Project Lead - Unlocking Space For Investment

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UKSA a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

Investment is key to delivering the National Space Strategy’s vision of building one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world. Catalysing Investment is at the heart of UKSA’s Value Proposition and the newly created Investment Directorate has been set up to achieve this aim.

This role, which sits in the directorates ‘Unlocking Space’ unit, is a key priority. Working with the space sector, investors and experts from across UKSA and government you will be responsible for increasing the value of private investment in the space sector. In this role you will act at the Project Lead for the ‘Unlocking Space for Investment’ workstream. Work activity is varied and includes:

• Launching a new Space innovation fund by Spring 2024. The fund seeks to directly offer financial support to early-stage space companies, leveraging private investment and driving innovation in the space sector.
• Designing and drafting Business Cases for proposed policy interventions.
• Working with the Venture Capital community to diversify the UK’s space investor pool.
• Supporting space companies that are seeking to attract institutional investment.
• Building a long-term ‘Unlocking Space for Investment’ community that can contribute to, and benefit from, wider UKSA investment activity.

This is a tremendous opportunity to shape and deliver a major new programme to catalyse investment. You will gain the opportunity to manage delivery partners to drive the directorate’s objectives. You will also gain the opportunity to design and implement government financial support for innovation. This role will provide visible leadership to the programme, championing it within government and with the space sector, and be responsible for making authoritative recommendations to and winning the support of the space sector, investors and senior officials across government.

Key responsibilities

• Securing the necessary Business Case approvals with UK Space Agency, DSIT and Her Majesty’s Treasury as needed to stand up the Unlocking Space for Investment policy interventions.
• Support to finalise the launch of a new Space innovation programme, including compilation of necessary documentation and adherence to procedures.
• Support in engaging with and building relationships with the space sector, including space companies and investors.
• Working with private sector partners and commercial colleagues to manage an external facing project driving improvement in the way the space sector attracts investment. This will include maintenance of commercial and project management documents.
• Support in establishing effective project management systems and tools to drive and monitor delivery of work and the programme professionally, including risk management and benefits realisation.
• Consider investment opportunities within the Agency, working with colleagues across government to ensure a joined up approach is taken.