Senior Manager - Executive Office

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Economic and Social Research Council

Senior Manager - Executive Office

Salary: £45,272 per annum ( £5,385 London Allowance per annum)

Hours: Full time

Contract Type: Open Ended

Location: Caxton House, London

Grade: UKRI Band E

Closing Date: 23 Feb 25

About The Role

This is an outstanding opportunity to work closely with the ESRC Executive Chair (EC) and Executive Board (EB) at UK Research & Innovation. Based in London, this role supports both internal and external partner engagement, ensuring the EC is well-prepared and informed, supporting and collaborating on articles, speeches, and special projects. You will join a team that values collaboration, inclusion, and high performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise the EC on strategy, policy development, communications, and media engagements, and collaborate with appropriate teams to gather intelligence
• Convene and interact with high-level stakeholders along with or occasionally, in place of the EC
• Coordinate and author briefings and lead on speeches and external presentations
• Arrange and attend EC visits, engagements, and meetings
• Engage confidently with policy makers to support ESRC's aims
• Proactively maintain awareness of internal and external issues impacting ESRC and ensure the EC is sighted and engaged, as appropriate
• Manage and identify information (including media requests); escalate issues and risks where necessary, while maintaining the strictest confidentiality regarding sensitive information
• Lead projects which deliver on the EC's strategic intent
• Provide cover for other members of the Executive Office when needed.

Stakeholders:

This role requires engagement with a complex and diverse stakeholder group internally and externally and at a senior level.

Key internal stakeholders include:

• ESRC Executive Chair (EC), Executive Board (EB), Deputy Executive Chair (DEC), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Director of Research as well as any co-opted members
• Senior Manager Executive Office - UKRI CEO's office, and other Research Councils' EC's offices
• Executive Assistant to the ESRC EC
• ESRC senior leaders
• ESRC Strategy

External stakeholders include:

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
• Other government departments
• Research Organisations, including Higher Education Institutions
• Business and third sector organisations

Assessment criteria

(S) = Assessed at shortlisting / (I) = Assessed at interview

Essential:

• Graduate degree in a social science subject or equivalent experience (S&I)
• Experience of directly supporting an Executive leader in a Private Office or equivalent executive environment, including planning of day-to-day activity, anticipating their needs, and ensuring a high-quality flow of information and briefings (S&I)
• Track record or proven experience of building productive relationships and convening groups of high-level stakeholders to discuss science policy issues and managing engagement campaigns (S&I)
• Experience of writing and editing to a high standard on social science topics for publication in national and international media, including experience of general interest writing and drafting speeches (S&I)
• Appreciation of the mission and objectives of ESRC, its place within UKRI, wider government, research community and outside academia; the ability to articulate this with credibility to a range of audiences (S&I)
• Excellent planning and prioritisation skills, with experience of problem solving and balancing competing demands whilst delivering high quality outputs to demanding timelines (S&I)
• Demonstrable energy, drive, and ability to initiate projects with agency and determination (S&I)

Desirable:

• Project management capability and understanding of continuous improvement practices (S&I)
• Horizon scanning and linking potential events to organisational strategy and stakeholder engagement (S&I)

APPLICATIONS

Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the attachments section (ignore free textbox for cover letter under 'Experience' section) which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for 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 process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DEVELOPING TALENT :

We are committed to developing employees in their roles throughout their career. Learning and development plans enable employees to continue their professional development through training and development opportunities such as e-learning, classroom training and on-the-job experiences. We encourage our employees to share their learning across teams and organisations.

BENEFITS:

UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

- Flexible Working

- 30 days annual leave Public Holidays

- Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme

- Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

SOC GRANTED

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 the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

The ESRC is the UK's largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science. It supports the development and training of the UK's future social scientists and funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policy-makers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective.

For more information about ESRC, please visit https://esrc.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.