Engagement Manager, WISERD

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Engagement Manager, WISERD

The Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) is a collaborative venture between the Universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea. We also work with other universities across the UK and have strong international links.

Our research spans the fields of sociology, geography, political science and economics. WISERD currently hosts the UK-wide WISERD Civil Society Civic Stratification and Civil Repair Research Centre, a major investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and the Administrative Data Research Centre Wales (ADRC-W) at Cardiff University, which is led by Swansea University.

This is an exciting opportunity to be a key part of the WISERD Hub team, based in the Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, supporting WISERD as a national, interdisciplinary, social science research institute working on externally funded research across university partners. 

The Engagement Manager is responsible for WISERD Research Engagement activities across the Institute which will include coordinating and delivery of core project strategies for engagement, liaising with a range of internal and external key stakeholders from across the public, policy and third sectors; working with a wide range of academic schools, supporting academic staff and researchers across WISERD Universities to maximise their engagement with external partners.  The role also includes managing the WISERD Engagement Team, overseeing planning, organising, monitoring progress and delegating work to deliver WISERD Engagement, Communications and Event outputs. 

This is a full time post, 35 hours a week, but there may be flexibility to appoint to the role as a part time post with the minimum hours worked being 28 hours a week. This role is fixed term and is available until 30th September 2024.

Salary: £33,797 - £40,322 per annum (Grade 6)

Responsible to the WISERD Research Programme Manager, Alexandra Williams. If you would like to discuss this role further please contact Alexandra Williams on [email protected] 

Date advert posted: Thursday, 5 August 2021

Closing date: Thursday, 19 August 2021

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only.  We now invite external applications.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Key Duties

• To support the WISERD Universities with respect to Research Engagement, initiating activities, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area.
• To work with the WISERD Director and Co-Directors to devise and implement a strategy for the development, monitoring and recording of engagement activity in relation to the Institute’s research programme. Contributing to the long term management of WISERD, writing and interpreting strategies into work priorities.
• To develop and build networks with external stakeholders, including 3rd sector organisations and policy makers. Including developing and utilising effective tools and methods for ensuring effective dissemination of, and engagement with WISERD’s research in line with the Engagement strategy. 
• To provide expert guidance and support across the Institute’s HEI’s and to other relevant external partners on engagement and impact strategies and processes. Liaising with relevant engagement, impact and research support staff across the WISERD partner HEI’s. Developing networks externally and across the department and school to ensure the success of WISERD’s objectives and long term plans.
• To facilitate and support research staff participation in public engagement activities through appropriate advice and guidance. Undertake the development and delivery of training of others in areas relating to the Engagement team’s work.
• To develop and implement systems and structures that support data-gathering and inform decision making on engagement activities and pathways to impact. 
• To facilitate the development and capture of immediate, short-term and long-term outcomes of engagement activities and case studies in conjunction with Principal Investigators and the WISERD Executive. 
• To monitor reported engagement activities ensuring that funder targets are met and identifying and devising solutions where targets are not being met. Make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures. 
• To lead and support the work of the WISERD Thematic Networks in conjunction with the academic network leads, to include organising meetings, events and building the network’s membership and links across the WISERD portfolio. 
• To provide update reports on engagement activities for WISERD governance groups and external funders and to support and co-ordinate WISERD responses to consultations relating to the engagement agenda. Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports as appropriate.
• To lead and direct the work of the WISERD Communications and Events team and associated activities, to include devising and overseeing implementation strategies for these, to include oversight of the WISERD website and communications strategy. Manage the operation of the WISERD Engagement Team, planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required. Ensure the delivery of the team’s service level agreements, adapting these according to changes in workload and customer requirements.
• To manage the performance, induction and development of the team. Acting as line manager for the WISERD Communications and Events Officers, supporting and guiding team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas.
• To work with the WISERD Administration Manager and WISERD Research Programme Manager to ensure that work across the various professional services teams within WISERD is coordinated, managed and communicated effectively and contributing to the wider hub team to ensure that all hub activity is appropriately planned and resourced. 

Further details can be found in Additional Information

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Welsh language written and oral skills.
• Previous experience of working in a research centre or similar environment.
• Experience of working with Third Sector Organisations and/or with UK Funding Councils.
• Postgraduate qualification in a related field.

The Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable.  Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria.  You should give examples of how, when, and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills, and abilities to match those required for this particular job role.

Please ensure that you communicate this fully by creating a new document containing your supporting statement, listing ALL OF THE CRITERIA and commenting against each one as to how you meet them.

This will need to be completed before you begin making your application online as you will be required to upload it. When uploading the supporting statement, the document title needs to read “supporting statement" and should also detail the post reference number ending in BR relevant to the job you are applying for (e.g. Supporting statement for xxxxxBR).

Additional Information

Job Description (continued)
General Duties

• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• To abide by University policies on Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity and data protection. 
• To perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

The Wales Institute for Economic Research and Data (WISERD) is a national, interdisciplinary, social science research institute. We have been designated by the Welsh Government as a national research centre. Using innovative approaches, our research spans the fields of economics, sociology, geography and political science.
We are a collaborative venture between the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea – working together to improve the quality and quantity of social science research in Wales and beyond. Our research effects change by influencing the development of policy and practice across a range of sectors.
WISERD hosts the UK-wide WISERD Civil Society Research Centre, a major investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Administrative Data Research Centre Wales (ADRC-W) at Cardiff University, part of a project led by Swansea University. Other funded projects include IDEAL, WISERD Education, Global-Rural and Horizon 2020 IMAJINE.

Job Category

Management & Executive