Impact Development Officer

Job Purpose

This role will support the development and implementation of the Impact elements of the College of Arts and Law Research Strategy. At the University of Birmingham, we have created a research environment where academic rigour, innovation, and delivery are made possible by brilliant people, outstanding facilities, and strong collaborative networks. This is reflected in the College of Arts and Law, which is home to over 20 research centres, encompassing a wide range of activity taking place both within and across disciplines. A particular focus of the College is the engagement with beneficiaries of our research and we ensure our academics have the support they need to amplify and demonstrate the reach and significance of their research impact.

The post-holder will work closely with Academic Staff and Professional Services colleagues in the development, organisation and management of impact development activity. The post-holder will also work closely with the College Research Support office and the Research Planning Office to support the development of impact activities for REF2020. He/she will be based in the College Research Support Office but will also attend regular meetings of the central Research Planning team.

The post-holder will have experience of working as a member of professional services in the Higher Education sector or another relevant area, in particular working in close collaboration with academic staff to provide supporting service. The post-holder will be proactive in establishing effective relationships with academic and Professional Services colleagues (e.g. Marketing, Research and Knowledge Transfer, Impact) from within the School/College and across the University. The post holder will also look to develop and maintain high quality external partner links. The post-holder will have strong project management skills and be proactive in developing and implementing plans to support the impact agenda of the College, including identifying new opportunities to increase impact through building external relationships and securing funding for pathways to impact. They will also assist in the development and implementation of strategies for collecting evidence relating to impact. The post will complement the expert advice and support provided by the Research Planning team and enhance the support for the implementation of the College’s research strategy.

Person Specification

• A first degree in the Humanities
• Prior work experience in a Higher Education institution, ideally with some experience of working within a research environment.
• Previous experience of working in a knowledge exchange or research impact environment. This might be evidenced, for example, through experience of commercialisation or support for the delivery of policy or cultural or other forms of impact.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a range of stakeholders including senior academic and non-academic managers; external partners and enquirers; colleagues in other universities and colleagues from across the Corporate Services.
• Adaptability and willingness to learn new IT-based systems
• Accuracy and attention to detail particularly experience of interpreting and adhering to detailed and precise requirements and providing advice on the same.
• Ability to manage time effectively, work to deadlines; and to maintain high standards including when under pressure.
• Problem-solving skills including the ability to act with limited supervision.
• Absolute discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Well-developed organisational abilities, including the ability to manage projects, keep accurate records and produce status or progress reports.
• The ability to synthesise and communicate complex information and data to a variety of audiences.
• Effective negotiation and influencing skills at all levels, creating professional relationships with researchers, administrators and senior staff internally and externally and the ability to work across academic disciplines.
• Project management skills