Senior Manager – Evidence and Evaluation
Job Description
Job title: Senior Manager – Evidence and Evaluation
Company: STFC
Job description: ROLE DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Senior Manager, Evidence and Evaluation
Organisation: BBSRC – Strategic Planning, Evidence and Engagement
SUMMARY POSITION DETAILS
Salary: £43,166 – £47,076 per annum
Grade: UKRI E
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Hours: Full Time or Part Time (minimum of 22.2 hrs per week; job share considered)
Closing Date: 14 April 2024
Interview Date: 29 April 2024
About the role
BBSRC invests around £450 million in world-class bioscience research, innovation and training each year. It is essential that BBSRC can demonstrate the effectiveness of these investments in order to make the case for continued support for UK bioscience. To help achieve this, BBSRC supports a programme of evaluation activities to assess the impact arising from its investments and draw out any lessons for the future.
BBSRC is currently recruiting a Senior Manager to join our evaluation team and support the delivery of BBSRC’s evaluation programme. The post will contribute to the development of a robust evidence base of the performance, achievement and impact arising from BBSRC’s investments in bioscience. The post will also work with colleagues across BBSRC to embed evaluation activities, helping to build a learning culture, and ensuring that key findings from evaluations are used to shape and influence future strategy.
Examples of previous BBSRC evaluation work are provided below:
- Antimicrobial resistance research:
- Wheat research:
- Spin-out companies:
Further details on the variety of research and innovation activities supported by BBSRC and how they contribute to the delivery of wider impact are set out in BBSRC’s Strategic Delivery Plan and BBSRC’s Impact Showcase:
- BBSRC Strategic Delivery Plan:
- BBSRC Impact Showcase:
Main job activities
The key responsibilities of the role are:
- Work in partnership with other BBSRC colleagues to design and implement monitoring and evaluation plans for BBSRC’s investments in research, innovation and training.
- Lead the delivery of specific evaluations of BBSRC investments including internally-led and externally-commissioned activities. This includes developing an understanding of specific bioscience investments and the approaches for measuring whether they have achieved their aims and delivered the anticipated outputs, outcomes and impacts.
- Lead on the associated data collection and analysis using various quantitative and qualitative research techniques, including data analytics, bibliometrics, designing surveys and conducting stakeholder interviews.
- Lead the delivery of internal evaluation work including, for example, analysing and synthesising relevant data, identifying suitable peer reviewers, managing evaluation panel meetings, and drafting evaluation reports from the meetings.
- Lead the commissioning and management of externally-commissioned evaluation work, building effective working relationships with contractors.
- Communicate evidence to a wide range of stakeholders, explaining technical information clearly, and describing the implications and uncertainties of evaluation and analysis.
- Contribute to BBSRC’s knowledge and understanding of evaluation and impact evidence approaches, maintaining awareness of current best practice in research evaluation.
The post will manage a diverse portfolio of work that contributes to the delivery of BBSRC’s evidence base and will be located in BBSRC’s Evidence and Evaluation team. The role involves close collaboration with colleagues from across BBSRC, with opportunities to work with the wider evaluation community within UKRI.
BBSRC is looking to recruit an individual with an enthusiasm and aptitude to develop skills required to support the evaluation of research investments. The post does not require applicants to have previous knowledge of research evaluation techniques and training will be provided.
BBSRC operates a hybrid working model, with a balance of working in the office, working from home, and attending external meetings. The current expectation is that staff will work in the Swindon office at least four days a month.
Person specification
S: assessed at shortlisting
I: assessed at interview
Please ensure your application addresses the shortlisting criteria with examples.
Essential:
- Good analytical skills with experience of gathering, synthesising and interpreting information from multiple primary and secondary evidence sources. (S/I)
- Ability to apply critical thinking skills to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems. (S/I)
- Effective communication skills with the ability to produce clear and well-structured documents or presentations. (S/I)
- An ability to plan and prioritise your own work and the work of others to deliver successful outcomes, as well as respond flexibly to changing requirements as required. (S/I)
- Effective interpersonal skills including working well in teams with colleagues and external stakeholders. (S/I)
- An understanding and interest in the current UK research, innovation and training landscape, and how research contributes to the delivery of impact. (S/I)
- Scientific literacy with an interest in the biosciences and related subjects. (S/I)
Desirable:
- Previous experience with monitoring and evaluation of research investments, including associated evaluation methodologies and techniques. (S/I)
Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the attachments section (ignore free textbox for cover letter under ‘Experience’ section) which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for 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 process.
About The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
The BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. We are the UK’s largest public funder of research of the non-medical biosciences. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by Government, we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. The research and the people that we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact, see:
For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes, see
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
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 .
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 .
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.
Expected salary: £43166 – 47076 per year
Location: Swindon
