complement the skills and experience of existing Board members.

As a major funding organisation that plays a critical role in stimulating enterprise growth and new ventures across the UK, we are particularly interested in leaders with diverse and highly successful backgrounds from all parts of the UK. We are also keen to welcome leaders with international perspectives onto the Board. The diverse composition of our board is of critical importance to UKRI and its objectives.

To help retain corporate knowledge on the Board we will appoint candidates for a range of tenures - between two to four years.

Organisation description

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation. We invest more than £8 billion annually to advance our understanding of society and the world around us and deliver benefits for society, the economy and the environment.

Our organisation comprises nine councils - the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK, the seven disciplinary Research Councils and Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England. As a UK-wide organisation we work across the four UK nations and with the devolved funding bodies and governments to understand and support different priorities that span research and innovation in different parts of the UK.

Through our Councils and the critical national capabilities provided by our centres, units and institutes, we deliver, support and champion the creativity and vibrancy of research and innovation in the UK, for the benefit of society.

UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Person specification

Essential criteria

• An ability to work strategically and constructively to reach collective decisions in the public interest.
• A good understanding and knowledge of the UK's research and innovation sectors.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to constructively challenge and be an ambassador for UKRI, establishing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

• Experience as an investor / venture capitalist / philanthropy fund manager, particularly in deep tech (e.g. knowledge of the UK's market dynamics / headwinds / opportunities).
• Experience dealing with the City / institutional investors / sovereign wealth funds.
• Experience as a serial entrepreneur with a track record of building startups and scaleups in the UK, ideally with a focus on commercialising science and technology.
• Experience in the life sciences
• Significant experience of delivering major R&D programmes over the long term, particularly outside a university setting (e.g. CEOs/directors of major national labs, CTOs of major defence suppliers, etc).
• An ability to provide effective oversight of the executive functions of a large and complex organisation.
• Experience of working with Government on development and implementation of science policy.