Job title: Digital Innovation Strategy Lead (KTP Associate)

The company: Extech is a Managed Services provider (MSP), delivering comprehensive, proactive, IT services and solutions to small, medium and enterprise organisations to boost productivity, performance and power. Extech’s success comes from taking the time to get to know customers’ businesses, enabling the delivery of a tailored, future-proofed range of professional IT services

Reports to: Nicola Conboy, Office Manager at Extech Ltd

Location: Place of work is Extech Ltd premises in Haywards Heath, with regular travel to the University of Brighton.

Academic Support: Academic input will be led by Paul Levy from CENTRIM (Centre for Research in Innovation Management) at the University of Brighton Business School. Academic support will be provided by Jane Priddis also from the University of Brighton Business School.

Department: Research, Enterprise and Social Partnerships (RESP) at the University of Brighton.

Salary: £28,000 - £35,000 p/a, dependent on qualifications and experience plus a £4,000 personal development budget

Purpose of the role

This 24 month project aims to develop and implement a transformative and disruptive business innovation strategy which engages the workforce in a web 3.0 enabled dialogue, sharing leading edge content with customers to drive uptake of proactive digital transformation support.

Main areas of responsibility:

Project Phase / Work to be undertaken / Output(s)
Phase 1 / Introduces the Associate to the company and maps the MSP sector and Extech's position in it. / A literature review is undertaken and a programme of shadowing colleagues is undertaking to embed the associate and identify potential 'communicators'. A business process review and capability audit is undertaken to analyse social media skills and engagement and training in online writing skills procured.
Phase 2 / Embeds an analytic capability, collating and auditing data to determine customer value to underpin an evidence based business transformation strategy. / Systems and procedures are developed for data collection to support annual business audit and objective setting, and a strategic options document with measurable objectives is agreed (Milestone 1).
Phase 3 / Locates locations of digital dialogue relevant to Extech's business by defining keywords and develops an online dialogue map. / A process for logging and analysing conversation is developed and the keywords list extended by mapping topics arising in dialogue along with topics on the original list to create an intelligence resource. An innovation group is established and product/service ideas are generated and mapped against strategic objectives (Milestone 2).
Phase 4 / Uses an action research approach to conduct at least 3 pilot experiments that use intelligence gathered in stage 3 to plan where and how to communicate with customers online. Experiments include introducing a new product/service to existing customers, customer acquisition by online dialogue, and establishment of Extech as a thought leader. The iterative approach facilitates the involvement of colleagues in experimental cycles, embedding the capability for both experimentation and analysis, and for digital dialogue. / Implementation of each approach could lead to new processes, development of existing processes, discontinuation of processes etc, which in turn enhances new customer acquisition via digital dialogue (Milestone 3).
Phase 5 / Applied the embedded business analysis skills to analyse the impact of the pilots on the business, to inform an update of the strategic options document. / The business culture is re-assessed and recommendations to facilitate continuous development of social media expertise post-programme are made (Milestone 4).
Phase 6 / Completes the project and hands over (Milestone 5).

General responsibilities

·  To adhere to the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible

·  To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

·  To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

·  To lead the KTP project, arranging monthly project meetings and reporting on a quarterly basis to the project steering group known as the Local Management Committee (LMC).

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up, based on the project plan for the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. These duties may vary from time to time as the project progresses, according to the needs of the project.

The person specification focuses on the knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills (both general and technical) required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise (E).

Essential criteria / A, I, E
Qualifications / ·  Bachelors degree in Business Studies, or a related discipline. A Higher degree in a subject such as Innovation Management would be an advantage.
·  The Associate's degree(s) will have included modules on business analytics, social media, and research methods, and ideally the Associate will have theoretical knowledge and practical experience of customer attraction. / A
Knowledge and Experience
(Essential) / ·  The candidate should have a strong grounding in business analysis and strategy, and knowledge of innovation and change management approaches.
·  The candidate will ideally have conducted project work, placement and/or work experience which evidences application of some of the required skills.
·  Advanced IT literacy will be essential to the Associate becoming rapidly conversant within the company and its customer base
·  Advanced and wide ranging social media skills / A, I, E
Knowledge and Experience
(Desirable) / ·  Knowledge of the Managed Services provision sector / A, I
Skills / ·  Have commercial aptitude and the ability to be an effective change agent.
·  Be a strategic thinker and have an analytical brain and the ability to design and evaluate experiments.
·  Be adept at communicating via the full range of social media platforms.
·  Have the aptitude to apply knowledge resulting from academic research to a commercial scenario.
·  Have an ambition to take ownership for a significant and challenging technical project, and confidence to challenge the status quo.
·  Have a methodical and considered approach to project management, and ideally also experience of a project management methodology.
·  Be an excellent communicator, in both written and presentational formats, with an engaging personality to support the development of strong, effective relationships with colleagues and aptitude to deliver training.
·  Be industrious and resourceful with the ability to meet objectives with an appropriate level of supervision.
·  Be able to demonstrate a proven ability to work to demanding specifications.
·  Have good written and oral communication skills at all levels. / A, I

Duration of job: The appointment is for a fixed term of 24 months in accordance with the period of funding.

On completion of the Partnership, there is a possibility that the company may be in a position to offer the KTP Associate a permanent full-time position.

Annual leave: Annual leave entitlement is 20 days. New members of staff are entitled to annual leave proportionate to their completed calendar months of service.

What is KTP?

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) has been recruiting graduates to work in innovative companies for over 40 years. KTP projects are a three way relationship between the graduate, university and the company. This unique opportunity allows a graduate to be based in a company delivering a high profile strategic project, drawing on university expertise and support and transferring knowledge into the company.

What can you expect from this job?

·  You will be responsible for leading and delivering a challenging commercial project that directly impacts the business, with the opportunity to be a champion of real change.

·  You will receive input and support from an academic team with specialist knowledge and experience relevant to the project.

·  We will provide a £4,000 training budget that is tailored to your personal development needs, along with two free management training courses at the beginning of the project.

·  You will have the opportunity to deliver high impact outcomes within a business, whilst learning at the same time - a significant contribution to your long term career progression.

As a KTP Associate, you will be employed by the University of Brighton; work predominantly at Extech Ltd premises in Haywards Heath and be supervised by both a company staff member and an academic at the University.

For full information about the scheme please see: http://brighton.ac.uk/ktpjob

The University also has an attractive range of benefits and you can find more information about them on our website.

Please contact the KTP Centre with any enquiries, tel: (01273) 642426 email:

31 March 2017