Overview
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Contract type: Permanent (subject to continued funding – 3-year funding approved with annual review points 31 March)
Hours: 30 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Salary: £35,000–£45,000 FTE depending on experience and qualifications
Location: Hybrid with regular (weekly/fortnightly) in-person collaboration days in Brighton
Reports to: Founder Director
About TechNative Digital
TechNative Digital is building a new kind of digital skills ecosystem. We deliver employer-led Skills Bootcamps and innovation programmes that connect people, education, and industry to close the digital skills gap across Sussex and beyond.
Our mission is to help learners gain real-world tech skills, progress into sustainable employment, and contribute to a stronger, fairer local economy.
We currently run programmes in software development, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital media, partnering with leading employers, industry specialists, and innovators to create truly industry-led training.
Our work is funded by West Sussex, East Sussex, and Brighton & Hove local authorities as part of a three-year government Bootcamp cycle. Our aim is to grow this provision — expanding both geographically and into new subject areas, while developing additional commercial and partnership-based training offers.
Alongside our Bootcamp provision, we also lead the Digital Futures Accelerator programme in East Sussex, helping young people connect with industry mentors to design, build, and pitch innovative digital products. The programme culminates in a showcase awards event, celebrating creativity, teamwork, and the next generation of local digital talent. Learn more at digitalfuturessussex.com.
Our Founder Director, Dan Wallman, also leads the Digital & Creative Skills agenda for the Sussex Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), aligning TechNative with regional innovation and workforce priorities.
We’re scaling fast, managing multiple Bootcamps, contracts, and partnerships and we’re looking for a highly capable operator to help bring structure, focus, and momentum across everything we do. See www.technativedigital.com for more on our vision and what we do.
Role Summary
The Founder Associate is an innovative, forward-thinking role, as an operational right-hand support to the Founder Director, a trusted partner who helps turn ideas into execution.
You’ll balance organisational oversight and hands-on delivery: coordinating projects, improving systems, managing communications, and ensuring the founder’s time and energy are focused on the highest-impact priorities.
This is not a traditional support role. It’s a hybrid of senior executive assistant, operational execution and logistical planning, ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys solving problems, and wants to learn how to run and scale an ambitious social-impact business.
Key Responsibilities
- Executive Enablement & Founder Support
- Act as the Founder’s operational right hand — anticipating needs, protecting focus time, and keeping priorities aligned with strategic goals.
- Manage the Founder’s inbox, calendar, and daily workflow — filtering communications and ensuring meetings and decisions are well prepared.
- Ensure timely follow-up on commitments, actions, and correspondence — keeping the Founder’s workload organised and forward-moving.
- Prepare concise briefings, reports, and presentations for internal and external audiences (funders, partners, boards).
- Support planning and preparation for key meetings, presentations, and public engagements.
- Strategic Delivery & Project Coordination
- Translate strategy into delivery — supporting new tenders, funding bids, and partnership projects from concept to completion.
- Coordinate multi-partner initiatives such as Bootcamp launches, recruitment campaigns, and marketing activities.
- Conduct targeted research and compile insights to inform strategic decisions and business development.
- Draft high-quality written content including proposals, board papers, and partner communications.
- Take ownership of internal improvement projects (e.g. onboarding systems, CRM development, reporting dashboards).
- Maintain and continuously improve TechNative’s operational systems (Google Workspace, HubSpot CRM, Asana, shared drives).
- Identify inefficiencies and create scalable processes that save time and improve consistency.
- Use AI and automation tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Zapier, Notion AI) to streamline repetitive tasks and reporting.
- Develop internal playbooks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support clarity and sustainability.
- Communication & Relationship Management
- Act as a trusted liaison between the Founder, internal team, and external partners — ensuring clarity and timely communication.
- Manage information flow and ensure decisions are documented and cascaded effectively across teams.
- Represent TechNative professionally in meetings, events, and partner interactions when the Founder is unavailable.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities, funders, and delivery partners.
- Continuous Improvement & Organisational Growth
- Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the Founder’s and organisation’s effectiveness.
- Anticipate challenges and propose solutions before they become blockers.
- Support the Founder in building a sustainable, scalable organisational structure as the business grows.
- Champion innovation, efficiency, and a learning mindset across the organisation.
Mindset, Attributes & Working Style
We’re looking for someone who thrives in fast-paced, creative environments and takes pride in helping others succeed. As Founder Associate, you’ll make the Founder, and the organisation, more effective by improving focus, systems, and follow-through.
You’ll bring the following mindset and attributes:
Force Multiplier Mentality – You enhance the Founder’s effectiveness by anticipating needs, staying two steps ahead, and keeping priorities aligned with strategic goals.
Adaptability & Initiative – Thrives in an entrepreneurial, ever-changing environment. Proactive, resourceful, and always looking for ways to make things run better.
Flexibility & Versatility – Hands-on and happy to switch between strategic work and practical tasks, ensuring momentum never stalls.
Completer–Finisher Discipline – Detail-oriented, reliable, and thorough; follows through to completion at a consistently high standard.
Growth Mindset & Curiosity – Tech-literate, innovative, and eager to experiment with new tools and ideas to improve efficiency and impact.
Collaborative & Culturally Aligned – Builds strong chemistry with a creative, energetic Founder; fosters trust, positivity, and open communication.
Calm & Constructive – Comfortable managing upwards; able to challenge, prioritise, and communicate clearly even in fast-moving situations.
Motivated by Impact, Not Ego – Finds satisfaction in making things work seamlessly behind the scenes and contributing to shared success.
Future Development
This is a growth role with a clear path toward Chief of Staff or Head of Operations as TechNative scales.
You’ll gain deep exposure to every part of the business — operations, strategy, finance, partnerships, and education delivery — and help shape how a fast-growing organisation evolves.
Our Culture
At TechNative, we value:
- Innovation – Using technology and creativity to make learning more effective.
- Collaboration – Building together, across teams and partners
- Impact – Measured by the opportunities we create for others.
- Growth – Personally and professionally, we’re always learning.
- Curiosity – We question, test, and improve everything we do.
This is a role for someone who loves making things work, someone who’s part support, part operator, part organiser, and wholly reliable.
You’ll be central to TechNative’s next stage of growth, working directly with the Founder to create structure from complexity, drive progress, and build something exceptional.
We Welcome All Backgrounds
We actively encourage applications from people underrepresented in tech and education — including women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic applicants, LGBTQ+ professionals, disabled people, and career changers. If you don’t meet every single requirement, we’d still love to hear from you.
How to Apply
Apply via our online application form: https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1cXoY0NQtQhOztDZEsAyYbgf0y5y
Any Questions? Email us at apply@technativedigital.com.
Seniority level
- Mid-Senior level
Employment type
- Part-time
Job function
- Business Development and Sales
- Industries
- Technology, Information and Media
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