Senior Investment Manager

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The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Salary: £43,116 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
Closing: 6th May 2024
Interview: 30th May 2024

Job description

You will provide strategic leadership for allocated activities within the AHRC's Skills Team. You will work with the Team Head in leading and supporting Investment Managers and the Investment Officer in the development and management of a range of initiatives within the Skills portfolio.

You will report to the Head of Skills and work closely with other Senior Investment Managers in the team and within and across AHRC and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to develop and co-ordinate activity. You will play a key role in informing the strategic direction of the skills portfolio and its contribution to AHRC as a whole, including the development of a better understanding of the portfolio and skills' needs within the Arts and Humanities community, implementing processes to monitor awards, including Equality and Diversity monitoring, and the development of existing schemes and, if applicable, delivery of new ones.

You will support the development of strategic relationships with key partners and groups, including members of the academic community and wider partners. You will provide advice to AHRC senior management, AHRC Council and Advisory Board, cross-Research Council policy groups and other key partners in in relevant fields. You will work closely with other Councils within (UKRI) as part of the Collective Talent Fund and, if applicable, engage in co-delivery of strategic cross-Council initiatives.

About the Skills Team

The Skills portfolio is cross-cutting, engaging colleagues across the whole of AHRC, in particular the subject teams. The purpose is to develop and implement strategy and policy in support of skills development for Arts and Humanities researchers. Around a third of AHRC's budget is committed to supporting doctoral study and there are dedicated funding streams for early career researchers, to enable mobility and leadership development. Working with other AHRC teams, colleagues across UKRI and externally, the team works to understand skills needs within the community, developing an evidence-base, and determing how researchers can best be supported.

Main Outputs and Activities

• To work with the Team Head, other Senior Investment Managers and AHRC teams to manage the planning and operation of the Skills portfolio and its contribution to the delivery of wider AHRC and UKRI strategic aims

• To engage with other teams within the AHRC, with other Councils in UKRI and with the external research community

• To encourage cohesion and collaborative working within and across teams, and help support colleagues through times of change

• To pro-actively support the collection, analysis and interpretation of information contributing to understanding, and narratives about, the value and impact of AHRC funded research and training

• To pro-actively engage with external developments in the Skills' area to ensure that AHRC policy and strategy is informed and responsive to current needs.

• To lead, motivate and line-manage an Investment Manager including absence and performance management

• To work collaboratively with other colleagues across AHRC to manage specific initiatives or activities

• To work with the Team Head to provide expert guidance and support to other teams across the AHRC to embed understanding of the Skills portfolio, including contributing to strategic projects and activities that cut across teams and other Councils

• To establish and develop relationships with major award holders, Higher Education Institutions, Independent Research Organisations, the research community, other research funders and wider partners in order to develop expertise and knowledge to develop and deliver the Skills' portfolio

• To represent the AHRC at external meetings, events and committees etc., giving presentations, running workshops and facilitating knowledge exchange as required, gathering information to inform AHRC horizon-scanning, policy and strategy and to contribute to building the evidence base for the impact of AHRC funding

• In conjunction with other colleagues, to contribute to the development and setting of Skills priorities and support their implementation by managing staff and resources in a timely and effective way

• To provide information, recommendations and specialist input as needed to senior staff, AHRC Council and Advisory Board, and UKRI groups, as appropriate, and to support communication and reporting to wider audiences

• To provide expert advice and guidance in contributing to the on-going review of policies, procedures and systems within AHRC, advising on the application of policy and making decisions on complex cases, making effective use of management information, and supporting senior colleagues in implementing new policy initiatives including UKRI activities

• To lead, manage or support strategic projects and project teams as required (e.g. to support strategy or policy development or for the delivery of new initiatives or partnerships)

• To represent the team or AHRC on internal groups, as required

• If applicable, to assume overall responsibility for the delivery of funding schemes and programmes managed by the team, including devolved budget management.

Person Specification

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential:

Qualifications

• degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• experience in grant or postgraduate administration, higher education administration or a similar environment.
• A good understanding of the UK higher education system and of the systems and procedures for the support of research, postgraduate training and knowledge exchange in the arts and humanities, and of their significance for society, economy and culture.

Workload Management:

• ability to work independently and manage own workload effectively, and successfully initiate and manage projects and programmes of work.
• ability to manage and supervise other staff, co-ordinating and prioritising their workload to meet deadlines.

Communication

• excellent written communication skills including the ability to draft and interpret complex guidance documents, reports, briefings, correspondence or other documentation.
• ability to address complex or sensitive intellectual and policy issues clearly and concisely and recognising the needs of different audiences.

People

• Experience of managing staff and the ability to motivate, manage and develop staff.

• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to support cross-team working.

Desirable:

• postgraduate qualification.

• Enthusiastic and energetic engagement with the mission and aims of the AHRC.

Interview Criteria

Essential:

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to think creatively about policies, procedures and structures, to recommend and implement changes in policies and procedures in a realistic and pragmatic way, engaging the support of other staff in the process.

Workload Management

• ability to meet deadlines and achieve project goals by managing own and others workload, coordinating the work of others, effectively prioritising tasks, delegating appropriately and anticipating future workloads.

• ability to think creatively, solve problems and make effective decisions, sometimes in a challenging environment.

• Ability to balance the different demands of policy development, operational implementation and external liaison.

Communication

• Ability to analyse and condense complex information/data in order to provide clear, succinct and informed advice/briefing for senior colleagues within the AHRC.

• excellent interpersonal, presentation and oral communication skills including the ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with colleagues at different levels inside and outside the organisation with different professional interests and expertise.

• An enthusiastic and pro-active approach.

People

• Ability to share knowledge and information and to work in co-operation with colleagues at all levels within the AHRC to ensure that organisational strategy and objectives are implemented effectively.

• ability to establish and maintain productive and professional working relationships with people and colleagues at all levels, both internally and externally.

Desirable:

• a good understanding of the AHRC's strategy for supporting arts and humanities postgraduate training and research, its portfolio of skills development schemes and wider research funding, programmes and initiatives.

• a willingness to travel and work away from the office and/or outside normal working hours on occasion.

About The Arts and Humanities Research Council

The AHRC supports world-class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity. It supports research and postgraduate training in a wide range of subject areas, from ancient history and heritage science to modern dance and digital content. Research into these areas helps us to interpret our experiences, probe our identities, interrogate our cultural assumptions and understand our historical, social, economic and political context. It adds to the economic success of the UK, through its contributions to the knowledge economy and innovation agenda. The research we fund can lead to improvements in social and intellectual capital, community identity, learning skills, technological evolution and the quality of life of the nation.

Further details can be found via the following links: https://ahrc.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 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.