Change your career, change lives
The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).
About the Role
We are looking to recruit a Knowledge Transfer Partnership Finisher to complete a project in partnership with Low Carbon Europe. This is a 7-month fixed-term contract.
Low Carbon Europe (LCE) is a UK-based energy and environmental consultancy specialising in the optimisation of building services to improve operational performance, reduce carbon emissions, and deliver measurable cost savings across public and private sector estates. With extensive experience across healthcare, education, government, and commercial buildings, LCE combines technical expertise with practical insight to bridge the gap between design intent and real-world performance. At the core of its offering is the award-winning Retained Energy Management Service (REMS), a bespoke solution that can supplement or replace a full-time Energy Manager, typically delivering rapid return on investment through targeted, data-driven interventions. In addition, LCE supports clients with building services ‘capital improvement’ works, ensuring systems are right-sized, efficient, and aligned with operational demand. The company also provides a full suite of energy compliance services, helping organisations meet regulatory requirements while advancing their net zero and sustainability objectives.
This position is an opportunity for a motivated individual with excellent computing skills, capable of working as a full-stack developer, to develop an innovative software system from interface to data storage as chief developer, working closely with clients. The position is for 7 months to finish a KTP project. The candidate will be employed by the Open University and will work with the KTP partner company Low Carbon Europe in Brighton. The position can be hybrid working in or near Brighton is preferred due to being required in-person each month.
The position is an ideal opportunity for a capable programmer, who has a strong interest in working on the built environment, or cares about contributing to sustainability, or wants a successful development project working with both industry and academia to add to their portfolio.
The application is an interactive decision support tool, to support energy consultants for building projects to support their clients in the procurement of building service systems, such as heat pumps or cooling systems. The challenge and the innovative techniques lie in specifying energy systems with the right size to be efficient and cost-effective. The technical background knowledge has been collected and a conceptual design for the application has been created. The application requires intuitive user interfaces, good graphical representations, and data management.
Key Responsibilities
As a KTP Finisher, you will be expected to manage this project and work as part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) team consisting of LCE’s Managing Director and Group Director of Operations and academics at The Open University (OU) to:
- Familiarise yourself with LCE’s business and clients
- Understand the problem of overdesign and its context based on existing publications potentially supplemented by user interviews
- Solve the problem: develop the RSDS prototype toolkit for specification and development of building service systems.
o Design system architecture
o Design data structure
o Design user interfaces - Train and supervise LCE staff to use RSDS with customers in real scenarios.
- Market the RSDS toolkit and prepare it for commercialisation.
- Co-author academic papers and submit KTP final report.
About You
Qualifications: We expect the KTP finisher to be someone with a bachelors or masters degree in computer science, computer games development, or information systems development. Relevant experience in developing computer applications is welcome.
Essential Attributes: The KTP finisher needs to be smart; curious; self-directed; have strong programming skills including the ability to design and build complete interactive systems including user interfaces, graphic displays and databases; and be willing to learn about the technical issues and processes around the procurement of building services. The KTP finisher requires the skills to plan and manage the development project with the support of the supervisors and the LCE experts.
Desirable Attributes: The KTP finisher should ideally have good communication skills, good social skills; the ability to work well within an existing team; and perform well under flexible, hybrid working arrangements. The KTP finisher should care about climate change and achieving our net-zero targets. Desirable skills include knowledge and interest in human computer interaction and designing for usability, graphics, modelling and simulation, and building interactive worlds (such as game levels). Knowledge and interest in civil engineering and the building industry is desirable but not essential.
Experience: Some relevant work experience is welcome but not essential.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. This is a full time but fixed term position working for Low Carbon Europe. The industry partner will dictate salary and annual leave policies. This can be explained at interview.
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Work location
The role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes campus, through academic supervision, but based in the company offices in Brighton. There is an expectation that the role holder will work in the office initially to build knowledge of the internal team and systems but then work in a hybrid pattern. There is a requirement by the funder to be in the office for a day per month and you may be required to travel to industry conferences.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
If shortlisted, we anticipate online interviews taking place on:
- Tuesday 16th June – MS Teams which may also include a short presentation
- Late Jane / early July - face-to-face interview at the company in Brighton following further shortlisting after the 1st stage interview
Early closing date notification
While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications has been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented. If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.
How to apply
To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):
- CV
- Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 2 sides of A4. It should outline why you are interested in the role and provide examples of how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria listed above)
You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.
