Innovate UK
National Contact Point – Health (Cluster 1)
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Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by 22-07-2026
National Contact Point – Health (Cluster 1)
The role holder will be one of three specialists covering the Health cluster opportunities within the EU’s Horizon Europe programme as one of the Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point (NCP) to support UK entities as they apply for Horizon Europe funding.
Please note this advert will close on the 21st of July 2026 at 23.59pm.
Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.
Title:
National Contact Point – Health (Cluster 1)
Band:
UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary:
£58,589 gross per annum
Reports to:
Head of Health Technologies
Location:
Field based
Contract:
Fixed Term Until (14/07/2027)
Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Context & Job Purpose:
The role holder will be one of three specialists covering the Health cluster opportunities within the EU’s Horizon Europe programme as one of the Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point (NCP) to support UK entities as they apply for Horizon Europe funding.
An NCP is a European Commission-recognised technical expert with privileged access to European Commission officials, who works closely with and advises UK Government policy leads responsible for the relevant programme area. This collaboration ensures future calls for proposals are informed by UK interests and priorities and enables a proactive approach to identifying key UK organisations to benefit from engagement in the Programme, and by enabling UK entities to navigate and identify the most suitable opportunities and partners to take forward their research and innovation priorities.
The network of NCPs is the main structure through which Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe influence priorities and provide essential guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.
The objective is to enable UK entities to navigate and identify the most suitable opportunities and partners to take forward their research and innovation priorities. This in turn will contribute to the increase of UK engagement, funding secured by UK entities and success in the Programme.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
- Reach out and assist all types of UK entities to better understand, navigate and participate in Horizon Europe Cluster 1, and any subsequent Framework Programmes, using a diverse set of communication methodologies including: presentations/webinars (face to face and virtual), newsletters, online resources, meetings and email.
- Throughout, ensure adherence to the European Commission’s key principles for National Contact Points.
- Attend Cluster 1 Programme Committee Meetings in Brussels/online, and actively engage and interact with personnel from the European Commission and NCP colleagues from Member States and other Associate countries, to further develop and maintain positive working relationships.
- Continue to effectively communicate with relevant UK health public bodies, such as the NHS to encourage their participation as part of the eligibility criteria across the 6 destinations of Horizon Europe Cluster 1 projects, partnerships and the Cancer Mission.
- Work with others across UKRI and other business areas within Innovate UK, including Innovate UK Business Connect and Innovate UK Business Growth, DSIT and other UK NCPs, to contribute to the ‘boosting UK participation to Horizon Europe’ initiatives.
- Proactively liaise and arrange regular meetings with the Cluster 1 Horizon Europe Engagement Group (HEEG) UK, to provide details of draft Work Programmes and gain evidence-based insight to influence the content of Work Programmes for the inclusion of UK civil security priorities.
- Participate in the Cluster 1 NCP CSA (Coordination and Support Action), and undertake activities that contribute to deliverables, that raise the quality of Horizon Europe proposals, including developing and delivering training to applicants across all clusters in Pillar II.
- Attend and contribute to relevant UK Health meetings internal and external to UKRI/IUK to ensure effective exchange of information on new strategic approaches and initiatives introduced by the European Commission across the Cluster 1 domain.
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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.
There are currently no line management duties for this role.
Shortlisting criteria
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Person Specification:
This position requires a person with commercial awareness who can manage competing priorities and a complex domestic and international stakeholder environment. The role holder will need to make sense of multiple data sources, to establish underlying patterns and articulate a clear and compelling vision and strategy of what needs to be done, as well as being able to engage an external audience on regular occasions through being an accomplished communicator. A good team player, willing to share knowledge and ideas with others and to learn from them. Able to self-start when needed.
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience. (S)
- Strong understanding of the European health and life sciences funding landscape, particularly Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health), including experience enabling or promoting effective UK engagement in EU R&D programmes. (S&I)
- Comprehensive knowledge of the UK health and life sciences ecosystem, spanning biomedical research, biotechnology, therapeutics, medical technologies, diagnostics, digital health, and data-enabled innovation across government (e.g. DHSC, UKRI, NIHR), NHS, academia, and industry. (S&I)
- Strong understanding of the health and life sciences stakeholder landscape across the UK and Europe, including SMEs, start-ups, large industry, investors, clinical networks, regulators, and innovation support organisations. (S&I)
- Experience of senior stakeholder engagement and ecosystem building, including working with industry leaders, policymakers, clinicians, and research organisations to identify priorities, align interests, and build high-value collaborations and consortia. (S&I)
- Experience supporting innovation translation and commercialisation, including SME growth, scale-up, and access to international markets, with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities in bringing health and life sciences innovations (including therapeutics, biotech, and health technologies) to healthcare systems. (s&I)
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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:
Field-based: There will a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.
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://www.ukri.org/.
Employee Benefits:
We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Flexible Working:
We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly
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