CALL FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE POST OF SECRETARY GENERAL OF PROTON EUROPE

The Organisation

Proton Europe is the pan European Association of Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) affiliated to public research organizations. The Association is a not-for-profit legal entity. Its purpose is to promote innovation in Europe by a more effective knowledge transfer from universities and other research organisations funded primarily from public sources (Public Research Organisations or PRO) in order to contribute to the recognition and support of public research, economic development and public welfare in general.

Membership is by institution. In addition, ProTon Europe has partnership agreements with the national associations of transfer offices in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Spain and United Kingdom. On a consolidated basis, ProTon Europe and its partner national associations cover more than 500 transfer offices in Europe. Each partner organisation is represented on the Board by a Director.  The website is www.protoneurope.org


Knowledge Transfer

The transfer of know-how, expertise, skills and knowledge from one party to another leading to innovative, profitable or economic improvements for government, organisations and individuals in the private and public sectors and in the wider community.

Knowledge transfer is wider than technology transfer and includes subject areas such as arts, humanities, and social sciences and transfer processes beyond R&D, licensing and spin-out such as consultancy, training/CPD, and placement/mobility programmes.


The Role

ProTon Europe is an international not for profit association of knowledge transfer offices from public research organizations located in Europe.
Most of the management responsibilities have been delegated by the board of directors to the Executive Committee composed of the Chairman, the Chairman-Elect, the Past-Chairman, the Treasurer and the Secretary-General. The executive committee may further delegate the management of the secretariat of the association and other management responsibilities to the Secretary-General.

The post will work closely with the Chair, Executive Committee and the Board and will be responsible for:

• Delivery of all operational matters including services to members such as coordinating the delivery of training events, conferences and Special Interest Groups unless otherwise delegated
• Coordinating and supporting meetings of the Board and of the Executive Committee, in consultation with the Chairman, providing the agenda, papers as required and minutes
• Coordination with the partner associations and their secretariats
• Administration of and liaison with the membership, including collection of fees;
• Supervision of the personnel of the secretariat in the Brussels office;
• Promotion of the association in order to increase membership at an agreed rate of increase;
• Development, with the Executive Committee, of strong working relationships with appropriate organizations and other associations;
• Financial administration of the association in collaboration with the Treasurer;
• Representation of the association in meetings, conferences and events, in consultation with the Chairman;
• Ensuring the good governance of the association;
• Coordination and delivery of current EU-funded projects (2) and possible future ones, with the agreement of the Executive Committee;
• Maintenance of the web site and of the services supported by the web site;
• Administration of the Good Practice Exchange Program, working with the Professional Development Committee;
• Administration, maintenance and development  of the survey and metrics tools, in consultation with the Survey and Metrics Committee;
• Delivery of a professional development strategy through support for the development of the strategy and delivery of events (training workshops, expert groups, annual conference), in consultation with the Professional Development Committee;
• Maintenance of the Knowledge Transfer Academy, an on-line training tool, and of the relationship with the developers of the tool

Qualifications and skills

The ideal candidate must be familiar with the knowledge transfer function in universities and/or public research organizations and/or should have some understanding of the requirements of running a professional membership association.  He/she will be required to develop briefing papers on aspects of knowledge transfer policy and practice.  He/she should have strong operational skills combined with strategic vision, be dynamic, flexible and able to work under pressure, with impressive communication and language skills as he/she will operate in a multi-cultural environment.  The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, able to initiate and follow through ideas and plans for the success of the Association.  He/she will also have excellent IT skills. A good knowledge of the functioning of the European Commission would be an additional advantage, as would excellent writing skills, particularly in preparing briefs.