Founder's Associate Job Sheffield area,England UK,IT/Tech

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 Tech Native Digital

Tech Native 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

Our Founder Director,
Dan Wallman
, also leads the Digital & Creative Skills agenda for the Sussex Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), aligning Tech Native 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 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 Tech…