About The Service
The Cardiff Capital Region is comprised of ten local authorities: Blaenau Gwent; Bridgend; Caerphilly; Cardiff; Merthyr Tydfil; Monmouthshire; Newport; Rhondda Cynon Taff; Torfaen; and Vale of Glamorgan.
The £1.3bn Cardiff Capital Region City Deal signals a region that is ‘open for business’ and the role of the CCR City Deal is to develop and promote the way in which business will be delivered – but certainly not in a business as usual way. Our mantra is good growth and we want to drive the kind of enterprise development that is genuinely sustainable, inclusive and meaningful to the 1.5m people who live in the region – in our many diverse towns, cities, valleys and rural areas. The City Deal has three major targets to fulfil – to increase by 5% GVA, deliver 25,000 new high skills jobs and leverage £4bn in private investment. Underpinning this is a desire to create an innovative region fuelled by competitive, industry-led clusters. This is an exciting time to join CCR, as we embark on the next stage of our mission.
About the job
The Cluster Development manager will work directly with the CCR priority clusters and, in doing so, help to inform and deliver our overall clusters strategies and broader innovation strategy. The Cluster Development Manager will work closely with the Head of Innovation and Cluster Development to establish, develop and own the strategy for relevant clusters and be accountable for their delivery.
The post-holder will cultivate, and bring coherence, structure and identity to emergent networks and partnerships that will work together to mobilise clusters and create the momentum to enable future organic development. Likewise they will broker and manage strategic commercial and relational partnerships across businesses, research, public sector and where relevant, community.
The Cluster Development Manager will design and deliver interventions using the various funding levers available and be accountable for the development of business cases. They will champion the CCR knowledge economy and leverage the value of centres, technology partnerships, knowledge transfer networks and the best practices and experiences of global partners and regions.
What We Are Looking For From You
You will have a highly developed cross-sectoral understanding of innovation ecosystems including the research landscape, skills, key companies and a good understanding of funding and investment vehicles. In particular, you will work closely with one or more of the priority clusters (FinTech, Creative, Cyber Security, Compound Semiconductor, MedTech and the emerging Energy cluster), so previous experience of working in at least one of those areas is a requirement.
You will have experience setting strategic direction and an investment roadmap, which will ensure we can achieve the cluster and, by extension, CCR's objectives. You will be able to provide strategic and operational input into the overarching CCR Cluster and Innovation strategies, paying particular attention to opportunities for the Clusters to work together.
You will have experience of developing business cases for multi-million pound investments that ill be required to grow the clusters and of major inward investment opportunities. A well-respected voice in your area of expertise, you will have experience serving on relevant boards, bodies and groups.
Additional information
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jon Wood, Head of Innovation & Clusters or Colan Mehaffey, Head of Data & Digital Innovation - jon.wood@cardiff.gov.uk, colan.mehaffey@cardiff.gov.uk
This vacancy is suitable for post sharing.
This vacancy incorporates flexitime and some remote working, but it is preferable to be located within the Cardiff Capital Region.
Interviews are expected to be held in late September 2022.
We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.
Please note the Council does not accept CV’s. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you refer to the below located on our website:
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