CEO, Ploughshare Innovations Ltd Candidate Information Pack
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Contents
Page No.
1.
Welcome Message
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2.
About Dstl
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3.
About Ploughshare
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4.
Ploughshare Partnerships
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5.
The Board
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6.
Role Specification
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7.
How to Apply
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Timeline
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1. WELCOME MESSAGE Thank you for your interest in Ploughshare Innovations Ltd.
Ploughshare Innovations Ltd was incorporated in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) research and development division. Ploughshare Innovations is a technology transfer company that manages the commercial licensing of intellectual property developed by Dstl headquartered at Porton Down. While Dstl’s responsibility is to bring the best science and technology innovations into the UK’s defence capability, Ploughshare’s brief is precisely the reverse i.e. to commercialise the MoD’s research into non-military markets. Despite its reputation as a clandestine realm of top secret science, the world of military research and development (R&D) is actually responsible for many of the everyday technologies that we take for granted; the mobile phone, GPS, Teflon and superglue, to name but a few. But when it comes to commercialising intellectual property (IP) from military research, a sensitive touch is required to get the best value for taxpayers’ money while ensuring no military secrets are spilled. In the UK, that responsibility lies with Ploughshare Innovations Ltd. Our goal is to provide clients with a competitive edge by lowering technology risk, reducing R&D costs, speeding time to market and so maximizing business opportunities. Ploughshare Innovations Ltd provide leading edge, application focused technology, backed with the assurance of advanced IP support and protection. Ploughshare Innovations Ltd (hereafter “the Company”) is now searching for an accomplished Chief Executive Officer to provide leadership and ensure its commercial value is fully exploited. The success of the Company will depend on a proven leader who will deliver commercial results through the development of relevant services and partnerships. This is a truly exciting and unique role and we look forward to receiving your application.
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2. ABOUT Dstl The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) maximises the impact of science and technology (S&T) for the defence and security of the UK. It supplies sensitive and specialist Science and Technology services for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider government, and leads and undertakes those activities that it would be inappropriate to carry out in the private sector in technology markets that include Cyber Security, Defence and Security, Detection and Diagnostics, Electro Optics, Human ID and Trauma Science. Dstl is a trading fund of the MOD and is run on commercial lines. It has a turnover of some £600 million much of which is spent in industry and academia. Dstl is the largest scientific organisation within government, with around 3,500 scientists, technologists and engineers at its three main sites: Porton Down, near Salisbury, Portsdown West, near Portsmouth, and Fort Halstead, near Sevenoaks. For more information, please refer to https://www.dstl.gov.uk/
3. ABOUT PLOUGHSHARE Ploughshare Innovations Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dstl with its own independent Board and is charged with maximising the commercial return across a range of technology markets on behalf of Dstl. Since inception, the company has evaluated over 400 IP ideas originating from Dstl and entered some 80 exploitation arrangements with partners. With a core staff of 11 personnel, Ploughshare Innovations is committed to:
Improve the UK economy through wealth and job creation driven by licensing and spin-outs, the societal impact of making new technology available and potential tax revenue gains;
The UK Government in supporting its growth agenda
The UK MoD through reputational enhancement and availability of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology for repurchase and doing all this through a high quality, efficient and easy to use service; and most importantly
Provide a forum for a coherent business voice to inform the Dstl of its emerging intellectual property, screen the IP for commercial value, market and develop the IP where necessary to get technologies to a de-risked point where private sector organisations are willing to invest and to close commercial exploitation arrangements such as licences and spin-outs with businesses. 4
4. PLOUGHSHARE PARTNERSHIPS As well as licensing technology, the Company has, where appropriate, established new businesses (‘Spin-Outs’) as a highly effective route to market. Whilst it continues to work with both existing and new sources of IP generation, it also has excellent networks with
Licensees – industrial players with existing routes to market for our technology
Spin-outs – new ventures established to develop the Company’s technology and take it to market
Venture capital and private equity investors – providing the finance to invest in the Company’s technology and new ventures
DSTL - as the Company’s main source of new technology and innovation and its key development partner
Other sources IP – where their IP adds value and enhance the core technology and innovation provided by DSTL
In taking this approach it offers the potential to:
Reduce risk
Reduce cost
Reduce time
Maximise opportunity
For more information about the company’s business overview, please refer to: http://www.ploughshareinnovations.com/about-us
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5. THE BOARD The Company has its own independent board which sets overall objectives and direction, comprising Piers White MBE is the Chair of the Board; Piers spent 25 years in Financial Services with Barclays, Flemings and most recently Bank Insinger de Beaufort NV where he was UK Chief Executive until the sale to BNP Paribas in 2008. He brings more than 10 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director within technology and commercially-orientated Public Sector organisations that include Ordnance Survey and Nominet.
Jenni Henderson has 20 years’ experience of delivering public sector funded scientific research and development. As the Operations Director at Dstl, she is responsible for leading the delivery of Dstl’s technical work programmes through the 12 Dstl operating departments; who work with the supply chain to deliver a range of scientific, technical and analytic products to customers, ranging from support for urgent operational requirements in Afghanistan through to policy advice and analysis for senior defence personnel.
Mark Alexander is the Finance Director at Dstl, bringing more than 25 years’ experience of financial management across the public and private sectors. Mark has held senior roles across the public and private sectors for organisations that include Ordnance Survey, Bovis Lend Lease, Laing Rail and AEA Technology. Mark was recently awarded a prestigious prize on behalf of Dstl in recognition of a successful review of the largest public sector organisations.
