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National Contact Point (NCP) – Civil Security for Society and Global Innovation Lead Security
| Posting date: | 29 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,745 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 August 2025 |
| Location: | UK |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Innovate UK |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | JR4174 |
Summary
An NCP is a European Commission-recognised technical expert with privileged access to European Commission officials, who works closely with and advises UK Government policy leads responsible for the relevant programme area. This collaboration ensures future calls for proposals are informed by UK interests and priorities and enables a proactive approach to identifying key UK organisations to benefit from engagement in the Programme, and by enabling UK entities to navigate and identify the most suitable opportunities and partners to take forward their research and innovation priorities.
The network of NCPs is the main structure through which Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe influence priorities and provide essential guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. The objective is to enable UK entities to navigate and identify the most suitable opportunities and partners to take forward their research and innovation priorities. This in turn will contribute to the increase of UK engagement, funding secured by UK entities and success in the Programme.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Reach out and assist all types of UK entities to better understand, navigate and participate in Horizon Europe Cluster 3, and any subsequent Framework Programmes, using a diverse set of communication methodologies including: presentations/webinars (face to face and virtual), newsletters, online resources, meetings and email. Throughout, ensure adherence to the European Commission’s key principles for National Contact Points.
Attend Cluster 3 Programme Committee Meetings in Brussels/online, and actively engage and interact with personnel from the European Commission and NCP colleagues from Member States and other Associate countries, to further develop and maintain positive working relationships.
Continue to effectively communicate with relevant UK civil security public bodies, such as the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Innovation Leads within Law Enforcement Agencies, Border Force, National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing to encourage their participation as part of the eligibility criteria across the 6 destinations of Horizon Europe Cluster 3 projects.
Work with others across UKRI and other business areas within Innovate UK, including Innovate UK Business Connect and Innovate UK Business Growth, DSIT and other UK NCPs, to contribute to the ‘boosting UK participation to Horizon Europe’ initiatives.
Proactively liaise and arrange regular meetings with the Cluster 3 Horizon Europe Engagement Group (HEEG) UK, to provide details of draft Work Programmes and gain evidence-based insight to influence the content of Work Programmes for the inclusion of UK civil security priorities.
Participate in the Cluster 3 NCP CSA (Coordination and Support Action) SEREN5 project, and undertake activities that contribute to deliverables, that raise the quality of Horizon Europe proposals, including developing and delivering training to applicants across all clusters in Pillar II.
Attend and contribute to relevant UK National Security and Defence meetings internal and external to UKRI/IUK to ensure effective exchange of information on new strategic approaches and initiatives introduced by the European Commission across the Cluster 3 domain. The aim is to optimise understanding of alignments and synergies between civil and military capabilities specifically for dual purpose technologies.
Act as a focal point within Innovate UK for other domestic/international civil security and security related conversations and activity.
This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the job. This is not an exhaustive list and the post-holder might be expected to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the necessary experience and/or training.
There are currently no line management duties for this role.
Person Specification:
This position requires a person with commercial awareness who can manage competing priorities and a complex domestic and international stakeholder environment. The role holder will need to make sense of multiple data sources, to establish underlying patterns and articulate a clear and compelling vision and strategy of what needs to be done, as well as being able to engage an external audience on regular occasions through being an accomplished communicator. A good team player, willing to share knowledge and ideas with others and to learn from them. Able to self-start when needed.
Additionally, due to the ever-increasing complexity of threats within the civil security domain, it is anticipated that Research and Innovation solutions will look more and more towards dual use technologies. In preparation for potential alignment of civil security and defence capabilities, the post holder will be required to hold or obtain a Security Check (SC) Clearance, which will be sponsored by UKRI/IUK once in post. As such the applicant must be mindful of what is involved and the rules for obtaining SC Clearance. Details can be found here:
National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK
Shortlisting criteria
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Experience & Qualifications:
Qualifications:
Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
Experience:
Essential:
Knowledge of Horizon Europe e.g. as a participant, adviser or National Contact Point. (S&I)
Up to date and broad-based knowledge of the UK civil security/homeland security research and innovation landscape, including that in government agencies, industry, academia and other research organisations. (S&I)
The network of NCPs is the main structure through which Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe influence priorities and provide essential guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. The objective is to enable UK entities to navigate and identify the most suitable opportunities and partners to take forward their research and innovation priorities. This in turn will contribute to the increase of UK engagement, funding secured by UK entities and success in the Programme.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
Reach out and assist all types of UK entities to better understand, navigate and participate in Horizon Europe Cluster 3, and any subsequent Framework Programmes, using a diverse set of communication methodologies including: presentations/webinars (face to face and virtual), newsletters, online resources, meetings and email. Throughout, ensure adherence to the European Commission’s key principles for National Contact Points.
Attend Cluster 3 Programme Committee Meetings in Brussels/online, and actively engage and interact with personnel from the European Commission and NCP colleagues from Member States and other Associate countries, to further develop and maintain positive working relationships.
Continue to effectively communicate with relevant UK civil security public bodies, such as the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Innovation Leads within Law Enforcement Agencies, Border Force, National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing to encourage their participation as part of the eligibility criteria across the 6 destinations of Horizon Europe Cluster 3 projects.
Work with others across UKRI and other business areas within Innovate UK, including Innovate UK Business Connect and Innovate UK Business Growth, DSIT and other UK NCPs, to contribute to the ‘boosting UK participation to Horizon Europe’ initiatives.
Proactively liaise and arrange regular meetings with the Cluster 3 Horizon Europe Engagement Group (HEEG) UK, to provide details of draft Work Programmes and gain evidence-based insight to influence the content of Work Programmes for the inclusion of UK civil security priorities.
Participate in the Cluster 3 NCP CSA (Coordination and Support Action) SEREN5 project, and undertake activities that contribute to deliverables, that raise the quality of Horizon Europe proposals, including developing and delivering training to applicants across all clusters in Pillar II.
Attend and contribute to relevant UK National Security and Defence meetings internal and external to UKRI/IUK to ensure effective exchange of information on new strategic approaches and initiatives introduced by the European Commission across the Cluster 3 domain. The aim is to optimise understanding of alignments and synergies between civil and military capabilities specifically for dual purpose technologies.
Act as a focal point within Innovate UK for other domestic/international civil security and security related conversations and activity.
This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the job. This is not an exhaustive list and the post-holder might be expected to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the necessary experience and/or training.
There are currently no line management duties for this role.
Person Specification:
This position requires a person with commercial awareness who can manage competing priorities and a complex domestic and international stakeholder environment. The role holder will need to make sense of multiple data sources, to establish underlying patterns and articulate a clear and compelling vision and strategy of what needs to be done, as well as being able to engage an external audience on regular occasions through being an accomplished communicator. A good team player, willing to share knowledge and ideas with others and to learn from them. Able to self-start when needed.
Additionally, due to the ever-increasing complexity of threats within the civil security domain, it is anticipated that Research and Innovation solutions will look more and more towards dual use technologies. In preparation for potential alignment of civil security and defence capabilities, the post holder will be required to hold or obtain a Security Check (SC) Clearance, which will be sponsored by UKRI/IUK once in post. As such the applicant must be mindful of what is involved and the rules for obtaining SC Clearance. Details can be found here:
National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK
Shortlisting criteria
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Experience & Qualifications:
Qualifications:
Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
Experience:
Essential:
Knowledge of Horizon Europe e.g. as a participant, adviser or National Contact Point. (S&I)
Up to date and broad-based knowledge of the UK civil security/homeland security research and innovation landscape, including that in government agencies, industry, academia and other research organisations. (S&I)