Research Support Officer

Job details

College

College of Health, Psychology and Social Care

Responsible to

College Executive Support Officer

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Salary

£26,363 to £28,827 per annum (For exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £32,838 per annum)

Closing date

Sunday 11 February 2024

Contract type

Permanent

Post type

Full-time

Reference

0587-23

About the role

The College of Health, Psychology and Social Care offers a multi-disciplinary approach to academic and applied research and evaluation in the field of health and social care with the overall aim of building healthy, sustainable communities across Derbyshire. Our current research focus is in the areas of primary care, public health, psychology, nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, and arts and health. The College academic activities are mainly developed under the remit of the Public Services and the Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Themes.

The Research Support Officer will support the administration and monitoring of several Committees, including the College Professoriate, the College Research Committee, and the Psychology Research Steering Group. You will be required to provide support for the planning and delivery of the Research workshops, and the organisation of research retreats, away days and showcases essential for the development of the research environment.

You will play a leading role in ensuring the creation and maintenance of efficient systems and processes to support the College research.  You will work with the Deputy Dean and the College Executive to ensure that all projects are delivered on time and within the finances available.   You will assist the lead investigators in bid preparation, research governance processes, project and financial management, and dissemination of project findings.

You will have responsibility for specific areas of work from start to finish and for organising and prioritising workloads within required timelines. You will take a leading role in regularly publishing the College research newsletter for an internal audience.

A crucial element of the role will be to work closely with the College Unit of Assessment Leads and other colleagues in the College/University to support the university’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework 2029. This involves acquiring working knowledge of the REF submission process, the processing and management of large data sets, and responding very quickly to requests for data.

Your work will require forward planning, to meet known short- and medium-term deadlines. You will also be required to respond rapidly to requests for data and be able to adapt their priorities accordingly. This role will involve frequent interaction with others where initiative to resolve problems and queries will be required.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Charlotte Dakin, Executive Support Officer via [email protected]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]

Principal accountabilities

Support the College Executive in the production of corporate reports

Support lead researchers in the development of research bids, administration of project grants and reports, and dissemination of findings commensurate with the grade for the post. This may include working with finance colleagues to cost projects, working with HR to organise recruitment of staff, and helping the researcher manage projects budgets.

Be responsible for the collection, collation and reporting of REF related information in support of the College REF lead. This will include liaising with college staff to capture research interests, publications and bids and will require the post holder to work with established databases to capture the required information.

Working with the College Executive, implement University procedures, continually develop systems, and processes that ensure research governance, financial governance, quality and effectiveness are all delivered for individual projects and for the Centre as a whole. These processes are complex and the post holder would be expected to exercise their own judgment about how to best ensure compliance and efficient running within the Centre

Assist with the administration of the development and performance review activities for the team, equipping and enabling staff to deliver the required professional standard and connect with organisational performance

Collate content for a regular newsletter and work with marketing teams to shape this.

Liaise with website and marketing teams to assist in the development and maintenance of the College research websites and social media accounts.

Use electronic communication media for internal/external audience i.e. email/skype/word processor

Employ a range of IT skills to manage and progress workload efficiently

Be able to guide academics and researchers in how to access and add to university system. UDORA for example.

Organise operational meetings for the College staff to ensure delivery of corporate and project objectives

Liaise with other administrators both internally and externally to arrange meetings

Work closely other internal administrators in order to assist in the development of the REF 2029 submission

Support the College Executive, corporate and clinical roles as required

Organise aspects of large events, eg. Conferences, end of project meetings etc.

Support the progress of projects through to completion and review end results to learn how best to manage future projects

Co-ordinate the day to day administrative support for the College

Represent the team on internal/external committees/groups

Develop and maintain service information including effective recording and retrieval of information. This may include a database of research active and interested staff within the college; a database of external contacts across the County, region, country and internationally to support the development of the College; data capture on ongoing projects to ensure key milestones are hit by the lead investigators; support the College Executive Support Officer in budget reporting on a regular basis

Provide information, advice and guidance to the rest of the College executive, college staff and post graduate students on the research projects the College is leading on and how to develop research bids

Understand own development needs and formulate a personal development plan

Actively involve others effectively in the work of the team; encouraging others to try out new ways/ideas

Observe and implement University policies

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification and/or equivalent professional experience – preferably in a subject related to health and social care
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent qualification or experience

Experience

• Experience of a busy administrative environment in a research-related context
• Experience of working effectively with and developing organisational procedures

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Ability to manage multiple activities/projects and achieving deadlines
• Ability to be adaptable and to prioritise workload accordingly
• Produce accurate written communication that is well structured and of a high standard
• Collegiate approach to working
• Proficient in using IT to support own work i.e. can use advanced functions on email/databases/word processors/spreadsheets
• Problem solving related to managing complex data sets that require rapid processing
• Minute taking/report writing skills
• Sets high standard for self and others i.e. eye for detail and forward planning
• Creates a team spirit, which engages others to innovate and perform effectively

Business requirements

• Adopts a flexible approach to working i.e. very occasional weekends/late working

Desirable Criteria
Qualifications

• Business/customer care qualification
• Advanced IT qualification i.e. ECDL
• Post Graduate Degree / qualification in relevant field (potentially health or business)

Experience

• Education sector experience
• Health sector experience

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Knowledge of / experience of research management
• Knowledge of / experience of financial management

Benefits

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

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How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

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If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

Important information

Please note that unfortunately, this role will not attract sufficient points to obtain a sponsored Skilled Worker visa under the UK Visas & Immigration points based immigration system; however, applications are welcome from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, but who would be eligible to obtain a valid visa via another route..

Please consult the Home office website for further information.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

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Further details

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Why join Derby?

Challenging, interesting and constantly changing, the University of Derby is an extraordinary place to learn and an incredibly rewarding place to work.

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.