Strategic Research Executive

Job content

Job Description

Strategic Research Executive

Grade UE08 £48,350 - £59,421 per annum

Edinburgh Research Office

Full time: 35 hours per week

Open ended: permanent

We are looking for an exceptional, motivated individual to join the Edinburgh Research Office’s Strategic Research Development Team. The successful candidate will deliver analysis of the funding and academic landscape informing design and delivery of strategic initiatives. These initiatives will align with the new Research & Innovation Strategy and will position the University to deliver outstanding quality in research and research funding success.

The Opportunity

The Strategic Research Development team enables the University of Edinburgh to position itself proactively to win research funding, rather than simply acting reactively to funding opportunities. The post holder will find routes for delivery that enable the Institution’s academic community to respond to new opportunities effectively.

The Strategic Research Executive will have a facility for synthesising quantitative and qualitative information, extracting analysis and developing recommendations. The post holder will analyse the research and research funding landscapes, looking for opportunities at scale for the University of Edinburgh to improve its research portfolio. Taking a project-based approach, they will scope the scale of the opportunity and the challenges to realising it before designing modes of support that will enable the Institution’s research community to respond effectively.

We want you to bring your enthusiasm, creativity, proactivity and communication skills to the role. We need your extensive ability to interpret ‘big picture’ information and use that evidence to make recommendations for research development, which you will then be able to translate into a viable delivery plan. Your ability to build relationships and communicate your work to colleagues from senior leadership, researchers and professional services will be vital.

Examples of work the Strategic Research Executive will lead on:

• Realising elements of the University’s Research and Innovation Strategy that the Edinburgh Research Office holds responsibility for.
• Lead on the design and delivery of the Edinburgh Research Office’s response to the UK’s Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.
• Lead on the Edinburgh Research Office’s support for interdisciplinary research.
  
  

Your Skills And Attributes For Success

• Demonstrable experience of analysing complex issues and designing recommendations for progression based on the analysis.
• Experience of writing strategic reports applying both quantitative and qualitative skills
• Significant experience of both project design and delivery, with demonstrable highly developed, detailed organisation and planning embedded in it.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence wide ranging types of stakeholders, and establish varied networks.
  
  

Click here for a copy of the full job description

If you would like to have an informal discussion of this role please contact Jonathan Rans ( J.Rans@ed.ac.uk )

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits.
  
  

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab ).

On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

We expect interviews will be held late-June 2024.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59 PM GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Edinburgh Research Office

Working in Edinburgh Research Office you will be part of a professional, supportive, and friendly team ; at the heart of University research support, working in collaboration with academics and research support professionals across the institution. The breadth of our remit means you will get an overview of research support activity while you build your skills in your specialism. Gaining new knowledge and skills to help you develop in this role and progress in your career is a priority. We offer colleagues a stimulating working environment based on our values of integrity, expertise, community, and collaboration. Our work is fast-paced and intense; you will thrive here if you are motivated, collaborative, and passionate about providing an excellent service to enable our researchers to do amazing work.

The University offers hybrid working; in Edinburgh Research Office we expect colleagues to be on campus for a minimum of team anchor days, team meetings, all-ERO meetings and other in-person meetings and events required in your role.

The Strategic Research Development Teamworks with researchers and research leaders across the University to provide expert insights into the funding environment including research funding, policy, development and complex analysis. We ensure individuals, Centres, Schools, Colleges and the University are best placed to win research funding.

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.