Director of Evaluation and Analysis

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The Medical Research Council (MRC)

Director of Evaluation and Analysis

Salary: £84,001
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Swindon, Edinburgh, Cambridge or London. Hybrid working options are available.

Please note that applications will be reviewed regularly and we may close the role prior to 5th January if a suitable match is found. Therefore please complete an application as soon as possible.

Role

The UKRI Strategy 2022-2027 and the MRC Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-2025 set ambitious strategic objectives and plans to achieve them. The Medical Research Council (MRC) has recently appointed its new Executive Chair, Professor Patrick Chinnery to drive forward MRC's efforts to deliver and further develop these ambitions.

As part of the effort to drive MRC's contribution to the UKRI strategic objectives, and wider life sciences sector goals, research based data and evidence will be an essential foundation for strategy, planning and evaluation of any funding portfolio. The 'Director of EA' will be responsible for generating this evidence base for MRC.

The role ensures the effective underpinning of a world leading medical research strategy with evaluation and analysis. The role will be responsible for identifying opportunities and business development opportunities to build capability, capacity and reputation for the UK's medical research community.

Using data generated from MRC operations and a well-developed understanding of the wider medical research data landscape, the role will draw together Strategy, Business Intelligence, Impact and Evaluation Functions to ensure MRC's maintains and enhances it reputation as an innovative and progressive research funder.

Responsibilities

• Develop methods and models for measuring the impact of MRC funded research in the UK and internationally including medical, economic and societal benefit from the research supported by the council.
• Support strategy and planning across the MRC and where needed, across UKRI as a whole, by generating robust evidence that can be used to inform all aspects of MRC funding, collaborations and partnerships.
• Establish an agile and responsive research and evaluation capability that is able to meet ad hoc requests for evidence to deliver on UK government priorities to both address national and international challenges.
• Maintain and ongoing and real-time programme of evaluation of the outputs of MRC funded research including quality and productivity evaluation for example, in support of MRC internal performance evaluations and assessments of funding effectiveness.
• Establish a horizon scanning function for MRC to identify gap and opportunities for investment and to maintain competitiveness.
• Research into funding and evaluation methods to create a foundation for continuous improvement of MRC and UKRI approaches for supporting the UK research sector.
• Establish collaborations across sectors in the UK and internationally to support all activities of evaluation and analysis.

Role requirements

The below criteria will be assessed at shortlisting (S) and/ or interview (I) stage.

Essential -

• Extensive experience of developing strategy in the medical and healthcare sector S
• Management of diverse and complex stakeholders and with the ability to negotiate successfully to meet the needs of individual parties I
• A developed understanding of the role of research and innovation in delivering UK strategic health objectives I
• A developed understanding of the international research funding landscape I
• Experience of partnership working in the medical and healthcare sector, with government, academia, and industry S
• Experience leading teams at very senior level within the public, private or charity sector, operating nationally and internationally S
• Experience of working with Government and senior civil service policy professionals S
• The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to deliver strategic objectives I

Desirable -

• Extensive experience of driving quantitative and qualitative analysis and evaluation to inform strategic decision making S
• Business development leadership (preferably in a research funder) S
• Experience of interdisciplinarity S
• Experience of procurement of evaluation services S
• An understanding of the use of data management and data operations I
• Experience of designing, developing or procuring business intelligence tools to underpin evaluation and analysis S/I

About the Medical Research Council (MRC)

Within UKRI, the MRC seeks to improve human health through world-class research. With an annual budget of over £800 m, MRC provides support both to individuals, through fellowships and grants, and to institutions, such as the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology and the Francis Crick Institute. The outcomes of our research span discovery science, improvements in public health and the development of new treatments for common diseases.

For more information about MRC, please visit https://mrc.ukri.org

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.