Northern Ireland Launchpad Industry Innovation Lead

HIRANI is a not-for-profit organisation, launched in 2019 to better integrate the academic, and health organisations with life and health science businesses to positively impact translation, productivity, economic growth, and deliver positive health outcomes. (www.hira-ni.com)

We are an alliance of Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Invest-Northern Ireland, Health & Social care. HIRANI advocates for the Northern Ireland Life and Health Science (NI L&HS) sector, and helps facilitate the pipeline of health innovations to market. In addition we are a voice and front-door to champion and connect the cluster for growth and promote the region’s capabilities both nationally and internationally. HIRANI has been awarded the Innovate UK Launchpad management organisation contract to develop wraparound life sciences’ business support for the NI L&HS Cluster.

Therefore HIRANI is looking to appoint a Northern Ireland Launchpad Industry Innovation Lead to help shape the development of the L&HS industry cluster for the NI L&HS Launchpad. This new and exciting role will devise and manage the system-engagement efforts on behalf of the Northern Ireland Launchpad. The role is an outstanding opportunity to grow your network, influence our local life sciences industry in order to impact regional growth to benefit economic and health outcomes.

Your role will use your commercial expertise to manage delivery of the launchpad activities build dynamic relationships with local life science innovators. This will include supporting them to develop collaborative projects, routes to market, and access to funding.  It is expected the post-holder will be a create thinker, making a significant intellectual contribution to the HIRANI Launchpad strategy by identifying translational opportunities and driving these along the translational pathway, particularly by contributing to applications for funds and project-managing successful awards.

You will be a results-driven project manager who is clearly focused on system engagement and uses evidence-based tools to capture performance and successful delivery. 

The role is a full-time 2-year fixed term position with the intention to extend. The renumeration of this post is competitive with a salary range of £35,000 – £45,000 (depending on experience). The closing date for applications is 7th May 2024 12 noon. The anticipated starting date is 24th June 2024. Interviews will be held on 23rd or 24th May 2024.

MAJOR DUTIES: 

1. Develop and deliver the HIRANI NI Launchpad sector-specific business support activities including network building activities, business support and workshops for the L & HS sector in Northern Ireland.
2. Develop productive relationships with industry, SMEs and entrepreneurs, and other key stakeholders within the UK and Ireland, including Innovate UK Business support, UK Catapults, Invest NI, and Enterprise Ireland Clusters.
3. Develop themed meetings within the NI L & HS cluster, including inviting and engaging a diverse range of stakeholders e.g. key opinion leaders, funders.
4. Manage the delivery and development of HIRANI projects at high quality and pace in a challenging environment.
5. Identify emerging innovation and research opportunities and unmet needs to support workstream delivery. 
6. Advise and guide cluster stakeholders on development, adoption and spread of Innovation across Northern Ireland. 
7. Actively monitor opportunities for innovation funding from local, regional, and national initiatives, and support companies in the application process.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. A degree (at least 2.1) or a higher degree in a Life Science subject, or equivalent experience within industry.
2. An excellent knowledge of the commercial Life and Health Science innovation lifecycle and the diverse drivers and challenges for each stakeholder.
3. Have worked for a minimum 3 years in the Life and Health Science commercial sector.
4. A portfolio of evidence of problem solving and making decisions based on a broad range of complex options and data.
5. A proven track record of relationship building across a broad range of professions or organisations as appropriate, including influencing of stakeholders at mid to senior level.
6. Highly effective interpersonal communication and people management skills including delivering presentations, planning events, writing reports.
7. A proven track record in project management.
8. Have flexibility- be willing to travel to meetings and attend events outside working hours.
9. Be highly organised with the ability to plan and run online webinars and in-person meetings including agendas, minutes, and next steps.
10. Must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. HIRANI will not sponsor a working visa.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:

1. In addition to working in the Life & Health Science commercial sector, experience in another area of the L & HS cluster e.g.  health service, university, community sector, government.
2. Have an established network of contacts within the Northern Ireland Life & Health Science cluster.
3. A portfolio of evidence of the coordination and writing of funding applications.
4. Current project management or relevant business qualification.
5. Management of project spend and budgets.
6. Experience of facilitating events or workshops including collation of feedback.
7. Line Management experience.

HIRANI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER 

Please apply via email to info@hira-ni.com, with your current C.V. and a covering letter addressing how you meet the essential and desirable requirements. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

We are also open to consider a secondment but please get in touch to discuss before making an application.  You can contact info@hira-ni.com with questions or to arrange to speak informally about the role.