An opportunity is available to join the University’s new Integrated Research & Impact Support (IRIS) team as part of the University’s Corporate Services Directorate.
These posts are two of four management posts in which Bangor is investing in its new research and impact support team
The post-holder will provide dedicated support and expert advice in relation to one or more of the core aspects of research and impact. Core areas covered by the team include research policy, research funding and impact, business and skills, and commercialisation.
The post-holder will form part of the IRIS management team and will lead and manage one of the College-focused and themed Research & Impact Support teams, with a clear remit to optimise service delivery and to provide excellent support to Principal Investigators. The role will involve building relationships with staff in the Colleges, external stakeholders and funders and other professional service areas to support delivery of the University’s Research and Impact strategy.
The role will appeal to someone with established research support experience and an understanding of knowledge exchange in the context of higher education research. Successful candidates will have a Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area, the proven ability to work across a high-volume portfolio, and a genuine interest in supporting researchers to achieve their goals.
This is a full-time, permanent position.
The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.
This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.
Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.
Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Closing date for applications: Friday 15th July 2022.
Committed To Equal Opportunities
Overview
The Integrated Research & Impact Support team covers the pre-award, post-award and knowledge exchange portfolios, and sits within the University’s Corporate Services directorate, which also has responsibility for strategy, performance, business planning, strategic projects and partnerships, governance, and compliance. The post-holder will report to the Head of Research & Impact Support.
Purpose of the Job
As part of the Integrated Research & Impact Support (IRIS) team in Corporate Services, the post provides dedicated support and expert advice in relation to one or more of the core aspects of research and impact. Core areas covered by the team include research policy, research funding and impact, business and skills, and commercialisation.
The post-holder will form part of the IRIS management team and will lead and manage one of the College-focused and themed Research & Impact Support teams, with a clear remit to optimise service delivery and to provide excellent support to Principal Investigators. The role will involve building relationships with staff in the Colleges, external stakeholders and funders and other professional service areas to support delivery of the University’s Research and Impact strategy.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Lead and manage a team to provide dedicated research and impact support and expert advice to a designated College, working closely with other Research and Impact Development Managers to ensure IRIS delivers a consistent, high-quality approach.
As part of the IRIS management team, optimise service delivery to provide effective support to the academic community, stakeholders and funders.
Lead one or more of the core themes - research funding and impact, business and skills, commercialisation, research policy - demonstrating expertise in relation to the external landscape in the area, developing relevant University policies and processes, and advising on implementation and compliance.
Develop a team with capacity and capabilities to support EITHER:
- Commercialisation (intellectual property, licensing, patents and copyrights; consultancy; spin-outs), OR
- Business & Skills (business, innovation and enterprise programmes; engagement with the business community; Knowledge Transfer Partnerships; engagement with Innovate UK; CPD and skills)
Provide expert advice and support to align research strengths and promote engagement with funder priorities, highlighting opportunities through funding calls.
Co-ordinate University responses and/or bids to developments in Welsh Government funding.
Provide expert bid writing and development support for strategic institutional and externally driven bids.
Oversee the preparation of statutory returns (e.g. Higher Education Business and Community Involvement Survey, Research Excellence Framework)
Oversee relevant aspects of the University’s Research Wales Innovation Fund strategy, ensuring delivery of commitments and contributing to monitoring reports.
Support the College Director of Research:
- develop College/School research and impact strategies, aligning these plans to wider Institutional strategies;
- maintain a detailed knowledge of the expertise and specialisms of research groups and staff in the College;
- horizon scan to identify opportunities for funding bids relevant to the College;
- scope funding ideas, identify where future fundable projects may arise and align these to academic expertise;
- advise on the development of impact narratives from the College’s research portfolio, identifying and developing a range of research impact case studies;
- report and evidence project outcomes to relevant funders;
- attend the College Research Committee.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across Professional Services to ensure seamless business processes and support across all aspects of research and impact activity, including:
- the governance and legal team on research governance and contracts;
- Finance Services on wider financial considerations;
- the Strategic Partnerships team on wider business engagement and Employability Services on skills and external engagement;
- the business intelligence team to develop analysis of internal and external research and impact performance data;
- the business planning team and REF manager to set, monitor and review appropriate core and leading indicators for research and impact as part of the University’s annual business planning round and REF preparation.
- contribution to staff induction and development to support key, research related initiatives;
Build and maintain professional working relationships and networks with external stakeholders, including research sponsors and partners, representing the University at events/meetings.
Develop business processes and systems to support research and impact; contributing to the definition of requirements, procurement, implementation and development of systems as required.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
- The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
- The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
- The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/her self and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
- The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Educated to at least Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area
- Good knowledge and understanding of the conduct of research
Desirable
- Professional qualifications relevant to the role
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Good knowledge and understanding of the current issues in Higher Education including the policy and funding environment as they relate to research and impact.
- Good knowledge and understanding of one or more of the core areas covered by the IRIS team, namely research policy, research funding and impact, business and skills, and commercialisation.
- Awareness of the knowledge exchange agenda in the context of Higher Education research (business, skills, commercialisation)
- Awareness of grant application processes including costing and funder guidelines and Full Economic Costing.
- Experience of providing and delivering an exceptional level of customer and/or support service.
- Experience of pro-actively improving internal systems, policies and procedures whilst ensuring compliance within a regulatory framework.
- Previous experience of research and impact activities in a Higher Education context or in a research-based organisation.
Desirable
- Experience of working in Higher Education or research-based organisations, either in an academic research role or a research support role.
- Experience of delivering a knowledge exchange portfolio in the context of Higher Education research (business, skills, commercialisation)
- Experience of grant application processes including costing and funder guidelines and Full Economic Costing.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and engage proactively and effectively with staff and stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise own work and deliver to agreed deadlines.
- Proven ability to interpret and adhere to detailed and precise requirements, and to advise on their impact effectively and appropriately.
- Proven ability to lead and manage the work of a team and to work effectively as part of a matrix team structure.
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
- Excellent analytical skills including the ability to effectively interpret and summarise complex documents and requirements.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and an ability to deliver creative and innovative solutions.
- Excellent numerical, Digital and IT skills (Microsoft Office).
Other
Desirable
The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.