Innovation Associate

The Role’s Purpose

As an Innovation Associate, you will work collaboratively with the Innovation Services team to deliver cross-competency projects. This may include working on programme delivery, research activity, or innovation consulting. You’ll get the opportunity to engage with a diverse array of stakeholders, including startups, scaleups, corporations, government, non-profit organisations, investors and academia.
The role is fast paced, varied and complex and will require a highly organised approach to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and a broad range of stakeholder relationships.

What You’ll Do

• Managing and delivering bespoke support to SMEs selected for innovation programmes through workshops, masterclasses and events
• Undertaking quantitative analysis, market research and data collection to stay informed about key technology trends, emerging startups and innovation themes
• Engaging with SMEs to understand their needs, challenges, and interventions that will support their growth
• Supporting the design and delivery of innovation programmes and related content at Plexal to engage SME’s, clients, and the wider ecosystem
• Continuously monitoring the start-up and innovation landscape, seeking out opportunities to engage with promising innovators and entrepreneurs
• Contribute towards the creation of high-impact deliverables for clients to inform their emerging technology strategies
• Proactively managing regular interaction, communication and collaboration with external stakeholders
• Support administrative aspects of innovation project management, such as maintaining project documentation and handling financial queries.

This role may require business travel across Plexal sites.You will be asked to undergo Security Clearance (min. requirement: British Citizen or min. of 5-year residency in country, no significant gaps out of UK). Pre-existing SC welcomed.

Your Skills

• Highly organised with an understanding of innovation and collaboration practices
• Effective planning and prioritisation skills with the ability to keep track of multiple tasks and deliverables
• Analytical, with the ability to think critically and to understand, interpret and articulate complex concepts and requirements
• Competent at producing high-quality deliverables and presentations for external audiences
• Excellent Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills

Your Experience

Essential

• 2 years’ experience working in an innovative environment such as an accelerator, incubator, startup, VC, or consultancy.
• Experience with working with multiple stakeholders, such as startups and corporate clients, but also understanding the practicalities of working in a small and growing company
• Experience in facilitating and delivering external workshops or events to a high standard, both virtually and in-person.
• Higher Education degree, or relevant professional certifications, or equivalent knowledge gained via work experience.

Desirable

• Experience and understanding of innovation processes such as lean startup and design thinking
• Experience and understanding in ecosystem community building
• Experience in innovation programme delivery

Who You Are

• Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and operating in constantly changing environment
• Energised by the challenges and opportunities presented working for a high-growth company.
• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with diverse stakeholder groups
• Team player and motivated self-starter who can take initiative with workload and tasks
• Passionate interest in digital and emerging technologies with a drive to continually learn