Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the
information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference:
9929
Job title:
Enterprise Development Co-ordinator
Reports to:
Knowledge Exchange Manager
Salary:
£25,013 - £29,837 depending on qualifications and
experience
Terms and conditions:
Secretarial and Clerical
Grade:
Grade 6
Duration of post:
24 months Temporary Contract
Working hours:
37 hours, Monday to Friday
Location:
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Closing date:
Noon 13th March 2014
Type of application form accepted:
Long version and covering letter
Number of referees required:
2
Unit recruitment contact:
Univ-Sec-Recruitment@open.ac.uk
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January 2010
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2. Summary of duties
Purpose Statement
The Research and Enterprise Internship Coordinator post will play a key role in promoting and
establishing the Santander sponsored postgraduate internship placement and training
programme at The Open University. The university is also a partner in the South East Physics
Network (SEPnet) which will be delivering graduate internship and postgraduate industrial
placement activities and this post will provide support for these activities. The role will also be
involved in supporting the wider knowledge exchange and enterprise activity within the RSQ
Unit for projects funded with the OU Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). In particular,
the post holder will act as OU coordinator for the post graduate partnership scheme with The
Brilliant Club arranging teaching opportunities for postgraduate students in schools. The post
holder will work with the Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange Manager and OU Faculties /
Institutes to establish a viable and growing postgraduate internship programme.
This will involve:
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Expanding and developing the pilot postgraduate internship programme at The Open
University;
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Identifying local opportunities for establishing short 3 month full-time internships with
local businesses/ small charities and other organizations, to develop a scheme for
promoting them and to establish a framework for managing the scheme internally;
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Promoting the postgraduate internship programme internally to students, supervisors
and university department heads and externally to companies / organizations;
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Managing the postgraduate partnership scheme that provides, in conjunction with an
industrial partner, teaching experience for OU postgraduates in schools.
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Administer the Santander Internships scheme and act as the point of contact for
submitting the internship proposals and budgets with Santander
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Proactively identifying and developing new internship programmes and activities that
provide opportunities for postgraduates to enhance their professional skills. In this
respect, the post will work closely with the Research Degrees and Research Career
office. This will also involve seeking relevant sources of external funding to support the
work.
Key Tasks
1. Industrial Placements
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Identify local commercial / industrial placement opportunities for OU postgraduate
students interfacing with local employers.
Engaging with commercial / industrial partners/ small charities encouraging them to
participate in the scheme.
Engage with commercial / industrial partners to define the project / learning
programme that interns will follow in their placements (initial outline and final project
proposal).
Promoting scheme /networking with local organizations at OU / industry networking
meetings.
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January 2010
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2. Establishing/ Developing OU Internship Programme
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Establish a framework for managing and promoting the internship scheme internally for
post graduate students and supervisors / Faculties and externally for industrial
partners.
Interfacing with sponsors such as Santander and SEPnet providing them with the
necessary records and documentation of internships and participating companies.
Visiting local SMEs (larger organizations for SEPnet) and engaging with senior
management to encourage them to participate in the scheme.
Giving internal / external presentations to promote the PG internship scheme.
3. Supporting Students
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Supporting students in their internship placements and monitoring progress / success
of the placement through a student / employer feedback questionnaire / testimonials.
Managing the compilation of students’ documents including CVs, short form application
forms, supervisor support letters, and suspension of registration forms. Assessing the
suitability of students for a placement and supporting the Enterprise and Knowledge
Exchange Manager in interviewing students as required and generally interfacing with
students, participating organizations, supervisors the OU student office and OU
Careers Office.
Sending contracts to participating organizations for completion and interfacing with OU
Commercial Legal Services and Human Resources.
Encouraging students to participate in the postgraduate internship programme.
4. Postgraduate Partnership Scheme
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Act as OU coordinator for the post graduate partnership scheme with The Brilliant
Club.
Assist in communicating and promoting the opportunity to OU postgraduate students.
Organize the support at the OU for student assessment centres / interviews in
conjunction with the Brilliant Club.
Act as OU representative for the working group to coordinate the effective delivery of
the programme and target number of students in conjunction with the Enterprise and
Knowledge Exchange Manager.
Prepare regular progress reports for the Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange Manger
on the postgraduate partnership scheme.
General
The post holder will be expected to:

Comply with the University’s Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies in the
performance of their duties.

