Head of Knowledge Exchange Data & Evidence

Research England

Head of Knowledge Exchange Data & Evidence

Salary: £54,043 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SR
Grade: UKRI F 

Closing Date: 29th September 
Interviews will be held week commencing: w/c 14th October 

About Us
The post holder will join the Knowledge Exchange (KE) Policy Team in Research England, UKRI. This team supports the higher education sector to enhance its work with businesses, public sector and local communities for the benefit of the economy and society. The team work to meet Government priorities to provide assurance that universities are delivering efficiency and effectiveness in all forms of KE, in appropriate ways. Working with colleagues internally, in institutions, with academic and other experts and Government and other partner organisations, the post-holder will develop and deliver policy across a range of areas of activity within knowledge exchange.

We use the term ‘knowledge exchange’ to cover the multiple interactions between universities and businesses, public services, charities and communities to create societal and economic benefit. These interactions include joint research and development projects, consultancy and training, knowledge transfer partnerships and setting up new companies and social enterprises. 

Purpose

This is a key role in the Research England (RE) Knowledge Exchange policy team – you will develop a strong understanding of the nature and structure of knowledge exchange (KE) data and evidence, and its importance in RE funding and policy work. This will include the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey, the funding model for Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF), and the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF). You will deploy this to support policy and help devise innovative funding and delivery approaches, including to support delivery of decisions relating to the long-term comprehensive review of RE’s approach to KE funding and policy, and to the recently announced HEIF Reform.

You will engage fully in policy discussion including with internal senior management and national and HE sector policy makers, problem-solve, understand and interpret implications in setting long term policy. You will be expected to contribute to commissioning of research and evaluation, focussed on formula funding, including making links and drawing on expertise of relevant external experts. You will also work on other projects within the scope of the Knowledge Exchange Policy team, including the next steps and long-term development of KE framework, specifically on the provision of evidence for Research England to support the sector’s continuous improvement in their practice of, and engagement in, KE activities, and supporting the development of new and improved KE data and evidence for use in RE KE policy through RE’s national KE metrics programme.

You will work closely with Associate Director of KE Data & Evidence, in addition the Head of KE Strategic Projects and Partnerships and Associate Director of Strategic Projects and Partnerships on broader RE KE policy development. You will also a lead a small sub-team within the wider KE team. Another key relationship will be with the Associate Director of Analysis and his team within the Operations Directorate of Research England. This role is one of three head of policy evidence and analysis roles, the others being embedded in the Research Policy and Insight and Engagement Directorates of Research England, and you will work collectively to coordinate use of data and evidence in policy development and integrate policy analysis across the Council.

Main outputs and activities

• Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of, and act as an authoritative source of advice on, knowledge exchange policy and interpretation of analysis with the ability to distil key points for a range of audiences.
• Lead on policy on, and delivery of, methods and processes for allocating funding for KE working within context of overall RE KE policy priorities, focussed on formula funding including contributing to wider RE approaches.  This will include:
  • Supporting senior colleagues on the development of wider KE policy and funding, making recommendations on how policy objectives can be addressed, taking into consideration availability of appropriate evidence and institutional burden
  • Leading on methods to deliver policies and priorities, and their implementation, specifically in support of delivery of the recently announced HEIF reform.
  • Working with policy and analysis colleagues in RE to ensure that KE policy reflects wider RE standards on data definitions/use and funding methods
  • Support the effective distribution of formula funding for KE (HEIF), working with colleagues across Research England through modelling data, responding to queries from HESA and providers, and contributing to the design and implementation of accountability and audits
  • Supporting senior colleagues on further development of the KE Framework (KEF), including advising on methods and approaches and leading solutions.
• Providing policy direction on use and analysis of HE-BCI and other KE data to feed into RE’s annual publication and wider evidence (KE Framework). This includes close working HESA (part of Jisc) share RE policy data needs, and liaison with other HE-BCI stakeholders, such as in devolved administrations/other UK funding bodies.
• Lead technical policy contributions to RE’s national KE metrics programme advising on KE data needs for formula funding policy, and testing use of new data in KE policy, working closely with and managing expert researchers where necessary, and providing technical advice on approaches to Associate Directors and Director for KE
• Give presentations and lead discussions at external meetings relating to KE evidence and policy, including funding and the KEF.
• Make a significant contribution to effective relations with HE institutions and sector bodies, communicating funding methods, answering queries and liaising with the RE analytical directorate over data issues.
• Contribute to briefing and advice to Government/DSIT and senior Research England and wider UKRI colleagues, taking a leading role in areas of analysis and evidence as they relate to KE policy
• Assess, use and present accurately complex quantitative evidence in policy development.
• Problem solving using evidence.
• Work as part of the team to assist with consideration of evidence and analysis to inform research and evaluation and monitoring of KE policy/HEIF. This will include assisting commissioning external work and contributing to formula funding work in Spending Review exercises.
• Internal project management (including managing expert researchers and working closely with statisticians).
• Production of RE Council and relevant Committee papers and other documents
• Represent Research England/UKRI at external meetings and presenting to external groups
• Leading a small team, including direct line management of up to 3 direct reports, to deliver a varied and complex workload, including the delegation of work as required.

Shortlisting Criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Essential:

• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the UK research and higher education policy, including formula and/or project approaches to KE funding. (S&I)
• Ability to develop an authoritative knowledge of evidence relating to KE, identify policy solutions and share knowledge and solutions effectively with others in order to make effective recommendations about future RE policy (S+I)
• Demonstrable excellent quantitative skills. (S&I)
• An excellent communicator, with ability to communicate to (S+I):
  • complex subjects with people at all levels, including technical analysts, both verbally and in writing, in a clear, concise and fluent manner.
  • and to work effectively with a range of stakeholders, including government, institutions and academic experts, with the ability to represent Research England and UKRI at meetings and events.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, including in relation to commissioning external evaluation and evidence gathering work. (S+I)
• Ability to work flexibly to contribute fully within a team that covers a shared and complex workload, including with challenging deadlines. (S&I)

Desirable:

• Experience of principles of data architecture design, in order to take a systematic approach, seeking a diverse range of inputs in order to find solutions (S)
• An understanding of economic theory, in order to apply them to research and evaluation activity and contribute to Spending Review case development. (S)