UK Food Valley Innovation Coordinator

Lincolnshire County Council; Swineshead; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is seeking a UK Food Valley Innovation Coordinator to manage innovation projects aimed at strengthening the agri-food sector. The role involves engaging with stakeholders, administering project activities, and requires excellent organisation skills. The position supports a hybrid working model, requiring travel across multiple counties in Eastern England.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage a work programme and present key messages effectively.
• Comfortable communicating with stakeholders across a wide area.
• Knowledge of the agri-food sector or innovation programmes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for the Innovate UK agri-tech and food-tech launchpad.
• Administer project activities and coordinate work programmes.
• Engage with stakeholders and develop content for events.

Skills

Strong organisation skills

Effective communication

IT skills across Microsoft package

Job description

Overview

UK Food Valley Innovation Coordinator role based in the Eastern England region. The role is the main day-to-day contact for the cluster management of the Innovate UK agri-tech and food-tech launchpad, part of a programme that provides £7.5 million of locked-off innovation funding to accelerate and strengthen innovation across the agri-food sector within the cluster.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for the Innovate UK agri-tech and food-tech launchpad cluster management in Eastern England.
• Administer Innovate UK project activities (including claims and reporting) and coordinate activity, meetings and work programmes across the Eastern England region.
• Collaborate with external project partners (Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council, and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority) and other regional partners to develop content, briefings, and to organise both virtual and in-person events.
• Engage with regional stakeholders across the innovation landscape and coordinate work programmes with partner organisations.
• Travel between four counties as part of the role; access to own transport is essential.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Strong organisation skills and ability to manage a work programme; effective at working with people and presenting key messages in an engaging and concise manner.
• Ability to reach and communicate with stakeholders across a wide area.
• IT skills across the Microsoft package; well-organised and confident working with external stakeholders.
• Understanding of the agri-food sector or innovation programmes (desirable).
• In accordance with immigration rules, the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Working Arrangements

We operate a hybrid working model. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process. Our technology platform and equipment enable remote connection and collaboration; good connectivity is required and support may be discussed during recruitment.

About the Team

UK Food Valley is an initiative (run by Lincolnshire County Council) aiming to promote Greater Lincolnshire's agri-food sector to become a top 10 global food cluster. UKFV supports growth and inward investment by promoting the scale, diversity and importance of the food sector and by ensuring that existing food sector companies and new investors are supported.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. For more details please consult the official Disability Confident guidance.

Additional Information

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to applying. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a large number of applications are received. A talent pool scheme may be used to consider candidates for equal positions for up to 3 months.