RC 219 - Head of Strategy and Business Planning

Location London or Milton Keynes (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)

Reporting to Strategy & Portfolio Director

Working hours Full time (9-day Fortnight companywide)

Contract type/duration Permanent

Band: 4.1

Closing date 9am 1st May 2025

This role is being advertised internally only

The Role

To lead and coordinate strategy development and Business Planning across CPC.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead market appraisal including identification of market barriers in CPC's core innovation focus areas.
• Provide actionable market insight on Connected Places Catapult, define market focus areas and innovation themes in collaboration with Business Unit Leads.
• Provide actionable internal insight based on our performance and impact data.
• Advise on Business Unit's strategic direction, by providing strategic assessment and horizon scanning on state of the market, including insight into penetrating a new geography, new business, new UK leading innovation ideas.
• Facilitate the development of organisational ‘points-of-view' informing technology roadmaps (with relevant BUs), policy consultations (with Public Affairs), etc.
• Ensure appropriate information management of up-to-date supporting material (consistent bid/proposal material for innovation focus areas, case studies, etc).
• Provide content for briefings aligned with the stakeholder engagement plan (signed off by BU lead or Managing Directors).
• Develop approach and content for producing the State of the Nation and annual report.
• Own and prepare the annual strategy and business planning process and outputs, with all areas of CPC, working in close partnership on design with Finance and Chief of Staff.
• Drive the annual business planning cycle, working closely with all CPC Leads to produce inputs required to support the process.
• Support Business Unit Directors in developing strategic initiatives and programmes through shaping and leading targeted strategy development projects.
• Support Business Unit leads with strategic insight to assist them in securing opportunities across the innovation imperatives, coordinate strategic initiatives/programmes/projects where cross-cutting or part of CPC's internal research and development.
• Work with Business Unit Leads and marketing colleagues to ensure pre-sales material and opportunities are strategically aligned.
• Ensure an ethos where equity, inclusivity and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities.
• You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Requirements
Required Skills and Experience

• Adept at leading, managing and developing people to deliver organisational objectives and nurture talent, using excellent collaboration and influencing skills.
• Ability to set deadlines and support others to meet them effectively.
• Experience driving planning activities in complex fast-paced environments.
• Experience with using collaboration and influencing skills to support others to iterate strategy and business planning effectively.
• Working knowledge of business tools for effective strategy development and prioritisation.
• Demonstrable experience of working with colleagues to build and deliver plans.
• Working knowledge of operational management in a projects environment, including project and programme management methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience in instigating and delivering business change.
• Confident influencer and communicator with the ability to adapt style and message for a variety of different audiences. Experience of managing relationships with very senior stakeholders.
• Focused on achieving impact for the organisation.
• Showing determination, drive, and commitment always and particularly when faced with challenges and setbacks.
• Be a champion of embedding sustainability and EDI principles into strategy development.

Required Competencies

• Provide coaching and feedback that drive development, innovation, creativity, and delivery in team using key metrics and data points, offers challenge and support as required to maintain high performance.
• Use emotional intelligence to create an environment where team members feel safe to experiment and try new things.
• Seek, encourage and create the conditions for continuous improvements in processes, systems, behaviours and ways of working.
• Build motivation and engagement in the team through understanding of the person, their aspirations and development needs.
• Manage performance through effective goal setting based on business and role objectives and development needs or desires. Complete regular one on one discussions and performance reviews that ensure clarity over performance levels and development areas.
• Provide clarity of expectations and takes ownership of wider team performance.
• Manage change, navigating the team through the 'transition fog', mitigating resistance, and ensuring everyone's on board with the new direction.
• Organise the work and team around multiple simultaneous initiatives, with reference to key policies, practices and procedures, effectively prioritises tasks and delegates effectively.
• Use management information to understand trends, gaps, challenges and opportunities and make commercial decisions.
• Actively build an inclusive and sustainability focused team culture that celebrates the value of diverse experiences and perspectives, ensures team compliance with policies, and apply equalities impact assessments on all aspects of work at CPC.

Benefits

• 9-day fortnight for everyone, we have a full company shutdown every other Friday.
• 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
• Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.
• Two paid days of volunteering leave per year (pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
• Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
• Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
• Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
• Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.
• Mortgage Advice benefit, delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates - provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end-to-end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.

Employment here is based solely upon individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. We also make all reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under laws protecting the rights of the disabled.