View Vacancy -- Head of Academic Engagement and Partnerships - NC3Rs 1713

Open Date
08/11/2021, 14:00
Close Date
09/12/2021, 23:55
NC3Rs

Science-led and evidence-based, the NC3Rs is the UK’s national organisation for the 3Rs, established to accelerate the development and uptake of new models and tools that replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in research and testing. We have shown that science and technology focused on minimising animal use or improving animal welfare can deliver benefits to human health, protection of the environment and business opportunities.

The NC3Rs has an annual budget of approximately £10 million and is primarily funded by Government through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which in turn are part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Our activities are divided between our role as the UK’s major 3Rs research and innovation funder and programmes led by our own team of scientists. Further information can be found at www.nc3rs.org.uk.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 2
London
£52,877 - £65,348 plus London allowances
Permanent
Science
Full Time

The role of the Head of Academic Engagement and Partnerships is responsible for overseeing progress against the NC3Rs’ mission through our interactions and relationships with academic partners.

As an organisation we work to stimulate and encourage the development and adoption of 3Rs techniques and methods, in addition to providing resources and training opportunities to support the application of the 3Rs. This role is responsible for developing and implementing an engagement strategy for advancing the NC3Rs mission within academic research organisations. Key to the role is an ability to understand the stakeholder groups with whom we partner and to work successfully with them to support and further the 3Rs, with our Regional Programme Managers playing a central role in this.

The main elements of this role are: 

Strategy

  • Leading the strategy development and operational oversight of NC3Rs engagement activities with academic research organisations:
  • Working closely with the Chief Executive and the Director of Policy and Outreach to design and implement an innovative, balanced and diverse programme to deliver the strategy that takes into consideration the Centre’s overall priorities as well as the capacity of our teams to deliver, our audiences to listen and the external environment.
  • Ensuring that the Centre’s tools and resources have the maximum impact within academic research organisations will be an essential element to the strategy and will involve:
  • Strategic oversight of the suite of resources and tools that the NC3Rs provides to key groups and communities within the academic research environment.
  • Collaborating with teams across the NC3Rs to develop new resources and ensuring available resources stay up-to-date and relevant to their target audiences, including evolving and maintaining our 3Rs Self-Assessment Tools.

Relationship building

  • Building on existing relationships and establishing new ones within academic research institutions that lead to meaningful advances in the application of the 3Rs.
  • Considering and utilising different routes and modes of communication for engaging with key stakeholders (i.e. researchers at all career stages, technicians, support staff and AWERB members) including through establishing new initiatives with key external partners such as learned societies.
  • Representing the NC3Rs in a variety of collaborations and networks.

Evaluation and monitoring

  • Devising and implementing effective systems for evaluation and review of the success of the engagement strategy against agreed Key Performance Indicators. Monitoring progress against objectives, evaluating our activities and identifying where adjustments need to be made, and ensuring risks are identified and managed appropriately.
  • Managing the programme budget (including travel and events).

Line management and team development 

  • Overseeing and inspiring the work of a team of Regional Programme Managers; setting clear objectives in line with our organisational priorities and providing regular guidance, feedback and oversight.
  • Enabling these individuals to develop professionally and personally in their role and contribute fully to the organisation.
  • Contributing to other activities where appropriate.

Education and qualifications

  • PhD in the biological sciences or other discipline relevant to the work of the NC3Rs

Previous work experience

  • Substantial post-doctoral experience or experience at management level within a research organisation is desirable
  • Developing strategies for delivering major objectives in a multi-stakeholder environment
  • Negotiating solutions in conflicting and politically sensitive environments
  • Ability to inspire, manage and lead a team
  • Proven experience of representing an organisation at a senior level and influencing favourable outcomes
  • Experience of relationship building and managing high performing partnership

Knowledge and experience

  • Familiar with UK medical or biological research in Universities
  • Ability to engage in scientific issues with credibility at all levels
  • Ability to manage and develop highly qualified professionals; ability to empower others to take responsibility for delivery of organisational objectives
  • Ability to think and plan strategically, relating long-range goals to short-term action
  • Strong organisational planning skills
  • Ability to handle, analyse and present complex information (scientific, financial, policy, ethical)
  • Ability to work under pressure and deliver targets to tight deadlines
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to tailor style to a range of scientific, executive and lay audiences
  • Persuasive and credible in winning support for a programme of work
  • Ability to identify opportunities and areas for improvement

Personal skills, behaviours and qualities

  • A solid understanding of the use of animals in research and a commitment to the 3Rs
  • Comfortable and confident in working in a changing environment
  • Strategic and pragmatic thinker
  • A strong leader who empowers others
  • Influential, excellent negotiator

This role will be a part of the Senior Management Team and will include line management responsibility. This role will report to the Director of Policy and Outreach. Salary will be in the range of £52,877 - £65,348 per annum (plus London allowances) depending on skills and experience.

The successful candidate will be subject to security checks.

The NC3Rs offices are based in London. This role will be required to attend the offices in London and also to travel to attend meetings within the UK. The NC3Rs is a hybrid working employer, with staff working flexibly from home and other locations when and if necessary. The post holder may need to work early and/or late around key meetings and events.

The closing date for applications is 9 December

Please ensure to submit a CV and covering letter. Your cover letter should clearly outline how you fulfill the criteria listed in the personal specification and your motivation for applying for this role. Please note failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV.

Interviews are due to take place in January 2022.



The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.  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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.