We are recruiting for a Programme Director - Technology Frontiers
Challenge Works
Challenge Works is world-leading in the development and implementation of high-impact challenge prizes that attract and enable innovation to solve pressing societal problems. Our model shines a spotlight on specific problems and opportunities, to inspire and guide the most creative and dynamic groups of innovators to deliver impact.
We are owned by the innovation foundation Nesta and have delivered over 90 high-profile challenge prizes worldwide. From combating antimicrobial resistance to tackling plastic pollution, we have worked with more than 12,000 innovator teams and helped foundations, governments, international NGOs and corporations to direct nearly £250m in prize funding to support the boldest and bravest ideas to become real.
As a team of 40 we believe it has never been more urgent to incentivise innovators to use radical and boundary-pushing technology solutions for societal benefit. We have a new strategy built around four priority areas of Global Health, Cities & Society, Climate and Technology Frontiers. Our new Programme Director will be responsible for overseeing and shaping the continued growth of the Technology Frontiers priority area.
The role
This is a senior leadership role within Challenge Works. You will direct an existing multi-million pound programme of prizes, as well as create new ideas, secure partnerships and unlock funding to take these forward.
Our Technology Frontiers work comprises a growing portfolio of challenge prizes using impactful funding mechanisms to drive breakthrough technological innovation, applying cutting edge technologies, new sources of data, regulation or policy to solve challenges in a wide range of fields, drive economic growth and create whole new markets.
We work globally, and our partners in this field currently include UK Government Department of Science Innovation and Technology, ARIA, Department of Business and Trade and UK Space Agency delivering prizes such as :
Key Responsibilities
Opportunity Development
There is an expectation and considerable scope to expand and shape this portfolio by:
Delivering impact
Thought leadership
Leadership
Person Specification
Given the seniority of this role, we are looking for someone with a passion for and deep understanding of emerging technologies, who can come up with ambitious ideas and build credible partnerships and teams to deliver these.
You will be able to navigate the landscape of emerging technologies confidently but you could have built up this experience and these networks running things in a variety of contexts:
Experience:
The successful candidate will be passionate about innovation and bring a creative mindset to delivering impact through harnessing the power of entrepreneurship and technology.
What we offer:
Salary: The salary band which includes this position is Band 7 (£86,400 - £106,600) with offers expected to be made at the bottom of the band. We also offer an array of benefits, including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more.
Location: This role is based in London, Blackfriars, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office. These are currently Tuesday and Thursday.
Term: Permanent
Hours: This role is full time but could be reduced to 80% for the right candidate if preferred. We offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.
Making an application
To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8:00am on Monday 2nd of December 2024.
Interviews will take place w/c 9th December 2024.
At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.
We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.