Innovation Services Specialist - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Financial Conduct Authority; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial regulatory body is seeking an Innovation Services Specialist for a 12-month contract in Edinburgh. The role involves leading innovation projects, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, and shaping regulatory strategies in line with technological advancements. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical and project management skills. This position offers a competitive salary between £52,400 and £71,200, along with excellent benefits including hybrid working options.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Private healthcare with Bupa

Non-contributory pension scheme

Life assurance

Income protection

Flexible benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Experience of analysing large volumes of numerical and written information.
• Experience of managing stakeholders and building relationships.
• Knowledge of how innovation operates and its role in strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation services cases and present findings.
• Shape regulatory approaches and drive innovation services.
• Collaborate with teams across the FCA and industry.

Skills

Analytical skills

Regulatory framework understanding

Stakeholder management

Project management

Excellent communication

Job description

Overview

Innovation Services Specialist (12 Month Fixed Term Contract/ Secondment)

Division – Data, Technology & Innovation

Department – Innovation

Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £52,400 to £71,200 and London from £57,700 to £78,300 per annum (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive.

Follow this option for more information about the FCA (web link removed).

What will you be doing?

As part of the Innovation Department within the DTI division, you will lead pioneering work essential to driving growth and innovation. This year, we are focusing on AI, tokenisation, open finance and financial inclusion.

Our mission is to inform FCA colleagues about technological developments, influence UK and global stakeholders, and intervene through firm support and convening powers. We collaborate closely with external firms, trade bodies, and innovation networks, as well as internal stakeholders across the FCA.

• Lead innovation services cases, take ownership of individual cases, conduct thorough analysis with internal stakeholders, engage directly with applicant firms, and present findings at the monthly innovation panel
• Shape the future of regulation working closely with colleagues in the Innovation Lab, helping to drive our ambitious evolution of services programme, ensuring regulatory approaches keep pace with emerging technologies
• Collaborate across the FCA and develop and maintain strong relationships with teams across the organisation, including Authorisations, Policy, Legal and sector-specific groups, influencing key discussions at the Monthly Innovation Panel
• Engage with the industry, build and manage relationships with external stakeholders such as firms, trade bodies and innovation networks, fostering collaboration and thought leadership in financial services
• Coordinate innovation efforts, work across the Innovation Lab and the Regulatory Sandbox & Innovation Pathways teams to align workstreams, ensuring seamless integration of Innovation Services applications
• Shape strategic decision making, attending case meetings and contributing to discussions, determining the best pathway for applications

What you will get from the role

• Be at the forefront of innovation in the UK, gaining expertise in industry advancements, new ideas, business models and the application of emerging technologies in Financial Services
• Understand how innovations interact with the regulatory framework, both existing and future, shaping the evolution of financial regulation
• Contribute to FCA priority work through the lens of innovation, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, including pioneering firms
• Gain a unique perspective at a time of heightened focus on innovation and the FCA’s role in supporting it
• Work collaboratively across the department and with FCA colleagues to support the department’s blueprint, informing, intervening and influencing key areas such as AI, tokenisation, financial inclusion and open finance

Qualifications

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme)

Minimum

• Experience of analysing large volumes of numerical and written information, demonstrating strong analytical skills
• Experience of a solid understanding of regulatory frameworks
• Experience of managing stakeholders, building strong working relationships with colleagues and firms

Essential

• Show an understanding of how innovation operates, including its Innovation Services and its role in strategy
• Knowledge and understanding of tools and powers, considering how these might be used to support the development of innovative business models
• Strong project management skills to lead and respond to complex regulatory questions from a variety of stakeholders
• Ability to identify, build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders in line with values
• Good understanding of the regulatory framework
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage effectively in person and convey complex issues clearly in writing

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Do you know? 50% of our Executive Committee were the first in their family to attend university.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)
• Private healthcare with Bupa
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age – up to 12% a month once you reach age 35)
• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary
• Income protection

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

Life at the FCA

Application Support & Timeline

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

• This role is graded as: Senior Associate – Regulatory
• This role is available for internal secondment or acting up
• Advert Closing Date: Monday 29 September (please submit your application by 11:59pm on 28 September)
• CV Review/Shortlist: 29– 30 September
• Interviews W/C: 6 October

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact: [e-mail]

Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.