Operations Manager - Smart Data Research UK

Smart Data Research UK: SDR UK Operations Manager

 

Job title: SDR UK Operations Manager, Smart Data Research UK

Responsible to: Head of Programme and Investment Management, Smart Data Research UK

Responsible for: n/a

Location: Swindon based - Hybrid working available (see hybrid working below)

Contract type: Permanent.  

Hours: Full-time or 0.8 FTE role. ESRC have a wide range of policies to support work/life balance. As such, we welcome full time/part time/compressed hours applications for this role.

Total salary package: £34,905 

Band: UKRI Band D

Closing Date: 20^th October 2024

Interview Date: w/c 28^th October 2024

Start Date: 6^th January 2025

 

 

Smart Data Research UK

 

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of UK science and technology. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is investing £59.3m in Smart Data Research UK – an ambitious programme to unlock, organise and champion safe access to smart data.

 

Smart data is made whenever we engage with the digital world – when we buy something, ‘like’ something, or get directions. If used for scientific research, smart data can help us understand important social challenges – from preventing diseases to tackling climate change.

 

Our mission is to unlock the power of smart data for research that improves lives. We will do this by providing researchers with safe, trustworthy access to smart data, safeguarding public trust, building capability for cutting-edge research, and supporting research that addresses significant social and economic challenges.

 

Smart Data Research UK will invest in data services - teams of experts from research institutes across the country. They will build partnerships with data owners and provide secure access to data for researchers. Coordination and leadership are provided by a Strategic Hub team, led by a Director, based at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

 

 

About the role

 

A vacancy exists within the SDR UK Programme and Investment Management Team, which is responsible for enabling and overseeing efficient and effective delivery of the SDR UK programme. The team provides broad operational leadership and support to the SDR UK Strategic Hub and investments through robust programme and project management, including monitoring, evaluation, and governance. You will work closely with the senior staff and your team head to lead and take personal accountability for a select number of projects and activities.

 

 

 

 

Hybrid Working

 

This post is based at our Swindon office, but we operate a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and external locations. This post also requires travel to attend external visits and meetings.

 

 

About you

 

We know that many people hesitate to submit a job application if they feel they don't meet all the criteria. If you are passionate about our mission and you possess most of the skills or experience, we encourage you to proceed with your application. We'd love to hear from you!

 

 

Key Responsibilities

 

The Operations Manager will work closely with the leadership team to ensure the Strategic Hub has the resources, tools, processes and culture to operate effectively and efficiently. Key responsibilities include:

 

·       Lead the creation, embedding, maintenance and continuous improvement of business systems, processes and ways of working for the Strategic Hub, to drive effective team working and a supportive culture of high performance.

·       Oversee effective PA support for the SDR UK Director and Deputy Director.

·       Coordinate Strategic Hub engagement, driving streamlined communications and engagement.

·       Coordinate development and delivery of Strategic Hub resourcing, including oversight of the Strategic Hub's resourcing plan, including recruitment and inductions.

·       Work with the Head of Programme and Investment Management in the identification and monitoring of strategic hub risks and issues, and develop mitigating actions. 

·       Manage SDR UK business continuity processes, including impact assessments and testing robustness regularly.

·       Own and maintain shared mailboxes and action general queries through either advising or escalating.

 

This is not a comprehensive list, and we may require you to undertake other duties within the Strategic Hub commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post (for example general support functions as directed). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortlisting and Interview Criteria (Person Specification)

 

Essential

 

·       Planning and organisational skills, including an awareness of project management methods, and the ability to effectively prioritise and manage complex activities.

·       Ability to manage own workload, resolve competing demands, and cope with changing priorities in a flexible and proactive way.

·       Clear and confident communicator, including the ability to support the development of internal and external communications.

·       Experience of building effective working relationships with both internal and external collaborators (such as senior academics, policy makers, practitioners, or business partners) at varying seniority levels with the ability to influence and persuade. 

·       Analytical skills with the ability to evaluate, report, and act on complex information of various forms, including numerical data. 

 

Desirable

 

·       Facilitation skills including the ability to create an inclusive environment, encourage others to chip in, consider differing perspectives, guide others to appropriate and useful outcomes.

• An understanding of the processes through which ESRC funded researchers currently access data for research purposes.
• Experience of drafting reports, papers and submissions for senior management.

 

 

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 policymakers 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 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. We ask that you state how your skills and experiences meet the criteria in a covering letter (maximum two pages). You are encouraged to use the STAR method as described by the National Careers Service to demonstrate your skills and experience. 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.