LINCOLN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION PARK Job Description: Director, Lincoln Science & Innovation Park Salary: Competitive Context Lincoln Science and Innovation Park (LSIP) Ltd formed in 2013 as a partnership between the Lincolnshire Co‐operative and the University of Lincoln. The Partners have joined forces to transform a disused 10‐acre site, adjacent to the University campus, into a world‐class science and innovation park. This multi‐million pound investment will create a hub of science & technology expertise with a mix of university and commercial enterprises. With the active support of the Partners, LSIP will work to strengthen and diversify the local economy by focusing on the drivers of innovation, enterprise and skills to offer a compelling collaborative resource for existing and new employers. Employers will be assisted to improve their productivity, generate new products or services or directly improve the wellbeing of individuals within local communities. Already underway, the first project is the creation of space to house the University’s expanded School of Life Sciences and the School of Pharmacy (which brings together the commercial pharmacy operations of the Lincolnshire Co‐operative and the pharmacy research and teaching interests of the University). The development, and location, of other research institutes are being planned ensuring that the site will grow as a highly attractive and innovative location for business. The relationship between LSIP and targeted academics will be critical to its success. The University has an established reputation in business start‐up and growth through their Sparkhouse incubation centre. The University has recently taken on the management contract for the Think Tank (a 37,000 ft2 innovation centre) created by Lincoln City Council which is on land immediately adjacent to the development site. The Director and the University lead for business start‐up and growth will work closely together to create an integrated progression & support route. The Partners now wish to see LSIP develop into a substantive project under the leadership of an appropriately experienced, well‐motivated director with strong communication capabilities who can help them realise their objectives. The Director will report to the LSIP Steering Group & Board, be located initially in the Think Tank and operationally managed by the University’s Director Research & Enterprise. Job Purpose To develop and implement the partners’ strategy and vision for LSIP Ltd, ensuring it: • Attracts local, national and international organisations, large and small by providing compelling facilities, services and well‐designed collaboration processes • Establishes itself as a gateway to opportunity for the growth and productivity improvement of its clients that will in turn lead to sustainable additional employment opportunities in the Lincoln area • Delivers regeneration benefits to the Greater Lincolnshire LEP area economy as a result of increased high value added employment and relevant business activity; • Increases levels of innovation in targeted areas of the local economy (both in the private and public sectors) through the focussed application of R&D, demonstration and new knowledge exchange methods and structures. Key Responsibilities 1. Development and delivery of LSIP strategy The Director will refine and develop the current vision and create a business plan agreed with the Partners and supported by relevant stakeholders. The post holder will ensure effective delivery and periodic review of the agreed business plan, working closely with the LSIP Steering Group & Board, in addition to ensuring internal (particularly targeted academics) and external stakeholders are fully engaged. 2. Land and Property The Director will work with key stakeholders to establish the most appropriate planning consents for the site and successive buildings. The post holder will establish a selection and admissions policy for the LSIP site, consulting with other stakeholders in the process. The Director will devise an effective master plan for the site including the primary infrastructure and access and the site building design specification. The Director will be responsible – supported closely by expertise within the partners ‐ for identifying the nature, use and design concepts of the initial buildings to accommodate the Partner led projects and work with Partners and others to secure the funding for the buildings. The post holder will identify appropriate additional opportunities to expand the site, in line with demand. 3. Marketing The Director will be responsible for developing and implementing a marketing plan to develop the LSIP brand and profile with the purpose of attracting & securing new tenants for the site and building effective relationships across the region (and beyond) to contribute to LSIP’s success. Critical to the development of a pipeline of tenants will be establishing and fostering relationships with key academics to release the value of the University as an investment magnet. 4. Financial Management Through the effective management of budgets and resources the Director will secure LSIP’s financial sustainability. The Director will ensure that LSIP Limited is operated to good management, financial and reporting practice standards within the remit set by the Steering Group & Board. The Director will identify, apply and secure additional funding from appropriate sources to support the delivery of LSIP’s aims and objectives. 5. Innovation support activities Working primarily with the University through targeted academics, the Director will identify and secure resources for the establishment of those projects and initiatives that will best help to increase innovation‐led business start‐up rates and promote the faster growth of young and established innovative SMEs with the objective of growing good quality businesses that become significant occupiers of LSIP. The Director will be responsible for stimulating new project activity relevant to the aims of LSIP, securing resources to deliver those projects and assisting or managing the implementation and delivery as appropriate. 6. Communications The Director will support and ensure the effective operation of the LSIP Steering Group & Board, ensuring that the work of LSIP is well co‐ordinated amongst partners and meets all legal obligations. The Director will maintain good, open and constructive communications with key post‐holders and stakeholder officers whether or not they are represented on the steering group or board. 7. Line management The Director will take appropriate line management responsibility for members of staff recruited to work within LSIP, ensuring that correct employment procedures are followed. PERSON SPECIFICATION Qualifications/Education Experience Skills & Knowledge Competencies & Personal Attributes Essential – Degree level education in an appropriate science or technology discipline. – An MBA or equivalent business experience – Management of innovation activities in one or more knowledge intensive industry sectors, a university or commercial research organisation – Experience of working with, or in, the public sector – Worked in, or with, a relevant commercial industry sector – Experience of business development management and success – Experience of successfully promoting or marketing a product or service – Substantial experience of contract negotiation and management – Experience of securing significant grant funding (from fund identification to application and contract management) – Strong communication and influencing skills (orally & written) – An ability to work comfortably at multiple levels within external organisations, including at Board level
– Proven business and operational planning skills – A working knowledge of the innovation support environment – Leadership through inspiration – Ability to work on own initiative – Innovative – Results driven Desirable – Marketing qualification or equivalent experience – Work with SMEs – Operated in either a cooperative or a social enterprise – Facilities and/or building management experience – A proven ability to analyse opportunities and problems both quantitatively and in strategic terms and present them – Understanding of HE knowledge exchange process (including IP and commercialisation) – Knowledge of UK property law