Senior Executive – National Delegate and National Contact Point for EIC & EIE in Horizon Europe

Cpl are partnered exclusively with Enterprise Ireland to appoint this senior executive hire.

Title Senior Executive - National Delegate and National Contact Point (NCP) for the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Innovation Ecosystem (EIE) in Horizon Europe

Grade Senior Scientific Officer (SSO)

Department Research & Innovation Internationalisation

Business Unit Research & Innovation

Reporting to Department Manager

Location East Point, Dublin

Salary €70,923 - €96,350

Job Reference EI.085.24E

Background

Enterprise Ireland’s strategy, “Leading in a Changing World”, (2022-2024) places innovation at the centre of the agency’s activities. Horizon Europe, the largest EU Research and Innovation Programme to date, with over €95 billion of competitive funding available over seven years (2021 to 2027), is at the heart of the EU’s blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The goal of Ireland’s Horizon Europe National Support Network, led by Enterprise Ireland (EI), is to drive a diverse and successful participation from Ireland across all parts of the current Horizon Europe programme with a view to achieving a national drawdown target of €1.5bn. The network provides high quality strategic and operational assistance to a diverse range of Horizon Europe clients and stakeholders, including high-growth startup, spin-out and scale up companies, SMEs, large multi-national corporates, Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), research centres, individual researchers, the wider startup ecosystem and the investor community.

Pillar 3 of the Horizon Europe Programme, “Innovative Europe”, includes the complementary European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Innovation Ecosystem (EIE) programmes. The EIC Programme now incorporates EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator components. Those three components combined comprise Horizon Europe’s flagship innovation programme. The EIC programme supports the development of a pipeline of deep tech technologies leading to the creation of new successful European high-risk, high-growth technology-based start-ups, spin-outs, scale-ups and SMEs. It is of particular relevance to Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start Up and Investment agendas, a unique feature of the EIC being funding for individual companies (mainly startups and SMEs) through both grants and investments.

The Senior Executive appointed to this role will report directly to the R&I Internationalisation Department Manager and will be expected to play a pivotal and central role in driving, coordinating and maximising the participation and success of researchers, companies, and other stakeholders based in Ireland across all parts of the EIC and EIE programmes. The person appointed to this role is expected to continuously construct and steer the strategic and operational direction of the programme as the National Delegate to the Programme Committee and National Contact Point, with a particular focus on company participation.

The successful candidate will work strategically and operationally with an extensive network of internal and external stakeholders both nationally and internationally and will represent Enterprise Ireland and the Irish NCP Network at related National and European fora as required. As well as direct client-facing activities, the appointed person will work as part of the wider Irish team of NCPs and National Delegates.

Key Deliverables

* Maximise the contribution of EIC/EIE to Ireland’s national Horizon Europe drawdown target.
* Critically assess, appraise and carry out due diligence on EIC and EIE grant applications, providing expert / high quality feedback and guidance to applicants.
* Create a strategy and implementation plan to maximise Irish participation and success in all elements of the EIC Programme, including the ‘EIC Plug In’ part of the programme by cooperating with EIC and EI colleagues and other relevant stakeholders.
* Increase the breadth and depth of client participation from a wider number of sectors in line with Enterprise Ireland’s strategy 2022-2024 “Leading in a Changing World”.
* Work closely with the R&I Internationalisation Manager and the team and across other relevant Government Departments to ensure optimum strategic alignment of the EIC’s ambitions with national strategy, particularly in preparation for the Horizon Europe successor 10th Framework Programme.
* Promote Call opportunities to companies, researchers, Government Departments, agency colleagues and intermediaries such as industry partners, associations and other bodies.
* Provide support services to clients, managing and engaging with applicants in relation to all aspects of the evaluation process for relevant funding calls.
* Deliver scheme-specific training and workshops to applicants on all EIC/EIE Actions, prior to key deadlines, contributing to their design, content and roll out.
* Communicate projects’ impacts and outcomes as recorded by the European Commission and clients during the project term and develop these towards attraction of new applicants.
* Represent Enterprise Ireland at relevant public national and international fora.
* Be a dynamic senior member of the R&I Internationalisation team and the wider Research & Innovation (R&I) Division supporting the R&I Director and Department Manager.
* Coach and mentor other team members to strengthen the wider Enterprise Ireland knowledge and expertise in this area.

