Senior Policy Adviser (Insight & Engagement)

Research England

Salary: £45,272
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Nicholson House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SR.

Grade: UKRI Grade E

Positions Available: 1
 

About us

Research England is responsible for funding, engaging with and understanding English higher education providers (HEPs).

Our work creates and sustains the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and knowledge exchange system in the higher education sector.

Our vision is for English HEPs to play a central role in the economy and society delivering world-class research with transformational real-world application, developing the skilled and talented workforce that modern research and development (R&D) intensive economy needs, and operating as major international players to enhance the UK’s global reach and influence.

Purpose

This is a key role in the Research England (RE) Insight and Engagement Team (I&E) – You will manage a number of cross-cutting policy areas and strategic relationships, working closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders. Working closely with the Associate Director for Insight and Engagement and the Head of Financial Sustainability, you will deal with a range of complex and fast-paced agendas. Your strategic approach to project management, problem solving ability and understanding of the importance and of good governance will enable efficient and coordinated activities in Research England and the Insight and Engagement team. You will support the management of our work on financial sustainability, including understanding how our investment in the sector enables and supports a healthy, dynamic, diverse and inclusive sector.

Main outputs and activities

·       Provide project management and co-ordination of the internal networks to deliver Research England’s financial sustainability work programme. Represent Research England on RE, UKRI and external fora in relation to financial sustainability and matters related to Research England’s understanding of the heath of the university sector. Ensure our insights and intelligence are used strategically and appropriately to inform policy within RE, UKRI, government and other relevant external agencies. 

·       Lead on the oversight and co-ordination and provide the secretariat function for RE and related UKRI boards and decision-making bodies, including the UKRI Research Financial Sustainability Steering Board (RFS), the RE Financial Sustainability Steering Group and the RE Financial Sustainability Working Group.

·       Lead on Research England’s input to responses to public consultations and inquiries, working with agility across team boundaries and within UKRI networks.

·       Lead and manage sensitive, time-bound policy projects for the Director and Associate Director for Insight and Engagement and other Executive Group members.

·       Undertake monitoring and evaluation activities, as required, in relation to either funding or policy initiatives.

·       Undertake qualitative analysis and synthesis of intelligence collected by the team and from wider public documents.

·       Gather and share intelligence through networking and horizon scanning.

·       Having awareness of the implications of policy and consultation responses from others.

·       Work alongside colleagues in the Research England and UKRI to provide quantitative, qualitative, and statistical analysis on a range of matters in relation to the financial sustainability and health of the sector.

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential

Experience in managing external relationships, including where there is a funding commitment (S&I)

Strong planning and prioritisation skills, including managing multiple projects concurrently and operating within tight timeframes (S&I)

Strong experience of leading and managing projects, working independently to define and deliver outputs (S&I)

Experience of writing policy documents, minutes, briefings and reports tailored to the audience and in accordance with the ‘house’ style (S)

Ability to present complex data clearly and effectively, both visually and in writing (S)

Ability to conduct and lead project evaluations (S)

Excellent oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels, recognising the diversity of others (S&I)

Ability to work across team and organisation boundaries to deliver project or policy goals (S&I)

Ability to work tactfully and discreetly with confidential information and with senior stakeholders (S&I)

Ability to gather, evaluate and interpret data, intelligence and arguments to make judgements and appropriate recommendations (S&I)

Ability to manage own workload, resolve competing demands and cope with changing priorities in a flexible and proactive way (S&I)

Ability to represent the views of the council to external stakeholders and to negotiate with and influence stakeholders (S&I)

A confident, assertive and co-operative style with an ability to deal effectively with people at all levels (S&I)

Flexibility to travel to meetings, including sometimes working outside of office hours and staying away overnight (S)

Desirable

Knowledge of current research and knowledge exchange policy agendas and their application to the Higher Education sector in England. (S)