REF 2029 Panels Project Manager

UKRI; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UK research sector seeks a Panels Project Manager. This role involves overseeing the recruitment and operations of peer review panels for research assessments, requiring strong interpersonal and project management skills. You will collaborate closely with senior academics and lead strategic processes to ensure effective delivery.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Holiday entitlement

Employee shopping/travel discounts

Qualifications

• Experience managing or supporting panels or advisory groups.
• Knowledge of research assessment exercises.
• Experience in project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate delivery of panel recruitment and onboarding.
• Manage development of panel criteria.
• Ensure connectivity between governance approaches.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Project planning

Communication

Flexibility

Job description

REF 2029 Panels Project Manager

Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (Concluding: 31 Jan 30)
Location: Westward House, Bristol (Hybrid)
Grade: UKRI Band E
Positions Available: 1 FTE

Closing Date : Sunday 29 Jun 25
Interviews Date : W/C 07 Jul 25

About Us

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It is a peer review assessment process involving submissions from higher education institutions across the UK. REF 2029 is delivered by Research England on behalf of the four UK higher education funding bodies (Scottish Funding Council, Medr, Department of the Economy Northern Ireland). Research England is a council within UK Research and Innovation.

REF 2029 is a fast-moving exercise managing a wide range of policy areas, expert panel members that span all research disciplines and types of research outputs. Key to our success will be close team working and supporting each other through peak periods. Joining our team provides a great deal of opportunity to learn and develop.

Purpose

Research England and the devolved nations’ funding bodies undertake periodic assessments of research quality to inform their funding allocations and to provide quality assurance as to how these funds are spent. REF 2021 was the second REF and the sixth national exercise in broadly its present form. 157 Higher Education Institutions submitted returns to REF 2021, with assessment taking place across 34 disciplinary units of assessment. The next national assessment exercise is planned to take place in the coming years.

The REF assessment covers all research across all higher education providers in the UK and the assessment is undertaken by peer review panels that assess subject-based Units of Assessment (UoAs). The Unit of Assessment structure for REF 2029 will not change from REF 2021, which means we will have four main panels overseeing 34 subject-based sub-panels.

You will work closely with the Head of REF Delivery, the Head of REF Policy, and the Head of REF Systems Architecture and Delivery to manage the creation and delivery of the panel process, from recruitment to the end of the assessment. This will include managing the establishment and delivery of the panel recruitment and onboarding processes, managing the development of panel working criteria and working across the REF team and with Panel Chairs to ensure clear connectivity between policies and processes.

You will have extensive experience of working with senior academics and running panel processes and be adept at recognising the connectivity between policy development and process requirement. While you might not have formal project management experience, you will be able to demonstrate your ability to plan and manage large-scale processes, at pace and delivering excellent outcomes often under pressure.

Main Outputs & Activities

• Develop and then coordinate the delivery of the process for REF p anel recruitment and onboarding , and manage and support REF p anels in the delivery of criteria setting and assessment

• Manage the development of panel working criteria, liaising with P anel Chairs, a dvisory panels, the REF t eam and with funding bodies to ensure clear connectivity between policies

• Develop a framework for the operation of panel meetings, balancing the benefits of virtual and in-person approaches

• Lead the development and testing of panel assessment structures and processes, working closely with the systems team

• Work closely with the REF d elivery t eam to ensure connectivity between approaches to process and governance

• Manage the recruitment for and oversight of the delivery of panel secretariat support, working closely with Panel Chairs and Deputy Chairs

• Be the second stage contact point for REF queries received and triaged through the REF delivery team, developing responses to complex queries received and liaising with colleagues where this may require policy development

• Model exemplary professional behaviours, including flexible, agile and collaborative working, leading by example.

Shortlisting Criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Essential:

• Experience of constructing and managing, or being part of panels or advisory groups (S&i)

• Knowledge and experience of working on research assessment exercises (S&I)

• Demonstrable experience of being involved in the successful planning and/or delivery of a major project (S&I)

• Track record in developing, delivering and continuously improving processes and adapting to change (I)

• Able to plan and prioritise a varied workload to ensure that work meets deadlines, and be flexible and adaptable to competing and changing priorities and demands (S)

• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to deal tactfully and diplomatically with people at all levels, and to establish and maintain good working relationships with internal and external colleagues (S)

• Able to think and work creatively to tackle problems and challenges, demonstrating own initiative and judgement within given constraints and asking for and giving help when needed (I)

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with good attention to detail; ability to develop and deliver well-structured and clearly articulated documents and presentations for internal and external audiences (S&I)

• Flexibility to travel to in-person meetings as and when required (S)

Desirable:

• Project management training and / or experience (S)

FIXED TERM ASSIGNMENTS

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy and associated guidance Recruitment at UKRI – policy and information (sharepoint.com) for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

About Research England

Research England is one of the nine Councils within UK Research and Innovation. As a key component of the research funding system, Research England will oversee UKRI’s England-only functions in relation to university research and knowledge exchange (KE). This includes providing grant funding to English universities for related activities; developing and implementing the Research Excellence Framework in partnership with the UK Higher Education funding bodies; supervising the sustainability of the Higher Education research base in England; guide the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund; and coordinate the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). Research England will build and sustain the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and KE system in English universities. They also work closely with their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations.

For more information about Research England, click here.

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UKRI.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.