Policy Manager
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Research England
Policy Manager
Salary: £34,905 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8FTE)
Contract Type: Fixed Term until March 2030 (towards the end of the assignment candidates will move into the UKRI redeployment pool and be supported in finding suitable alternative work within the organisation)
Location: Westward House, Stoke Gifford, Bristol (hybrid)
Grade: UKRI Band D
Positions Available: x1 FTE
Closing Date: 1st October
Interviews will be held week commencing: 21 October
About Us
The role will sit within the research directorate of Research England. The directorate is responsible for Research England's policy development, evaluation and implementation aimed at maximising the excellence and impact of research in universities in England. There are three teams in the directorate: funding, environment and infrastructure.
Purpose
We are recruiting for one Policy Manager within the Research Funding team in Research England. This is a fixed term post until 2030 that will sit within the wider research directorate of Research England. The role will involve working with colleagues and independently to develop and/or implement RE policy with engagement with colleagues across UKRI and government, universities, and other external organisations.
The primary focus of the role will be to work on the ongoing review of Research England's Strategic Institutional Research Funding (SIRF) which is a fundamental review of our approaches, leading to potentially significant reform of the funding model for research. This is a Project officer role to support the delivery and management of the SIRF Review, working closely with colleagues in the Research Funding team, as well as the Analysis team.
Main outputs and activities
• Lead/support discrete areas of the SIRF review including supporting the development of a communications and engagement plan through working closely with Senior Policy Advisors.
• Manage the SIRF Review programme management plan and programme management for discrete SIRF review work packages.
• Lead and support areas of research funding within the directorate as priorities evolve.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of processes including competitive funding such as the Enhancing Excellence in England (E3) portfolio.
• Support senior colleagues in the development and implementation of wider work packages within the SIRF Review including the Transparency Programme aiming to improve understanding of approaches to funding within higher education providers in England.
• Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of research policy and interpretation of analysis with the ability to distil key points for a range of audiences.
• Give presentations and lead discussions at internal meetings relating to research evidence and policy.
• Supporting wider areas of policy development and delivery within the team as they arise.
• Contributing to comprehensive spending review commissions and the development of key evidence of the impacts and benefits of RE funding.
Shortlisting criteria
(S) - Assessed at shortlisting
(I) - Assessed at interview
(S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Essential:
• Experience synthesising information from different sources to draw conclusions (S)
• Experience of monitoring and/or evaluation, or the equivalent applicable skills (S)
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders both orally and in writing (S&I)
• Experience of working effectively with internal and external stakeholders (S&I)
• Limited experience of supporting communications and/or engagement activity relating to a project or programme of work (S)
• Experience managing projects and working collaboratively to deliver outputs (I)
• Ability to manage own workload, resolve competing demands, and cope with changing priorities in a flexible and proactive way (I)
• Flexibility to travel to meetings, including in locations that may require travel outside of work hours (S)
Desirable:
• A degree level qualification or relevant equivalent education or experience (S)
• Experience of managing policy-related programmes (S&I)
• Experience of working in the higher education and/or research system (S)
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager.
For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org
About Research England
Research England is one of the nine Councils within UK Research and Innovation. As a key component of the research funding system, Research England will oversee UKRI's England-only functions in relation to university research and knowledge exchange (KE). This includes providing grant funding to English universities for related activities; developing and implementing the Research Excellence Framework in partnership with the UK Higher Education funding bodies; supervising the sustainability of the Higher Education research base in England; guide the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund; and coordinate the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). Research England will build and sustain the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and KE system in English universities. They also work closely with their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations.
For more information about Research England, click here.
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 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.