School of Law, Business and Psychology
Research and Innovation Champion (KTP Associate)
Salary up to £37,694 per annum
Full-time (Fixed Term, 24 months)
Based: Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity, North Chailey, Lewes, East Sussex, with strong links maintained to University of Chichester.
About this role
Join our dynamic institution committed to excellence in teaching, research, and knowledge exchange in this innovative 24-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity. This unique opportunity bridges academic excellence and practical application, working primarily at DVLCC's specialist centre in North Chailey, Lewes, East Sussex while maintaining strong links with the University of Chichester. This KTP project aims to embed evidence-based assessment and optimisation frameworks within Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity for evaluating and improving early intervention services for children under five with cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities, and rare genetic disorders. The project is led by Dr Benjamin T. Sharpe, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology and KTP Knowledge Lead, who brings extensive expertise in mixed-methods research design, longitudinal studies, and applied psychological research. Dr Sharpe will personally mentor and support you throughout the KTP, providing invaluable guidance for your professional development and ensuring the successful transfer of knowledge between academia and practice. What is a KTP you may ask, see information https://iuk-ktp.org.uk/ here.
About you
The appointed postholder will serve as the bridge between academic research and practical application, transferring advanced research methodologies from academia to practice and developing evidence-based assessment frameworks. You will be responsible for building sustainable research capabilities within Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity, developing their internal capacity to independently assess service impact and understand comprehensive family experiences. Your work will be informed by expertise in research methods and knowledge transfer, with the ability to translate academic research into practical applications. Experience with mixed-methods research, statistical analysis, and working with vulnerable populations would be highly valuable. The role includes developing frameworks to evaluate early intervention services and creating sustainable capabilities for continuous improvement across both centre-based services and outreach support. You will need strong interpersonal and communication skills, emotional resilience and professional sensitivity when working with families facing complex challenges, and the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences including charity staff, families, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.
About the team
You will work within a collaborative partnership between the University of Chichester and Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity, which helps over 80 children per week improve their physical, social, and emotional skills through specialist services. The charity delivers holistic, family-centred care, welcoming families from Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and South London, with all services provided free of charge. You'll work alongside passionate professionals committed to making a difference for vulnerable children and families, receiving daily supervision from experienced charity professionals including Glenys Creese, CEO of Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity, and regular academic supervision from University of Chichester experts. This collaborative, supportive environment maintains rigorous research standards while providing practical guidance in navigating the charity sector. As part of this partnership, you will strengthen the charity's position as a leader in early childhood intervention while contributing to national policy and practice in this critical field. The innovative methodologies you develop could be replicated across the sector, amplifying your impact far beyond the immediate project.
What this role offers
Professional Development: This role presents a unique career opportunity to bridge academia and practice in a meaningful social impact role. You will significantly enhance your employability in both academic and applied research roles, providing a rare combination of rigorous research experience and practical implementation skills.
Comprehensive Support Package:
1. £4,000 personal development budget for conferences, training courses, and professional development activities.
2. Comprehensive training programme with access to the University of Chichester's research facilities and expertise.
3. Mentorship from leading academics providing invaluable career guidance.
4. Opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
5. Access to cutting-edge facilities and specialized assessment tools.
Impact and Experience: You will be directly involved in transforming services for children with complex needs and their families, creating tangible improvements in their lives and outcomes. The role provides exceptional experience of knowledge transfer in a real-world, high-stakes environment where your work has immediate practical applications.
Career Progression: This position provides concrete evidence of your ability to translate research into practice, strengthening future funding applications and career opportunities. You will build an extensive network with leading researchers, charity professionals, and healthcare commissioners, opening doors to future collaborations and potential ongoing collaboration beyond the KTP period.
We are a University that prides itself on our sense of community, including an excellent staff experience. In addition to your salary we offer a competitive reward package with a range of staff benefits and discounts which include:
6. Defined Benefit pension scheme via our provider the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Your own monthly contributions are enhanced with employer contributions and a substantial automatic lump sum life cover scheme enhancement.
7. 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to support our staff and extensive personal / professional training opportunities throughout the year.
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