Innovation Policy Manager

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA),

This is an influential opportunity to help shape the future of business innovation policy across the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

As Innovation Policy Manager, you will lead the development of evidence-led policies and programmes covering innovation, research and development, technology commercialisation, and the important relationship between innovation and skills. Your work will support inclusive economic growth, inform wider regional strategies and help build the case for greater devolved innovation funding.

This is an exciting time to join WMCA, as we are working with UK Government and peer Mayoral Strategic Authorities to Rewire The State. This role will take a leading and influential role in designing and coordinating how the Government’s commitment to “devolve a substantial share of near to market innovation funding” should be implemented.

Working closely with the West Midlands Innovation Board – a partnership of senior leaders across business, academia, and the public sector - you will manage its strategy, work programme, governance and stakeholder relationships. You will bring partners together, maintain their engagement and provide the constructive challenge needed to turn shared ambitions into clear priorities and deliverable action.

You will be adept at engaging and maintaining relationships across complex partnerships, particularly with senior board members, business leaders and government stakeholders. You will be comfortable operating in politically sensitive environments, constructively challenging others when needed while maintaining trust and keeping partners focused on shared outcomes.

• Lead the development of plans and approaches relating to near-to-market innovation funding aligned to Plan for Growth outcomes.
• Lead research and policy development to help inform the rationale and evidence for devolved innovation funding as part of Rewiring The State.
• Provide research, intelligence and insight to inform regional economic strategies, innovation plans and wider mayoral priorities.
• Provide high quality, policy advice, briefings and reports to internal and external stakeholders, including central government.
• Manage the West Midlands Innovation Board strategy, operations, and stakeholder relations.
• Lead on coordination, commissioning, oversight of delivery, and evaluation of the work programme of the West Midlands Innovation Board – including a strong focus on innovation-skills linkages.
• Lead the development of the West Midlands business-technology commercialisation agenda, including but not limited to a focus on AI.

• Substantial experience of leading evidence-led innovation, R&D or regional economic policy and strategy.
• A successful track record of undertaking and critically interpreting complex quantitative and qualitative research to develop policy options and robust advice for arrange of internal and external stakeholders
• Proven experience of leading multi-partner policy or programme work, including programme design, commissioning, governance, delivery oversight, performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting against strategic outcomes
• Experience of building effective working relationships with senior business leaders in a public-private partnership environment
• Excellent knowledge of economic development and innovation policy
• In depth knowledge of the regional policy landscape including transport policy, housing, employment and skills, business support, inward investment and trade.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to critically assess complex research and data to develop evidence-based policy options and recommendations.
• Ability to draw on a range of research and data analysis…