Take reasonable care of the Health and Safety of themselves and that of any other
person who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.

Co-operate with the Open University in ensuring as far as is necessary, that Statutory
Requirements, Codes of Practice, University Policies and Departmental Health and
Safety arrangements are complied with.

Have a strong commitment to the principles and practice of equality and diversity.
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January 2010
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2. Person specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Education,
qualifications and
training
First degree in any discipline or
equivalent background
education or work experience at
a comparable level.
Recruitment / Sales experience.
Knowledge, work and
other relevant
experience
General Skills and
capabilities for this
Grade
Some experience of project
management.
Candidate will have to
demonstrate their ability to use
their initiative and work
independently to design and
drive the programme forward.
Liaising and networking. Ability
to build numerous and effective
relationships through personal
networks inside and outside the
OU.
Ability to work supportively with
postgraduate students /
supervisors and encourage
them to participate in the
programme.
High level of organizational, time
management and personal
management skills.
The ability to present
information effectively both
orally and in writing in a concise
and clear way.
Aptitude for ‘getting the job
done’ (completer / finisher).
Flexibility and willingness to
work occasionally outside
normal office hours to attend
meetings and give
presentations.
Specific Skills and
Capabilities for this
role
Good communicator, with good
interpersonal and listening skills,
who likes working with people.
Experience of interfacing with
commercial, charity or public
organizations.
Ability to deal with and influence
people from varying levels of
Ability to adapt to changing
situations and deliver effective
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January 2010
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seniority from students to tutors
at the OU and to directors /
senior managers in companies.
solutions and decisions.
Good IT skills and proficiency in
using Microsoft Office
applications.
Personal Qualities
Able to deal with sensitive
information in a confidential
manner.
Confident and able to deal with
a wide range of internal and
external customers.
Specific
Competencies
Decision making skills.
Problem solving skills.
Planning and organizing skills.
Presentation skills.
The work may involve off site
travel using own car or public
transport.
Note: Essential elements are those, without which, a candidate would not be able to do the job. Applicants who have
not clearly demonstrated in their application that they possess the essential elements will normally be rejected at the
short listing stage. Desirable elements are those which it would be useful for the post holder to possess.
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
5. About the unit/department
The Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Scholarship and Quality (PVC RSQ) at
the Open University comprises the University’s Quality Office, the Institute for Educational
Technology (IET), the Knowledge Media Institute (KMI), and the Research School.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Scholarship and Quality is responsible for the strategic
development of research and scholarship across the University's faculties and institutes, and
the quality assurance and enhancement of the University's taught programmes.
The research role is concentrated on helping the University to sustain and develop its
excellent international presence in selected areas of research and to foster the expansion of
research activity which makes a key contribution to the institute's knowledge exchange
agenda.
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January 2010
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Key responsibilities include:
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Research strategy and governance
Innovation and enterprise
Research grants and contracts
Research degrees
Affiliated Research Centres
Quality assurance and enhancement of taught programmes
Scholarship strategy and development
Academic career development
The Knowledge Media Institute
The Institute of Educational Technology
Local and regional relationships
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please
contact Malcolm Stokes on 01908 652885 or email malcolm.stokes@open.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Univ-SecRecruitment@open.ac.uk.
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: noon 13th March 2013.
You should enclose:

A covering letter, clearly indicating how you believe you meet the person
specification. Please ensure you provide relevant examples as evidence to support
your statement on no more than two sides of A4.

Your completed application form (long version).
Post it to:
Name/Job title:
Diana Griffiths, Recruitment Co-ordinator
Department/Unit: University Secretary’s Office
Address:
Room 202, Charles Pinfold Building
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
Post Code:
MK7 6AA
Or e-mail your application to: Univ-Sec-Recruitment@open.ac.uk
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January 2010
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8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Malcolm Stokes. The interviews will take place on w/c
24th March 2014
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been
shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to
shortlisted candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
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January 2010
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