Innovation Planning and Project Manager OCC616220

Job details

Salary range: £35,745 - £38,223 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary £14,491 - £15,495 per annum) 

Work location: Westgate Library or County Hall, Oxford 

Hours per week: 15 - we are open to discussions about flexible working  

Contract type: Temporary until December 2024

Closing date: Monday 6th May 2024

Interview date: Monday 13th May 2024

Join an award-winning team at the forefront of innovation in local government.

About us

Oxfordshire County Council’s (OCC) Innovation Service aims to facilitate and support a culture of Innovation within OCC ensuring all service areas are embracing the Council’s innovation vision. The service explores and implements opportunities for generating income, with new effective delivery of services through technology and partnerships. The Innovation Service is the spearhead for the delivery of the Innovation programme, promoting and driving forward the Oxfordshire wide innovation ecosystem.

We work closely with academia and industry on joint projects and initiatives to use innovative partnerships, business models, technologies, and new ways of working to support and future proof Oxfordshire and the public sector.

About the role

An exciting role with the Future of Mobility and Placemaking Team in the Innovation Service has opened up: the Innovation Planning & Project Manager will manage innovation projects and support the integration of innovation withing the planning process, both for new development and infrastructure, within Oxfordshire County Council. The successful candidate will develop a wide breadth of knowledge around innovations, working with specialist colleagues to gain insight. 

They will:

• work as a member of the Future of Mobility & Placemaking team within the Innovation Service to ensure that outcomes of innovation projects are achieved
• formulate, deliver and evaluate innovation projects
• critically appraise planning applications, encouraging innovation to be considered within strategic site developments, and within significant new infrastructure
• be expected to identify further funding opportunities in this eco-system and to support the wider team in securing further funding
• use their understanding, knowledge of the industry and network of relevant contacts to identify opportunities to collaborate and form partnerships

This is an exciting position, with the opportunity to work in a variety of innovation subject areas, from active travel to connected and autonomous vehicles, drones and 5G, and in shaping and informing innovation and planning strategy and policy. Though initially a fixed term contract, there could be opportunity for a successful post holder to extend the role subject to additional funding.

About you

We are looking for a candidate who:

• has an interest in exploring how innovation can be leveraged in support of objectives or strategies
• is organised and efficient, with good prioritisation skills
• has an understanding of the need to adapt to changing circumstances
• has experience of managing projects
• is good at engaging and communicating with others
• is able to absorb sizable amounts of information, summarise and interpret it
• has strong IT skills

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 33 day’s holiday pro-rata p.a. plus bank holidays  
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development
   

Would you like to know more?

Please click here to view the Job Description and Selection Criteria 

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Katie Parnell, Planning Policy Innovation Team Leader, katie.parnell@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Application Procedure

To apply, please complete an online application form by clicking either of the Apply Now buttons at the top and bottom of this advert. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the selection criteria, as specified in the job posting. You may attach a cover letter and/or CV to your application form, however it is not mandatory.   

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