Engaged Research and Impact Manager

Queen's University Belfast; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at Queen's University Belfast is seeking a driven post holder to lead the Engaged Research and Impact agenda. Working across NI, ROI and GB, you will develop and coordinate an ambitious programme linking research to real-world outcomes.

You will design pathways to impact, create impact case studies, monitor KPIs and secure external funding. Reporting to the Co-Directors and Co-Centre Manager, you will collaborate with diverse partners to make complex

Qualifications

• Evidence of leading public engagement with science/research.
• Experience managing impact and engaged research activity within academia.
• Knowledge of engaged research methodologies and evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of monitoring pathways to impact and developing impact case studies.
• Strong networking and consultative skills across diverse sectors.
• Ability to explain complex science accessibly through dialogic, participatory, creative approaches.
• Experience managing multi-partner programmes with civil society and cultural organisations.
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation and impact frameworks.
• Project management experience for development, delivery, reporting and monitoring of programmes, publications and events.

Responsibilities

• Drive the Engaged Research and Impact agenda across three jurisdictions.
• Develop, coordinate and implement an ambitious integrated engaged research programme.
• Develop and mobilise pathways to impact and create impact case studies.
• Ensure achievement of KPIs and secure external funding.
• Report to the Co-Directors and Co-Centre Manager.

Job description

The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems has an ambitious programme of work which aims to develop a robust, resilient and sustainable food system in the transition to healthy diets form sustainable sources. It encompasses a research programme from plant science to nutrition and public health across three jurisdictions - the Republic of Ireland (ROI), Northern Ireland (NI) and Great Britain (GB). The Co-Centre will foster research and innovation to accelerate radical transitions towards a more environmentally and economically sustainable and transparent agri-food sector.

The post holder will drive the Engaged Research and Impact agenda within the Co-Centre. Working closely across the three jurisdictions, the post holder will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing an ambitious and integrated engaged research programme, develop and mobalise pathways to impact and develop impact case studies from the ongoing research. They will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the Co-Centre's KPIs and for securing additional external funding to expand all engaged research and impact activities. They will link closely with the funder(s) engaged research Programmes. They will report to the Co-Directors and Co-Centre Manager.

The successful candidate must have and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in any subject.
• Proven track record in leading and overseeing initiatives in public engagement with science/research, and/or science learning, including experience of participatory or co-creative approaches.
• Significant relevant experience managing impact and engaged research activity within an academic environment to include:
  • Knowledge of engaged research methodologies and evaluation methods.
  • Knowledge of monititoring pathways to impact while similtanously identifying and developing impact case studies.
  • Strong networking and consultative skills, with the ability to grow professional relationships across diverse sectors.
  • Ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences through dialogic, participatory, and creative approaches.
  • Proven ability to manage complex, multi-partner programmes, including partnerships with civil society and cultural organisations.
  • Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and impact frameworks.
  • Experience designing and implementing mixed-methods evaluation frameworks, including qualitative, creative, and participatory approaches.
  • Project management experience associated with the development, delivery, reporting and monitoring systems for programmes, publications, and events.

This is not an exhaustive list. To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information on our website.

This post is available for 29 months. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.