Dame Wendy Hall is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Applied Sciences. Dame Wendy hall is one of the first computer scientists to undertake serious research in multimedia and hypermedia, she has been at its forefront ever since. Dame Wendy co-founded the Web Science Research Initiative in 2006 and is currently the Managing Director of the Web Science Trust. She became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2009 UK New Year's Honours list, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 2009.
Robert Drummond has had a long association with software and technology and has played a major role in the development of the venture capital industry in the UK and EU. For many years, he was a private equity and venture capital executive leading major organisations that include NatWest Ventures and Chrysalis VCT Plc. Robert has been at the forefront of setting standards, professionalizing and mounting successful initiatives that promote public sector understanding of the value of venture capital in the community. He is currently advising on the investment of 6
European funds in the North East and is the Chairman of Acta SPA, an Italian company in the catalyst business, which achieved a London AIM listing in 2005.
As a group of people Ploughshare Board are curious, creative and passionate about innovation, but at the same time focused on solutions. For additional information, please refer to: http://www.ploughshareinnovations.com/news-and-events/new-chairman-for-dstls-technologytransfer-company https://www.dstl.gov.uk/dstlboard
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6. ROLE SPECIFICATION Title: Chief Executive Officer Business unit: Executive Team Reporting to: Chair, Ploughshare Innovations Limited Location: Nile Mile Water, near Salisbury (flexibility due to travel) Salary Band: Six Figure package The success of Ploughshare Innovations Ltd depends on the strong and visible commercial leadership of the CEO. Main Duties and Responsibilities
To champion and promote Ploughshare’s vision and strategy; acting as principal strategic adviser to the Board to enable it to determine the strategy and provide strong governance
To proactively build and leverage relationships with key stakeholders, including the Board, Dstl scientific research community, commercial customers, funding partners and other government organisations to support the commercialisation of novel ideas
To provide effective leadership, management and development of the Executive Management Team maintaining internal control structures (operational, legal, financial etc.) along with full P&L accountability and delivery of the success plan as well as the effective and efficient day-today operations of the Company to achieve compliance with its legal, regulatory and contractual obligations
To provide clear communication material for the partners, government and the wider community to establish working relationships within the commercial market; companies, research and technology organisations and ensure they are bought into the forward plans for the Company
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PERSON SPECIFICATION Skills and Experience
Strong track record of successful leadership gained at a senior level (ideally as a Chief Executive) in a commercial environment
Research-facing and market responsive, entrepreneurial and highly strategic, publicly and commercially oriented, the successful candidate will have a strong grasp of what is required to successfully commercialise opportunities.
A generalist with a broad range of industrial expertise and real market understanding across diverse spectrum of technology markets as well as the ability to tune into emerging technologies
Expertise in managing a portfolio of spin-out investments and license agreements in technology markets proven commercial background in evaluating new business opportunities
Genuine people leadership skills; enthusiasm, passion and a sound appreciation of management plus a good understanding of the relationship between research, development, innovation, and growth
Open-minded and demonstrable understanding of scientific research with a proven track-record of informed, effective commercial judgement calls and decisions, winning credibility with industry and wider stakeholders
Good understanding of intellectual property rights, protection and exploitation, as well as cultural 'fit’. That is, an ability to comfortably move between science and commercial customers and investors, inculcating the importance of market-alignment within the organisation and establishing processes involved in commercialising research outcomes
A high-level of commercial nous, with a grasp of the nuances of influencing ‘upwards’, as well as ‘across’ intelligent organisations. This will require an ability to operate with a complex range of stakeholders
Evidence of having previously made a challenging but supportive contribution to a Board through own expertise with demonstrable experience of performance management and accountability mechanisms
Excellent promotion and negotiation skills, evidence of presenting complex information, especially at the interface between research and commercial organisations
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7. HOW TO APPLY To submit application, go to www.rockpools.com/opportunities For an information pack and an informal and confidential conversation, call our advising consultant:
Baljit Dhadda on +44 (0) 3137 3452/07939 074 973
Kamakshi Nittala on +44 (0) 203 137 3449
You will be required to submit a CV and brief covering letter that provides evidence of the competencies outlined in the Person Specification. You will also be asked to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. Reasonable expenses for unavoidable travel expenses in connection with attending interviews will be reimbursed.
Diversity policy Ploughshare is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns. This appointment will be conducted in line with the Nolan principles for public appointments, merit, fairness and openness.
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8. TIMELINE Applicants should note the key dates when you may be required to submit information and/or participate in assessment, subject to progression at each stage.
Closing date for applications is 07.03.2014
Preliminary long list interviews will be held between 17.03.2014 and 28.03.2014
For candidates who are shortlisted following the preliminary interviews, online psychometric assessment and an opportunity to visit Dstl will be made available between 07.04.2014 and 11.04.2014
Final Panel interviews will convene on 17.04.2014
The dates given for the long list and final panel interviews are indicative and subject to change. Venues for all interview stages to be confirmed but are likely to be central London. Telephone, video conference and Skype facilities are also available if necessary.
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THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LIFE
Selflessness - holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity - holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity - in carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability - holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness - holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty - holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership - holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
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