KTP Associate – Pharmaceutical Behavioural Science (Epilepsy focused)

Vacancy terms: Full-time, fixed term contract for two years

About the role

Funded by an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership, you will be responsible for leading the development of a Behaviour Change Toolkit to support Desitin Pharma to enhance its marketing effectiveness. The toolkit will support Desitin employees to identify determinants of prescriber behaviour and develop approaches to addressing them; thereby enabling optimisation of prescribing practices, patient outcomes and prescriber relationships.

To develop the toolkit, you will be expected to manage a key, strategic project within Desitin Pharma Ltd (with support from academic and company supervisors), ensuring that all defined targets and outputs are met within the timeframe.

The project involves facilitating the transfer of behavioural science knowledge between the University of Leicester and Desitin Pharma Ltd and engaging with Desitin Pharma employees to ensure that the knowledge transferred is properly embedded and exploited. You will be responsible for preparing and presenting progress reports at project team meetings and representing the partnership at conferences and exhibitions.  You will be expected to travel around the UK and internationally with expenses covered by Desitin Pharma UK and therefore willingness to travel and be flexible with work time and arrangements is essential.

You will be expected to develop effective working relationships with the Desitin Pharma team to understand current approaches to marketing, the context within which they operate and barriers to delivery. Working with the senior management team you will identify the strategic project to enable iterative development of your toolkit. Through accessing relevant training and concurrent mentorship from Desitin and academic supervisors, you will develop your understanding of marketing and behavioural science to enable you to build and test the toolkit as you work to deliver your strategic project.

By the end of the two-year project, you will have significant experience of pharmaceutical marketing plus unique expertise in behavioural science thereby enhancing your personal portfolio and marketability. This will enable you to choose whether to continue to operate within the pharmaceutical industry or a career in academia training future healthcare professionals in the use of behavioural science.

Why This Role is Special

• Real-World Impact:Tackle a critical challenge in epilepsy care—improving prescribing continuity to reduce patient risk and improve outcomes.

• Career-Defining Project: Lead a strategic Research & Development initiative with clear commercial and clinical value.
• Collaborate with Experts: Work alongside top academics and industry professionals in medicines research, behavioural science, and healthcare innovation.
• Tailored Development: Receive a £2,000 annual training budget plus two residential management training courses through Innovate UK.

About you

About Desitin Pharma Limited

Desitin Pharma Ltd (https://desitin.co.uk/) is a specialist pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders. With over a century of heritage through its German parent company, Desitin stands at the forefront of innovation in epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and related conditions.

Driven by a patient-centered approach, Desitin combines high-quality medicines with a deep commitment to research, education, and healthcare partnerships. Our products are trusted by healthcare professionals across Europe, and our UK operations continue to grow through tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of clinicians and patients alike.

What to expect:

• Freedom to think big – A space to share bold ideas and bring them to life.
• Opportunities to grow – The chance to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
• A strong team – Collaboration with supportive, driven professionals.

About University of Leicester School of Healthcare

The School of Healthcare encompasses a range of professions including Midwives, Nurses, Operating Department Practitioners, Optometrists, Nurses, Pharmacists and Physiotherapists. The School is rapidly growing by building both its education offer and research infrastructure. You will be joining the School at an exciting time, working closely with Professor David Wright (Professor of Health Services Research and Head of School), who is a pharmacist that has worked with Desitin Pharma for a number of years, to deliver this project. You will also be supported by Dr Sion Scott, behavioural scientist and pharmacist.

About Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

For 50 years, KTPs have been helping businesses innovate for growth by connecting enterprises with the expertise to help deliver their innovation ideas. A KTP could be the perfect launchpad for your career, helping you manage a challenging project central to an enterprise’s strategic development and long-term growth. You’ll ‘own’ your project, linked to both a university and an enterprise whose experienced teams will provide you with full support. This is a chance to deliver impact and shape your career, opening doors within both academia and industry.

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and can be made to Professor David Wright on djw57@leicester.ac.uk

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here.

 The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

 We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.