Director R&I Policy and Strategy in Europe (RISE)

The i2CAT Foundation is looking for a Director to lead our RISE (Research & Innovation Policy and Strategy in Europe) area.

The mission of RISE is to contribute to the strategic positioning of i2CAT in the European context - including the national territory - while defining the right strategy to maximize the attraction of competitive funds and ensure the long-term impact of the R&I activities conducted at i2CAT.

RISE area contributes to the definition of research roadmaps by identifying and prioritizing new opportunities associated with future programs and calls that can be of current interest to the research areas or new emerging areas, while facilitating the participation in key partnerships and exposing i2CAT’s value proposition abroad. The area leads the definition of the partnership strategy of i2CAT.

In addition, RISE is in charge of representing i2CAT in different European and International associations which are directly linked to EC or National research funding programs and participating in different strategic lobby groups.

In close collaboration with the research areas, RISE also contributes to the definition of i2CAT’s R&I roadmaps and strategy so that they are properly aligned with the vision and priorities set up by the European Commission as well as national R&I programmes.

This highly transversal position will report to the R&D Director and will require a daily and close collaboration and coordination with all i2CAT’s Research Directors as well as other support areas of i2CAT.

Among other key activities, the selected person will:

• Lead and coordinate the RISE team and its interaction with other i2CAT areas.
• Lead networking tasks which facilitate the identification of potential partners and the creation of research consortia at both the European and national levels.
• Promote, create, maintain, and develop strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, companies, and public administrations.
• Lead and coordinate the participation of i2CAT in any initiative which contributes to understanding the R&I policies and programmes; e.g. contribution to Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs), R&I Work Programmes, Consultations from funding agencies, etc.
• Contribute to making i2CAT a strategic research partner at the European and national levels, creating alliances with key research players.
• Contribute to the alignment of the i2CAT portfolio of projects and capabilities by establishing a smooth communication flow and coordination channels with the areas of i2CAT devoted to Innovation Business Development (IBDs) as well as Knowledge and Technology Marketing (KTM).
• Provide strategic support to the elaboration of proposals, so that they are well aligned with the R&I Agendas and Work Programmes, with the target of maximizing the impact of all activities conducted by i2CAT.
• Contribute to the communication strategy of i2CAT with the ultimate objective of strategically positioning the institution in the right fora.

The selected person will manage a team of people and will need to represent i2CAT in various events and bodies. Therefore, willingness and availability to travel is a must.

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT, VR, and Immersive Technologies, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AI, and Digital Social Innovation. The center partners with companies, public administration, academia, and end-users to leverage this knowledge in order to meet real social and business challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net

What will you enjoy?

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We ask for two days in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.
• This is a full-time vacancy
• We have a flexible work schedule respecting your work-life balance
• Reduced working hours on Fridays and in July and August
• Fix + variable salary
• Optional benefits: Travel pass, restaurant vouchers, nursery services support, medical insurance
• Annual leave of 27 working days
• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle
• If you are interested, you can participate in events of your sector.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your operative system, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• Company social and team-building events (virtual & in-person)
• You can develop your own and personal training programme with our support
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established ‘work-from-home’ policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We expect that you attend the office two days per week: one to stay connected with your team and another one to engage with other colleagues

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well-connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency. We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

i2CAT is an organization committed to equal opportunities. That is why we seek to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented, and therefore explicitly encourage female candidates to apply.

I2CAT is an organization committed to creating an environment where we celebrate diversity, and where we provide the dedicated support that our employees need, regardless of their disability.

If what you have read sounds good to you... let’s have a coffee and we will tell you more!

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