Deputy Director of Quantum

The role has significant responsibility for both budget and people, including accountability for a substantial programme budget and leadership of a high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and contribute to organisational and directorate-level strategies, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership in developing a portfolio of programmes using novel approaches to achieve the strategic direction defined by the Quantum Director.
• Own the development and delivery of long-term plans and transformation initiatives to deliver new services and approaches

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

• Act as a senior Innovate UK representative for the Quantum programme and wider quantum ecosystem. In particular, be accountable for the operational delivery of the Innovate UK activity with DSIT seniors.
• Build and maintain effective relationships across government, industry, academia, and partner organisations (as relevant) in an environment where new, higher risk approaches are being jointly developed.
• Influence policy, strategy, and programme direction at senior levels with overall strategic ownership sitting with the quantum director.

Programme and Portfolio Delivery

• Oversee delivery of programmes to agreed cost, quality, and time requirements.
• Ensure robust governance, performance monitoring, and risk management.
• Enable the development and delivery of innovative and impactful initiatives.

Collaboration and Integration

• Work collaboratively across teams and functions to ensure alignment and effective delivery.
• Foster strong internal partnerships to maximise organisational impact.

People Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team in a politically visible environment where novel approaches are required
• Be responsible for delivering integrated/rainbow team activity between the quantum team, operations and other functional areas within IUK, IUK Business Connect and other UKRI councils
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture.
• Lead through change, supporting teams to adapt and succeed.

Financial Accountability

• Hold accountability for budget planning, management, and delivery.
• Ensure effective allocation of resources to achieve strategic objectives.

Governance and Representation

• Deputise for the Director / Executive Director as required.
• Contribute to senior leadership forums and decision-making bodies across the Quantum industry.

Additional Responsibilities

• Undertake other duties commensurate with the role and grade.
• This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

Shortlisting criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Person Specification:

Experience & Qualifications:

• Essential –
  • Be recognised as an influential leader across the government, industry and partners Quantum Technology ecosystem (S&I).
  • Proven track record of developing and delivering strategy and complex innovation/business growth programmes (S).
  • Experience of working with senior stakeholders across multiple organisations (S&I).
  • Strong track record of delivering complex programmes to quality and time (S&I).
  • Strong track record of leading and developing high-performing teams and working effectively across organisational boundaries (S&I).
  • Experience operating at Board or Executive level (or equivalent) (S&I).
  • Experience in developing or delivering new products/service approaches (S&I).
  • Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience); postgraduate qualification desirable (S).

Competencies:
All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:

• Thinking and Problem Solving
• Stakeholder management
• Communication skills
• Influencing
• Self-awareness/self-management
• Strategic awareness
• Working with others
• Project management

Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.

Travel Requirements:

Swindon-based: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.

Sponsorship:

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, health condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

UK Research and Innovation:

Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online [http://