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About Nesta

We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.

For over 20 years, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation.

Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at nesta.org.uk .

Challenge Works

Challenge Works is at the forefront of identifying and defining problems where new ideas, technologies and approaches can be encouraged to radically improve outcomes and then developing and managing challenge prizes that optimise the likelihood of success. Challenge prizes are competitions which reward whoever can first, or most effectively, meet a defined challenge.

Challenge Works is looking for a Programme Coordinator to join its team and work across several of its programmes. This role will be key to the day-to-day development and delivery of a diverse range of UK and international prizes that are tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time.

We are looking for a Programme Coordinator to support all aspects of the prizes. An enthusiastic team player with a knack for problem solving, someone who is able to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment moving effortlessly from day-to-day management to supporting the team on planning and strategy. The ideal candidate will have some programme assistant experience, including experience of developing, maintaining and revising systems, budget and financial monitoring, relationship management, communications and management of social media channels.

Our projects are usually complex with a high public profile, they have significant impact on the lives of many thousands of people, and involve working with an exciting mix of tech entrepreneurs, civil society organisations (not for profits and public interest organisations) and government bodies.

We have launched prizes that include improving outcomes for Nepalese farmers, improving access to energy for refugees and the £10m Longitude Prize for antimicrobial resistance. Some of our prizes include the EU Social Innovation Competition , the Toyota Mobility Unlimited Challenge and prizes aimed at creating a paradigm shift in the delivery of surgical training , and engaging young people in developing tech for social good and grasping the basics of entrepreneurship.

See www.challenges.org to learn more about our work.

Job purpose

To support all aspects in the delivery of Challenge Works programmes which are tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time. The successful candidate will have strong time management and communication skills, with the ability to showcase their confidence in supporting a team within a fast paced environment.

The Role

Programme Coordination

• Work closely with Programme Managers to enable smooth day-to-day programme execution.
• Monitoring of milestones, evaluation and finance to keep check of project budgets and deadlines. Flagging action points to Programme Manager when necessary.
• Develop, maintain and revise (as necessary) systems that will underpin the delivery of the prizes.
• Carry out procurement activities end-to-end, including development of contracts, legal documents and CRM
• Development of key documents relating to the delivery of the prizes.
• Manage internal and external meetings, including developing agendas and writing minutes.

Stakeholder Management & Teamwork

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of the prizes.
• Day-to-day management of external relationships, from stakeholder networks to high-profile individuals and prize entrants.

Communications & Events

• Help support communications activities of various challenge prizes, for example, managing monthly newsletters, social media and updating websites.
• Help create opportunities for public engagement activities.
• Help to create events, workshops and to deliver them to a high standard.
• Work with diverse Nesta departments including financial, legal, and communications.
• Take on ad-hoc projects and tasks to support the team and its prizes as necessary.
• Occasional International travel and out of hours work.

The Person

Strong programme and client coordination

• Solid organisational, prioritisation and time management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
• Initiative and drive, proactively identifies tasks that need to be actioned to enable effective delivery of the programme.
• Ability to coordinate and control aspects of large projects, along with general office support/administrative capacity
• Experience of working to tight deadlines, delivering high quality outputs across multiple projects and tasks.
• Good attention to detail and high standards of accuracy; a good completer finisher
• Ability to help organise and run events.

Excellent communications skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills,
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of high profile partners, clients, team members and stakeholders.

Excellent PC Skills (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint & Excel and/or Google Docs, Slides and Sheets)

What we offer

Hours: This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them.

Salary: £26,500.00 - £36,000.00, plus array of benefits, including health cash plans, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more

Term: 2 year - Fixed Term Contract

Location: This role is based in Blackfriars, Central London, but we offer flexibility for our people to work remotely

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 08:00 on the 5th of June 2023.

Interviews will take place w/c the 12th of June 2023.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to make in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything possible to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.