View Vacancy -- Programme Manager – Reporting of Animal Research NC3Rs 1206

Open Date
30/10/2019, 13:30
Close Date
01/01/2020, 23:55
NC3Rs
Science-led and evidence-based, the NC3Rs is the UK’s national organisation for the 3Rs, established in 2004 to accelerate the development and uptake of new models and tools that replace, reduce or refine the use of animal in research and testing. The NC3Rs is primarily funded by Government and has an annual budget of approximately £10 million. Its activities are divided between its role as the UK’s major 3Rs research funder and programmes led by its 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 atwww.ukri.org

MRC - 3
London
£38,341 - £44,968 (plus London allowances)
Permanent
Science
Full Time

The NC3Rs has a long-standing programme of work focusing on improving the design, analysis and reporting of animal experiments in order to ensure that studies are robust and reproducible, contribute to the knowledge base, and avoid the unnecessary use of animals. The programme is delivered by a team of three scientists including this role.

Key projects within the programme include the ARRIVE reporting guidelines and the online Experimental Design Assistant (EDA). The team also works closely with the Centre’s funding team to deliver the NC3Rs gateway, a collaboration with F1000Research, which provides NC3Rs grant holders with a dedicated portal for publishing their detailed methodologies and 3Rs impact. Building strong relationships both internally and externally will be an integral part of this role
 

The main responsibilities of the Programme Manager include:

  • Coordinating the dissemination of the newly revised ARRIVE guidelines, working primarily with current endorsers of the guidelines (journals, research funders, institutions and learned societies). 

  • Leading the development of tools and resources to facilitate dissemination and implementation of the guidelines in practice. 

  • Building effective relationships and working with endorsers, both current and new, across the scientific community to measure the impact of the guidelines and other resources. 

  • Organising workshops, symposia and dedicated communication materials to promote the uptake of the guidelines and other resources across the scientific community, nationally and internationally. 

  • Collaborate with colleagues to develop and implement strategies to improve the transparency of animal research and the utility of data generated from in vivo experiments.
     
  • Supporting the NC3Rs gateway - working with authors during the article drafting process, including reviewing information provided on experimental design and articulation of the 3Rs aspect of the work.

Education and qualifications

  •  PhD in a biological science.

Knowledge and experience

  •  in vivo research and significant post-doctoral experience, or equivalent. 
  • Training and practical experience in experimental design and statistics as applied to biological research and specifically in vivo studies. 
  • Thorough understanding of the issues around the reproducibility and transparency of animal and preclinical research. 
  • Proven experience in reviewing scientific publications and manuscripts. 
  • Ability to think and plan strategically, with the ability to identify, analyse and propose solutions to varied and complex problems. 
  • Proven ability to prioritise and plan workload to meet multiple and/or tight deadlines without compromising quality or working relationships. 
  • Ability to collaborate and effectively network with stakeholders from a diverse range of roles and levels of seniority. 
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

 

Personal skills/ qualities

  • Excellent understanding of the use of animals in research and a demonstrable commitment to the 3Rs. 
  • Ability to represent the NC3Rs at national and international meetings. 
  • Strategic and pragmatic thinker. 
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well as part of a dynamic team.

 

­The post is within the Policy and Outreach Group, the Programme Manager will report to Dr Nathalie Percie du Sert, Head of Experimental Design and Reporting at the NC3Rs.


The post will be based primarily in London but will be required to attend meetings in other UK and/or Overseas locations. The post holder will need to work early and/or late when required – especially around key meetings and events.


Salary will be in the range of £38,341 - £44,968 per annum (plus London allowances), depending on skills and experience.

 
There will be no formal staff line management responsibilities.


The successful candidate will be subject to security checks.


The closing date for applications is now 01 January.


Please ensure you include a copy of your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria listed in the person specification for this position. 


Interviews will take place on Tuesday 21 January.

The NC3Rs is an autonomous body responsible for setting and delivering its strategy and managing its resources. It is not an independent public bodyand for this reason it operates under the umbrella of the Medical Research Council (MRC), using some of the MRC administrative systems. A service agreement exists between the NC3Rs and the MRC. NC3Rs staff are appointed to the appropriate MRC Band and immediately seconded to the NC3Rs.

Choosing to come to work at the NC3Rs (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 NC3Rs 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.