View Vacancy - UK Science & Innovation Officer (08/16 LOS)

Main purpose of job:

The UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) is the British Government’s organisation for international science diplomacy. It is jointly funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). SIN has 80+ staff based in 40 different locations in 28 countries and territories worldwide

As a result of a recent restructuring of the UK’s SIN network, a new role has been created within the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos to lead our SIN efforts in country, recognising the opportunity here to further the UK Nigeria partnership in this area. The post replaces one formally located in Abuja; the change of location reflects the greater opportunity of stakeholder engagement in Lagos and the South Western States of Ogun and Oyo.The role will provide the opportunity for leadership, relationship building both within and outside the mission, strategic thinking and programme management.

The British Deputy High Commission Lagos invites applications for a new Science & Innovation Officer in Nigeria. The position will be based within the Prosperity Team at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos and will be part of the UK’s Africa Science and Innovation Network that has had its main hub at the British High Commission in Pretoria since January 2016. The job holder will also work closely with other components of the “UK in Nigeria” platform, including the Department for International Development. The job would be ideal for someone looking to demonstrate, and develop further, stakeholder engagement and management skills, working alongside the to raise the profile of SIN in Nigeria.

Roles and responsibilities:

The successful candidate will lead in forging and developing bilateral science and innovation collaboration between the UK and Nigeria, To promote collaboration and inform UK policy development in science and innovation.

In practical terms this will include:

• Contribute to the UK’s Government science and innovation strategy through briefing and reporting for Nigeria
• Work closely with other appropriate elements of the UK presence in Nigeria, including the Department of International
• Development and British Council, to strengthen the UK’s research footprint, promoting evidence based policy making and development of Nigeria’s research landscape and partnerships.
•  Stakeholder/relationship management between the UK and key Nigeria research, innovation and funding bodies;
• Lead on developing the UK’s proposed Newton partnership with Nigeria.
• Represent Nigerian opportunities to the UK research community and vice versa, providing advice about the Nigerian science and innovation environment; Lead on VIP visits to Nigeria relevant to this field;
• Act as the first point of contact for UK Government lobbying on research, scientific and technology policy issues
• Develop high quality and sustainable UK/Nigeria science and innovation partnerships that focus on UK and Nigerian priorities; Identify opportunities and develop and manage bilateral projects (these might be regional in nature) in order to increase collaboration opportunities for the UK science base;
• Work with UK partners – FCO, UK Trade and Industry (UKTI), British Council and others to deliver wider UK prosperity objectives, including higher education linkages. Spot and work with UKTI to match opportunities to UK firms.
• Develop and maintain a network of senior level contacts across the UK and Nigeria research landscape

• The ability to demonstrate contact and stakeholder management skill
• The ability to deliver results under pressure
• The ability to work quickly and reliably with attention to detail and with limited supervision;
• The ability to initiate and maintain a wide range of working relationships;
• Good presentation, interpersonal and representational skills;
• Strong organisational skills;