Research Policy Engagement Officer

Role Summary:

Based in the Research Partnerships and Innovation directorate, the role holder will work as part of the policy engagement team, to support researchers with policy engagement activities and to take forward an exciting engagement strategy. They will support the Senior Research Environment, Culture and Impact Manager and work with the marketing and press office teams to undertake research, analysis and provide co-ordination and administration activities, with particular focus on the impact of Plymouth’s research.

The post holder will contribute to policy engagement at the University through arranging external speakers, workshops, and coaching sessions, by maintaining and enhancing in-house toolkits and online materials, and by supporting the allocation of internal funding schemes. Responsibilities will include proactively identifying external opportunities, horizon scanning, campaign planning and content scheduling, regular copyediting, delivering a programme of key events, and working with researchers to support their policy engagement priorities.

The portfolio of projects this post will support will be in response to the needs of the University or driven by external requirements, and may include ensuring compliance with funder regulations, and contributing to the next Research Excellence Framework submission.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide support and professional guidance to colleagues across the University, with the aim of embedding policy engagement activity widely and early across research activity.
• Use horizon scanning and intelligence gathering systems for identifying emerging policy issues that provide opportunities for engagement and impact.
• Manage and update the University’s Policy Engagement website, ensuring consistency of content, messaging and alignment with other activity.
• Support the development and dissemination of materials promoting research findings to external audiences through, for example, policy briefs, thematic outputs and research summaries.
• Ensure the communication of key opportunities and best practice to researchers, including through the curation of an internal newsletter, and directly with individual researchers.
• Assist with the preparation of the policy impact sections of research grant proposals.
• Support the co‐ordination of responses to policy consultations and other discussions of strategic importance to the future direction of research impact.
• Support and contribute to the production of high quality, evidence‐based impact case studies for future REF exercises, for showcasing on webpages and for other external promotion.
• To contribute to the improvement of services, systems, data capture, procedures and processes in support of the development, identification and recording of research policy activities, including encouraging and facilitating better record‐keeping of policy activities, working with academics, research administrators, Associate Deans and Associate Heads for Research, and the External Relations directorate, to ensure that as much information is captured as possible.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of best practice in communications and engagement activity (in higher education as well as in other relevant sectors)
• Act as a visible and proactive advocate for good practice in policy engagement
• Maintain and grow shared databases of contacts and key information, using this intelligence to deliver effective and targeted communications for different audiences.
• Setting clear and measurable objectives for campaigns and initiatives, tracking effectiveness in order to make on-going improvements and demonstrate effectiveness.
• Ensures all activities undertaken within this role will be compliant with the University’s policies, including Health & Safety, Equality and Diversity, Ethics, Data Protection etc.

Measures of Success:

• Successful delivery of key priorities and objectives agreed as part of the University’s Performance Development Review
• Staff Survey feedback
• Achievement of RPI objectives

Knowledge, Education & Training:

Essential

• Numeracy and literacy at secondary education level (or demonstrable equivalent experience)
• Educational attainment at higher education level (or demonstrable equivalent experience)
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook/PowerPoint and databases

Experience:

Essential:
• Knowledge and experience of working on policy engagement
• Considerable experience of research administration
• Experience in publishing information to the web
• Working in a dynamic customer service environment
• Liaising with customers face to face/by telephone/in writing
• Working both independently and as part of a team
• Monitoring and reporting on complex data and numerical information
• Drawing on professional/specialist knowledge to solve presenting problems

Desirable:

• Delivery of training and development events

Skills:

Essential:

• Ability to prioritise and self-manage
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to build strong working relationships and network with a variety of stakeholders
• Ability to influence
• Ability to work as part of a team

Desirable:

• Presentation skills
• Project management

University of Plymouth’s Behaviours:

• Demonstrates Self-Leadership
• Develops self and others to deliver
• Leads and operates effectively in times of change and ambiguity
• Builds and secures value from relationships
• Drives innovation and action
• Creates and contributes to a shared vision
• Uses sound business judgement