Project Officer (Athena Swan and ED&I) (102767-1301)

Vacancy Type/Job category
Management & Professional
Department
WMG
Salary
£31,406 - £40,927 per annum
Location
University of Warwick
Vacancy Overview
Part Time (0.6 FTE), Indefinite post.
Established 41 years ago, WMG is Warwick’s largest multi-disciplinary department, recognised for academic/end-user collaboration and innovation and learning in science, technology and engineering.
From its roots in materials and manufacturing, WMG is active across five themes: Digital Technologies; Energy; Intelligent Vehicles; Materials and Manufacturing; and Organisational and Societal Transformation. Cross-cutting platforms include the WMG Centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Institute for Digital Healthcare. In Education, our portfolio incorporates traditional Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes, Degree Apprenticeships and short courses.
As a holder of an Athena Swan Silver Charter Mark, WMG’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) programme includes a range of activities designed to promote and foster gender equality and inclusivity more generally. Our Positive Action Campaign launched in 2021 has several aims, which include levelling the playing field for all staff; removing barriers where identified; increasing the number of staff from black backgrounds and female BAME staff over the next 5 years; and undertaking data analysis to highlight any key ‘ceiling’ points for progression amongst under-represented groups.
This is an exciting time to join the team. With the launch of its new strategy in 2021, WMG is looking to recruit a Project Officer (Athena Swan and ED&I) who will help the department deliver against its priority objective within its Valuing People strategy pillar: To build a positive working culture and a supportive, dynamic and stimulating environment based on the principles of diversity, inclusion and respect.
Reporting to the Senior Administrator, the postholder will be responsible for project managing our Athena Swan 2020-25 Action Plan and acting as Co-ordinator to the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT) and Athena Champions. The postholder will also support the wider work of ED&I in the department, including the roll-out of our Positive Action Campaign.
The postholder will be expected to have a strong awareness of ED&I, ideally in a Higher Education context, and a good understanding of ED&I legislation. They will also be required to build connections with the University’s Social Inclusion team and be active on the University’s staff networks (e.g. Warwick’s ED&I network), as well as those within the department such as our Staff Disability Network. They will also support and foster the links we have with external organisations such as WISE.
They will also be responsible for ensuring that ED&I best practice underpins our day-to-day operations, in line with institutional-level and departmental policies and procedures.
In the Supporting Statement section within the application form, please present your information by providing examples against the ‘Essential and Desirable’ criteria which can be found in the Person Specification. You may not be able to fulfil every criterion but should be able to meet the criteria stated as ‘Essential’ on the Person Specification. If you wish to enclose a CV, this should not exceed two pages. You may find it helpful to see the University’s guidance on CVs, applications and interviews: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/careers/applications/forms/
In return, we will provide you with a great range of benefits which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closure, some fantastic savings on a wide range of products and services, and excellent learning and development opportunities.
At WMG. we are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. We currently hold the Athena SWAN Silver Award, and the University of Warwick holds an Institutional Silver Award: a national initiative that recognizes the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all in academia. We are supportive of staff with caring responsibilities including a generous,
maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so. This post is 0.6 FTE (the equivalent of 3 days per week).
Close date: 4 weeks from advert
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE:
To project manage and deliver outputs to progress the Athena SWAN and other E,D&I activities for WMG.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Generic Project Management Tasks
1. Scope and plan projects, including timescales, budget, resource and tasks.
2. Identify and co-ordinate project activities.
3. Implement actions where appropriate, remind and co-ordinate actions of others.
4. Administer associated paperwork including meeting minutes, agendas and diaries (in conjunction with support staff where available).
5. Report to project stakeholders.
6. Update action/project plans and communicate to stakeholders.
7. Escalate issues as appropriate to ensure completion of project to timescales and cost.
Athena SWAN
1. Co-ordinate and project manage the implementation of Athena SWAN action plan:
i. Co-ordinate and ensure progression of the Athena SWAN action plan
ii. Monitor and report on achievements/progress
iii. Co-ordinate the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT)
iv. Raise awareness of Athena Swan throughout the department through marketing and internal communications initiatives
2. Co-ordinate and project manage the Athena Swan applications for submission to Advance HE (next due in c. 4-5 years’ time):
i. Identify data needs and coordinate data collection through contribution to and co-ordination of the Data and other sub-groups, as well as the Athena Champions
ii. Manage the application form and associated paperwork, co-ordinating the narrative with the data owners and contributors
iii. Lead on the resultant action plan, identifying new initiatives from the data analysis process
iv. Manage the project plan to ensure appropriate consultation and approval through WMG and the University of Warwick (UoW)
The main focus of the role is to deliver the Athena Swan activities for WMG, contributing to other related ED&I projects, when necessary, notably the Positive Action Campaign, as set out above.

Person Specification

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.

Essential Criteria 1
Educated to degree level or with equivalent experience in a relevant setting (a)
Essential Criteria 2
Recent experience in a project manager or administration role or similar (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 3
Experience of interpreting and adhering to detailed and precise requirements (a, c)
Essential Criteria 4
Experience of data analysis and report writing (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 5
Excellent standard of written and spoken English (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 6
Strong project management skills, with experience of keeping projects on schedule and coordinating resources to deliver successful outcomes (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 7
Ability to interpret and advise on complex guidelines, terms and conditions (a, c)
Essential Criteria 8
Strong understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion legislation and best practice (a, c)
Essential Criteria 9
Use of initiative to explore and research relevant information and statistics (a, c)
Essential Criteria 10
Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and tact when dealing with confidential information (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 11
Ability to successfully negotiate, influence and persuade at a senior level (a, c)
Essential Criteria 12
Excellent communication skills at all levels, both internally and externally (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 13
High level of accuracy and attention to detail (a, c)
Essential Criteria 14
Ability to use a broad range of computerised systems and data sources to support project management, improved communications, information and data dissemination (a, c)
Essential Criteria 15
Knowledge of Athena SWAN (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 1
Experience of content development/updating for websites/social media (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 2
Experience of working in Higher Education. (a, c)
Further Particulars
WMG
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars .
For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website .
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.
Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy

As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.

Closing Date
10 Feb 2022