Job Title: Innovation Manager & Deputy Director
Division: Climate-KIC Alpine
Reports to: Director, Alpine Geography
Contract: Open-ended
Salary: Competitive
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Start Date: ASAP
Apply by: 10 Jun 2016
Business Background
Climate-KIC is the EU’s largest public private partnership addressing climate change through innovation to build a low carbon economy.
We address climate change across four priority themes: urban transitions, sustainable land use, sustainable production systems, and decision metrics and finance. Education is at the heart of these themes to inspire and empower the next generation of climate leaders.
We run programmes for students, start-ups and innovators across Europe via centres in major cities, convening a community of the best people and organisations. Our approach starts with improving the way people live in cities. Our focus on industry creates the products required for a better living environment, and we look to optimise land use to produce the food people need.
Climate-KIC is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Purpose of the Role
The Innovation Lead is accountable for developing and implementing an effective innovation strategy for Hungary and Romania and potentially other South-Eastern European countries and for overseeing the execution of the start-up accelerator in Hungary by our implementation partners. In addition, the role comes with a Deputy Directorship to support the Director of Climate-KIC’s Alpine Geography in managing the organization’s activities in the region.
Key Responsibilities
Innovation Pipeline Management
- Support local innovation partners in the development of new project proposals in response to funding calls from our thematic teams
- Create synergies between local innovation projects and start-up portfolio in different thematic areas
- Conceptualize jointly with local team new ideation formats to engage partner network in all different programs of the Climate-KIC innovation pipeline
Relationship Management
- Act as primary point of contact for the Hungarian innovation partners
- Manage partner documentation and audit requirements
- Liaise with internal stakeholders in themes and other geographies
Project Management
- Facilitate set-up of agreements for new projects
- Plan and organize regular review meetings to ensure projects stay on track
- Play role of “honest broker” to identify and resolve problems within the consortia to ensure that investment of resources is well deployed
Financial management and reporting
- Responsible for reporting on project activity within the region
- Responsible for managing the allocation and tracking of Climate-KIC’s budget in project activity for the region
Partner acquisition and business development
- Contribute to developing the partner strategy for the region
- Lead partner acquisition
- Represent Climate-KIC at external events and conferences
Deputy Directorship
- Support the Director of Climate-KIC Alpine in managing the region
Required Background & Qualifications
- University degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant field
- More than 12 years of work experience in relevant contexts, ideally including experience at senior level in complex organisations
- Experience with direct line management responsibilities
- Solid experience in innovation management, entrepreneurship or related fields
- Solid experience working in the private sector, ideally experience in public/NGO sector
- Good understanding of the interaction between research, education and business
- Strong ability to reconcile differing expectations, objectives and requirements of multiple organisations to create collaborative solutions
- Familiarity with the skills and knowledge needs of organisations working on climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Experience and ability to work with an international team and in a multidisciplinary context
- Fluent in Hungarian and English
Application Process
Climate-KIC values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background.
We offer a vibrant working environment in an inspiring community of climate innovators across more than 140 partner organisations in Europe. Please submit your CV (maximum 3 pages) and an application letter in English (maximum 2 pages) outlining your suitability for the role highlighting relevant experience to support your application.
Applications should reach krisztina.bedo@climate-kic.org by close of business on 10 Jun 2016. Please state your earliest availability and salary expectations.