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 areas, land use, production systems, climate 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 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
As Business Development Lead you will be accountable for developing and implementing an effective business development and revenue generation strategy for the UK & Ireland geography in close coordination with the Director – UK & Ireland and our partners. You will be well connected to the activities supported through the Innovation Framework, with the capacity to identify and attract new partners, leverage funding and develop new business.
Your role sits within the UK & Ireland Geography, which has offices based in London and Birmingham, and reports to the Director – UK & Ireland, based in London. You will hold management responsibility for one Business Development Coordinator, who will provide administrative and executive support across the spectrum of business development and fundraising activity.
Key Responsibilities
- Partnership and network development
- identify and engage with external organisations and initiatives and target audiences which are relevant to Climate-KIC’s mission
- identify potential partners and stakeholders and ensuring Climate-KIC visibility
- develop and implement targeted marketing and communication strategies in collaboration with Communications Manager
- present Climate-KIC to potential partners and funders, articulating clear and compelling value propositions and converting interest into new business
- develop and leverage partnerships to generate revenue for Climate-KIC
- Revenue diversification
- define and develop fundraising strategy for the UK & Ireland Geography in conjunction with community stakeholders and in line with Climate-KIC’s corporate revenue diversification strategy, which identifies four core pathways to growth:
- Grants: EU and national grant funding
- Procurement: EC and public sector contracts – competitive and non-competitive procurement
- Co-development: foundations and multinational institutions e.g. UNEP, World Bank, EIB
- Services: fees, including consultancy, sponsorship and other fee-for-service
- develop a coordinated action plan for attracting external funding, working with existing and potential partners to identify opportunities connected to Climate-KIC’s Themes
- secure local / regional / national funding for new activities running through Climate-KIC from grant funding, tenders and services
- Innovation framework
- identify opportunities for further developing Climate-KIC’s innovation framework through new partnerships and funding
- ensure connections with supply and demand actors
- identify development opportunities in collaboration with these actors and with KIC partners
Main Working Relationships
The Business Development Lead:
- Reports to the Geographic Director
- Cooperates with counterparts in other themes and with geographic teams to coordinate action and partner identification/connections
- Is connected with stakeholders and major other initiatives related to the theme outside the KIC
Person Specification
- Relevant business or marketing degree or equivalent professional qualification preferred
- Relevant and extensive experience in a senior business development role, ideally within complex partnership organisations
- Solid experience in innovation management, entrepreneurship or related fields
- Previous experience within the private sector, and ideally experience within the public/NGO sector (or at the interface with these)
- Good understanding of the interaction between research, education and business desired
- Strong ability to reconcile differing expectations, objectives and requirements of multiple organisations and stakeholders to create collaborative solutions
- Maintains excellent market awareness to maximise potential opportunities
- 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
- Strong network of professional contacts
- Thrives in a busy, dynamic team environment
- Highly self-motivated and driven
- Flexible and embracing of change
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.
Your application should consist of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter describing briefly how your profile, skills and experience meet the criteria outlined in the person specification, and outlining your interest in and vision for the role.
Please send your full application to recruitment@climate-kic.org.
