Director of REF, KEF and Research Impact

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About Us

King's is a leading research-intensive university, covering a wide range of research disciplines and with significant interdisciplinary collaboration. Our research has substantial impact across a wide range of domains, including health, science & engineering, social policy and the arts.

This role is a key, senior position within the King's Research Management & Innovation Directorate (RMID), which provides expertise in research and innovation management, policy and strategy for the entire university.

About the Role

The Director of REF, KEF and Research Impact provides leadership - in partnership with the Dean of Academic Research Excellence Frameworks - for the university's preparations for (and submissions to) the Research Excellence and Knowledge Exchange Frameworks. It also aims to enhance the understanding, prioritisation and delivery of research impact across the university (including public engagement with research).

The Director will lead a team of c.13 specialist staff, and will also coordinate the efforts of a wide range of academic and professional services staff across the university to deliver optimal outcomes in REF and KEF.

The role reports to the Director of Research Management & Innovation, with a "dotted" line to the Dean of Academic Research Excellence Frameworks (and through both to the Vice-President (Research & Innovation). This is a senior position, critical to the university's success - and is therefore a member of leadership-level committees.

This is a full time post, and you will be offered an indefinite contract, with hybrid working possible.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Excellent, in depth understanding of the REF and KEF exercises.
2. Excellent knowledge of research impact, across a wide range of disciplines and impact types.
3. Strong leadership abilities, particularly outside line management structures, and the ability to work productively with a wide range of staff, including senior academics.
4. Excellent analytical and research skills, ability to analyse and interpret complex data, lead and manage large-scale research projects.
5. Ability to lead and manage multiple teams to deliver high-quality services in line with College's strategic aims, develop and deliver training, mentor and coach others.
6. Ability to prepare well informed and evidenced papers to senior committees to inform strategic discussions and decision making.
7. Outstanding communication skills, engaging extensively with and keeping appraised a wide range of stakeholders.
8. Understanding of - and commitment to - the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly as they apply to research assessment.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of wider research and innovation management in the university (or other) sectors.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click "Apply Now". This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our 'How we Recruit' pages.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on the 12th June 2024.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.