DASA - Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner

About the job

Summary

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) was established in December 2016 as part of the Defence Innovation Initiative to provide the UK with strategic advantage by having the most innovative Defence and Security capabilities in the world.

DASA has four main functions Outreach, Operations, Partnerships and Impact (P&I) and Support Services. The A2MF Partner will work within the Access to Mentoring and Finance (A2MF) team as part of the P&I function. They will have responsibility for an economic region and aim to ensure SMEs have guidance to access that regions mentoring and finance support to enable them deliver innovation to the front lines.

We are seeking a highly motivated individuals who is looking to develop their career in an exciting, dynamic and complicated SME support arena. P&I is a responsive and agile team including team members at various grades, who together support the ongoing portfolio of DASA projects, as well as providing agile response when needed.

You will be an integral part of this new and expanding team and report to the A2MF Lead. You will help create and deliver the A2MF service, via a brokering model, for DASA supported companies. We aim to help them access business support and mentoring services and to create opportunities to introduce them to organisations that can maximise private sector investment and support.

You will work closely with the Innovation Partners in our Outreach Team to understand the technology terrain and the Operations Team who deliver our competitions. You will also work closely with the DASA Partners, also in the P&I Team, to ensure that exploitation and commercialisation remains a key focus throughout complete competition and exploitation life-cycle.

There will be a need to work at pace and to targets to achieve what is required of this role, whilst maintaining close, trusting relationships with those you work with. You will be team member focused on delivery, and comfortable operating, individually and as part of a team, in a high pressured and demanding environment.

DASA is an equal opportunity employer, serious about promoting diversity and inclusion, and we offer flexible working and job share opportunities and part time positions. We provide training and support for all our staff.

Job description

In this role you will be:

Understand, develop and utilise a regional network of business support activities, including both public and private sector investors and mentoring services. This network should include Business Angels, Venture Capitalists, Innovate UK, Knowledge Transfer Network and the Enterprise Europe Network. In addition, identify and utilise relevant, incubators and accelerators and others with an interest in supporting the Defence and Security sectors.

Understand the needs of DASA SMEs and support them to showcase, commercialise and exploit their ideas and grow their business.

Identify post-DASA funding opportunities including regionally based and FLC based options.

Focus on continuously improving the service offered by DASA, including identifying risks, blockers, efficiencies and ways of measuring success to support the development of the team and DASA more generally

Develop IP, legal, commercial and regulatory expertise.

Responsibilities

We are looking for someone who has:

Previous business mentoring/ brokering position within SME environment.

Previous experience with Private Sector / Venture Capitalist organisations.

Knowledge of A2MF needs of SMEs.

Proven experience of building networks across disparate communities.

Knowledge and experience of SME business support, incubation and acceleration.

Knowledge and experience of innovation within government.

A good understanding of the Defence and/or Security sector procurement processes.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Communicating and Influencing

Delivering at Pace

Working Together

Changing and Improving

Benefits

We'll provide a great range of benefits including;

Flexible working

Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay

Chartership and accreditation support

Pension

Generous annual leave

A competitive salary

Excellent learning and development

Onsite gyms and restaurants

Staff discounts for high street and online shopping, restaurants and days out.

Our Diversity Networks

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution. We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work.

These include the following;

- Sexual Orientation and Gender Network

- Faith and Culture Network

- Parents and Carer Support Network

- Alternative Working Network

- Gender Equality Network

- New Starters Network

- Enabled Network

Please note that Dstl will be contacting individuals via email and you should check your junk mail folder regularly. Any attachments may not be available via smart phone or tablet views.

If you are applying for this position as a Job Share please indicate if you have a partner who is also applying for this vacancy and if you are successful but they are not if you would still consider the role.

For further information about Dstl please check out our LinkedIn page 

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift will take place week commencing 7th September 2020, with interviews taking place week commencing 14th September 2020.

With the current nationwide restrictions on travel and public gatherings we will have video interviewing will be available for a behaviour and technical interviews. Further details will be sent to you should you be successful at sift.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to our status as a €œReserve Post€ organisation, Dstl vacancies are open to candidates who only hold UK nationality.

If you hold Dual Nationality, i.e. have the right to abode, have citizenship or hold a passport/national identity card for another country outside the UK you will not be eligible for this role.

Important Information

The security of our work means that only UK nationals who have also resided in the UK for the last 5 years (10 years for certain roles) can be considered. Some roles will require Developed Vetting (DV). Unfortunately dual nationals cannot be considered.

Equal Opportunities

At Dstl we are committed to inclusivity and diversity within our workforce. During the application process we collect information to help us monitor this. It helps us better-understand our incoming workforce, as well as highlighting areas of improvement.

The information we request will not be used to make a decision about your application - no applicant or employee will ever be seen as more or less favourable based on disability, gender, martial or civil partnership status, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion/belief.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name :   Jo Symons

Email :   jsymons@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team :

Email :   dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.