Innovation Associate (KTP Associate), Full time, Fixed Term 3 years

University of Roehampton - The University of Roehampton in Partnership with Penumbra Mental Health

The University of Roehampton is recruiting an Innovation Associate (KTP Associate) to support the delivery of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Penumbra Mental Health, one of Scotland’s leading mental health organisations. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated graduate to contribute to the development and expansion of an innovative AI-driven workplace wellbeing intervention.

The project centres on an evidence-based digital intervention that uses conversational AI and personalised wellbeing modelling to support employees experiencing stress or mental health difficulties to build resilience, autonomy, and a more meaningful working life. The KTP aims to refine this intervention into a scalable, commercially viable digital platform that can improve access to effective workplace mental health support nationally.

The successful candidate will play a central role in overseeing and delivering the technical development, evaluation, and commercialisation of the intervention. Working closely with Penumbra colleagues on site and supported by academic supervision and training from the University of Roehampton, the Associate will help translate academic research into a production-ready, privacy-by-design AI-enabled mental health platform. This includes contributing to human-centred design, ethical data pipelines, outcome modelling, and real-world user testing with organisations.

As KTP Associate, you will lead the development of a new AI-enabled digital platform from the ground up, combining software engineering, inclusive design, and data-driven evaluation to deliver measurable mental health impact at scale. You will also contribute to shaping the commercial roadmap for the intervention, ensuring that it meets quality assurance standards and employer needs.

Key responsibilities include reviewing evidence-based literature on AI-enabled digital mental health and workplace wellbeing; working collaboratively with employees, lived experience contributors, clinicians, technical partners, and academics to co-design and refine the AI system; developing and implementing conversational AI components including scripting, large language model integration, safety protocols, and adaptive personalisation; implementing an evaluation framework to assess usability, feasibility, and wellbeing outcomes; and packaging the intervention for replication and dissemination by employers and wellbeing providers. You will also support product refinement and commercialisation through Penumbra’s networks, helping establish the I.WOW model as an inclusive, demand-driven digital product. The post holder will be based at Penumbra, with hybrid working arrangements and close academic supervision from the University of Roehampton.

Further information can be found on the job description. If you would like to apply for this excellent opportunity, please click on ‘Apply’ or visit the working at Roehampton pages of our website and search ‘KTP’. If you have any specific questions on the role, please contact Dr Laura Vowels.

The University is committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity and aims to create a culture and environment where students and staff are treated fairly. The University is an equal opportunities and ‘disability confident’ employer.

The closing date for completed applications is: 25 February 2026

It is expected that 1st stage interviews will be held on 11, 16 or 17 March 2026, 2nd stage interviews will take place on 26 March 2026 at Penumbra Head Office in Edinburgh

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this role. Candidates who apply for this role must already hold the legal right to work in the UK.