DASA - Innovation Partner

Location

East Midlands, Wales

About the job

Summary

The Innovation Partners are key roles within the DASA. Together, they are our outreach function, responsible for building and maintaining the external relationships with key stakeholders across defence and security industries, SMEs, academia, the Third Sector, and extend our reach to those who have not previously worked with defence or security.

The role of the Innovation Partner is to proactively seek out new opportunities, promote the DASA across their external networks, link into existing networks as well as building our own, and act as a resource of expertise and market intelligence to help Government understand and link in to useful suppliers and partners.

The Innovation Partner will be highly self-motivated to proactively engage with industry, academia and stakeholders, and able to work autonomously with little oversight. They will be comfortable with a considerable degree of responsibility and able to work independently to represent the DASA at high profile events and meetings with senior stakeholders. The Innovation Partners will help guide suppliers and researchers to help them understand how they can engage with the DASA, and to unblock barriers.

The Innovation Partners will work seamlessly with the rest of the DASAs teams to identify opportunities for the DASA, to bring ideas and to develop innovative ways of working, including developing our online networks and customer relations. They will need a good understanding of scientific principles and be able to think laterally, to spot and respond to opportunities, and to provide mentoring and coaching to prospective suppliers.

Job description

In this role you will:

Build and leverage networks across defence and security including: Trade Associations, Wider UK Government, DE&S, MoD Front Line Commands, Industry Primes, Small/Medium-sized enterprises, Entrepreneurs, Investors and Academia.

Encourage collaboration with the DASA Community to leverage ideas that may further develop their solution and increase attractiveness to end users

Ensure that industry is supported to explore the potential of an innovative solution and work with the Programme Leads and Exploitation Lead to develop a roadmap for exploitation and delivery, including potential funding mechanisms and customers/markets whilst ensuring suppliers Intellectual Property is protected

Be a source of expertise for Government on what suppliers and researchers exist in the UK and overseas to help provide innovative solutions to a wide variety of problems.

Contribute to the overall work of the DASA including ensuring that any quick wins or opportunities are explored.

Help develop DASA and ensure its success, including by promoting the work of the DASA externally and helping to champion its work.

Responsibilities

We are looking for someone who has:

Engaged and communicated effectively with senior contacts within industry

The ability to assimilate technological ideas and articulate their relevance to end users

Large existing network of contacts and is a highly effective networker

Understanding of the Defence and/or Security context

Knowledge of industry, Government, SMEs and partnering

Understanding of Intellectual Property and commercial arrangements within government

Must be a self-starter able to work under own initiative within the context of the role

Desirable:

Understanding of the relevant programmes and desired outcomes.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Leadership

Working Together

Changing and Improving

Making Effective Decisions

Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Leadership

Working Together

Changing and Improving

Benefits

We'll provide a great range of benefits including;

Flexible working

Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay

Chartership and accreditation support

Pension

Generous annual leave

A competitive salary

Excellent learning and development

Onsite gyms and restaurants

Staff discounts for high street and online shopping, restaurants and days out.

Our Diversity Networks

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution. We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work.

These include the following;

- Sexual Orientation and Gender Network

- Faith and Culture Network

- Parents and Carer Support Network

- Alternative Working Network

- Gender Equality Network

- New Starters Network

- Enabled Network

Please note that Dstl will be contacting individuals via email and you should check your junk mail folder regularly. Any attachments may not be available via smart phone or tablet views.

If you are applying for this position as a Job Share please indicate if you have a partner who is also applying for this vacancy and if you are successful but they are not if you would still consider the role.

For further information about Dstl please check out our LinkedIn page 

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift will take place week commencing 5th October 2020, with interviews taking place week commencing 12th October 2020.

Please be aware that due to the current nationwide restrictions on travel and public gatherings and to ensure your safety, these interviews will likely be taking place through telephone interview. Should this change we will notify candidates who are selected for interview.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to our status as a €œReserve Post€ organisation, Dstl vacancies are open to candidates who only hold UK nationality.

If you hold Dual Nationality, i.e. have the right to abode, have citizenship or hold a passport/national identity card for another country outside the UK you will not be eligible for this role.

Important Information

The security of our work means that only UK nationals who have also resided in the UK for the last 5 years (10 years for certain roles) can be considered. Some roles will require Developed Vetting (DV). Unfortunately dual nationals cannot be considered.

Equal Opportunities

At Dstl we are committed to inclusivity and diversity within our workforce. During the application process we collect information to help us monitor this. It helps us better-understand our incoming workforce, as well as highlighting areas of improvement.

The information we request will not be used to make a decision about your application - no applicant or employee will ever be seen as more or less favourable based on disability, gender, martial or civil partnership status, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion/belief.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : Deputy Head of DASA, Nicholas Moiseiwitsch

Email : nmoiseiwitsch@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team :

Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.