Functional Competencies (Key Skills And Knowledge)

* An honours degree, or equivalent professional qualification, in a relevant scientific or technical discipline is essential.
* Demonstrated experience of working with or directly in companies from an RD&I / Deep-Tech environment is essential.
* Deep knowledge, skills and demonstrated experience in critically assessing, appraising and carrying out due diligence on proposals and applications from these industry sector is essential, coupled with robust experience in providing high quality detailed feedback and guidance on grant applications.
* Demonstrated skills and experience in productively engaging with and supporting founders in deep-tech companies is essential.
* Proven skills and experience in working on or managing multiple and complex strategic projects at one time to strict deadlines.
* Exceptional communication skills, particularly an ability to work confidently and productively one to one with founders as well as one to many presenting to large audiences via online webinars or in face-face events.
* A familiarity with Enterprise Ireland’s HPSU due diligence and equity co-investment approaches.
* A familiarity with Enterprise Ireland’s research commercialisation activities.
* Strong presentation skills and demonstrated ability to represent Enterprise Ireland and its position/agenda across diverse platforms.
* A familiarity with and understanding of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scales is desirable, coupled with an understanding of Ireland’s research ecosystem and the Horizon Europe programme.
* Demonstrated understanding of the international trends for support of disruptive and innovation technologies and services is desirable.

Candidates should note that attendance, networking and travel to Brussels and Europe for relevant events and meetings is an essential part of the job that will require participation and engagement outside of Enterprise Ireland’s normal business hours.

Enterprise Ireland Behavioural Competencies

Results Focused

The ability to remain outcome and results focused with regard to business priorities and organisational goals, monitoring progress and adjusting approach ensuring delivery against the appropriate timescales.

Innovation and Risk-Taking

Actively encourages new ideas, experimentation and measured risk-taking, while always being on the look out for opportunities to continuously improve business processes and efficiencies within Enterprise Ireland and client organisations.

Problem Solving and Decision-Making

The ability to be decisive and take tough decisions about clients, people and costs to deliver sustainable results, using the analysis of information and situations to make logical and sound decisions.

Client Focused

The ability to provide an excellent client service focusing on client needs and building and maintaining effective personal and business relationships to advance clients’ objectives and Enterprise Ireland strategy.

Communicating With Impact To Influence Others

Communicates in a manner that will persuade, convince and influence their own staff and others, both internally and externally, in order to motivate, inspire or encourage them to follow a particular course of action.

Teamworking

Co-operates with colleagues, shares information and respects the opinions and values of staff members. Understands the skills, experience and knowledge of staff members and maximises how these can be utilised to the benefit of the department, the organisation and the client.

Embracing & Leading Change

Understands the business agenda of Enterprise Ireland and embraces changes for area of responsibility and for external and internal clients.

Acting / Leading with Integrity

Lives the Enterprise Ireland purpose and values, acting genuinely and with integrity, in a manner that builds trust and engages and motivates others, placing the genuine needs of the client, the organisation, and staff ahead of personal agendas.

Networking

Establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues and other networks for the purpose of sharing information.

Developing Yourself & Others

Creates an environment that enables others to excel in terms of job performance.

Salary Scale

€70,923 to €96,350 per annum contributory superannuation

Rising to €102,899 by long service increments

€67,480 to €91,533 per annum non-contributory superannuation

Rising to €97,755 by long service increments

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the relevant scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Subject to satisfactory performance, increments may be payable in line with current Government Policy.

** Point of entry on this salary scale may differ from the minimum point of the scale if the successful candidate is a current public or civil servant. **

Application and Selection Process

NB: To apply for this role all applicants must have employment eligibility to work in Ireland and to be available to work in the EI location specified for the role.

The selection process may include short-listing of candidates. The selection criteria will be based on the requirements for the position. It is therefore important that you demonstrate a detailed and accurate account of where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the position. This should be contained in a short document (maximum 2 pages – see template provided) accompanying your CV.

Applicants should note that, for shortlisting purposes in particular, clear evidence of the functional competency requirements listed as essential in this specification must be demonstrated as part of your supporting document (template provided) accompanying your CV.

To apply for the position please send a detailed CV and supporting document quoting reference number EI.085.24E to both Cpl email addresses outlined below to be received on or before Friday 2nd August 2024.

Email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]

For queries about this role please also contact both Cpl email addresses above and either Deborah or Robin will respond to you directly.

Cpl will acknowledge all correspondence received in writing within in 3 working days.

Issued by People and Change Department, Enterprise Ireland on Friday 12th July 2024

Enterprise Ireland is an equal opportunities employer