Evaluation Programme Manager
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Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £45,272 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE)
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire OR Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington OR Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh OR Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
Together, our scientist, technologists, engineers, and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it's sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.
Come and discover how much you can achieve when you're surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) develops and exploits frontier research in particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics and space science through activities at UK universities and its own national laboratories, working internationally through a range of long-term collaborative research projects. STFC also builds and operates many of the UK's largest multi-disciplinary research facilities at our research and innovation campuses.
Our Strategy, Planning and Communications (SPC) Directorate brings together the essential functions that are needed to help shape, communicate and monitor progress against STFC's strategic plans. Our role is to enable the organisation to determine its strategic direction and translate this into a coherent set of plans, communicating these across the organisation.
In SPC, open communication and mutual support are encouraged. We are always looking to build positive change in our Directorate: our teams cultivate a safe environment and are ambitious in our actions to challenge inequities when we find them.
About the role
We are looking for an Evaluation Programme Manager who will be involved in getting hands-on with some of our most exciting and high profile projects by running key evaluation and analysis projects in STFC's evaluation programme. This will include designing and delivering robust evaluations to demonstrate the impact of STFC's activities, ensuring evaluations are delivered in accordance with best practice in evaluation methodology, and that findings are useful to key stakeholders in UKRI and across Government.
The post holder will lead projects across STFC's remit, mainly focusing on large scale programmes or facilities such as the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) and the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN).
About you
For this post, we are looking for someone with the ability to think strategically and be committed to continuous organisational improvement. Someone who can influence and make changes when appropriate, and the capability to make effective decisions independently. Communication and influencing skills are key here, both within the organisation and with external stakeholders. The post holders will work closely with senior management and with staff at various levels in STFC, across wider UKRI and externally. External stakeholders include Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), other Government Departments, universities and industry.
Previous analytical experience in delivering robust quantitative and qualitative analysis is desirable to successfully undertake these roles. We are also looking for core and transferable proficiencies and abilities which will enable candidates to develop into the roles, and supported by training, adapt and grow your skills as needs change.
We are looking for people who can lead our projects and work effectively with other evaluation experts, including appointed evaluation contractors, to design and implement suitable and robust evaluations in order to deliver reliable evidence that can advise policy. This will involve work to develop monitoring frameworks, theories of change, logic models, surveys, interviews and methodologies to assess the impact of our work.
Candidates may have backgrounds in research, industry, the third sector or many others, including considering returning to work from a career break, health change or caring responsibility. The perspective candidates bring from these personal and career paths will have value in the role, so please tell us about the experiences you have had that could contribute to this role and your future career when addressing the criteria in your covering letter.
Person Specification
The criteria below will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)
• A relevant degree or equivalent work experience in a STEM subject or a subject such as social sciences, economics, mathematics, or other numerate subjects (S)
• Strategic Thinking: Proficient at developing, influencing and executing strategic plans with sound judgement; able to set priorities, allocate resources and drive initiatives aligned with organisational goals (S&I)
• Leadership Skills: Demonstrate the ability to make well informed decisions, seek opportunities, and articulate a vision to others; provide direction and motivation and lead in the delivery of complex activities and/or team responsibilities including with external stakeholders (S&I)
• Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills with keen attention to detail; ability to develop and deliver well-structured, clearly-articulated professional documents and presentations for a range of internal and external audiences (S&I)
• Planning and Organisation: Ability to plan and prioritise work and that of others to implement frameworks or new procedures to deliver successful outcomes; respond flexibly to changing requirements as required (S)
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Capable of working collaboratively to identify challenges, develop creative solutions and implement changes within a team setting; able to lead the successful delivery of activities internally and externally (S&I)
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.
As one of Europe's largest research organisations, this is a place where there's always something new to learn - about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what's possible.
STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.
Additional Information
To apply for this position, please submit a CV, and a covering letter in which you describe your motivations for applying and how you meet the criteria in the person specification. You are advised to write no more than 3 pages, and applications without a covering letter will be excluded from shortlisting. CVs should be no more than 3 pages long.
We offer flexible working arrangements and expect this role to operate in a hybrid working model with time spent working at home and in the office. The post holder will work with colleagues across all of STFC's sites, and will be based at one of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Harwell, Oxfordshire), Polaris House (Swindon¸ Wiltshire), Daresbury Laboratory (Warrington) or the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (Edinburgh). There will be occasional travel between STFC sites with the costs covered by us. The post is available as full time, part-time or job-share. Applicants should be open as to their desired working pattern when they apply.
Please contact SPCADMINTEAM@stfc.ac.uk FAO the recruiting manager if you have any questions, including working patterns and travel requirements.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.
We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
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 at 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.