EDI Coordinator at Imperial College London

Job Summary

The mission of the Department of Brain Sciences is to develop and sustain a unique portfolio of translational research in neuroscience and mental health that is recognised internationally for scientific excellence, for leading innovation in patient care and for supporting the training of leaders for the next generation.  Underpinning this mission is a commitment to fostering the highest standards of scientific integrity and for maintaining a collegial, diverse and inclusive working environment.

The Department of Immunology and Inflammation’s mission is to integrate discovery science with clinical medicine to prevent or treat inflammatory and haematological conditions.  The Department focusses on discovering fundamental mechanisms linking the immune system to disease and translating these to advance molecular medicine in the clinic. The Department has a vibrant and dynamic multi-disciplinary research environment where scientists from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds work together to advance the understanding of disease mechanisms and to develop new translational approaches.

This role fits within both Departments’ commitment to actively enhance their equality, diversity, inclusion (EDI), belonging and culture. The postholder will take a leading role in the development, implementation and review of department-specific plans to enact change to ensure equality and inclusion across any underrepresented groups in academic environments, including departmental specific environments. This will require working closely in conjunction with the College’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre and HR teams within the wider Faculty and College.

The post-holder will analyse data from a range of sources to identify areas for improvement and/or development within processes and practices associated with areas such as departmental culture, recruitment, promotions, and admissions. They are expected to identify gaps in information, work to address these, and take a leading role in resolving problems and issues with short-term consequences. Working with key colleagues across College, they will put forward recommendations to the departments on managing more complex situations.

Duties and responsibilities

• To support the determination and delivery of each Department’s equality, diversity and inclusion priorities and activities and implement the College and Departments’ EDI Objectives. Establish and review Equality Impact Assessments for targeted local systems and processes in consultation with the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre team.
• Through qualitative and quantitative data analysis, identify and develop local priorities and delivery plans for positive and measurable improvements in EDI outcomes in consultation with EDIC and Strategic Support Team.
• To provide effective and efficient support to the Departments’ Athena SWAN self-Assessment Team, including project managing the action plan and any renewal applications
• To keep abreast of pending and new legislation, government proposals, initiatives within the HE sector, and public and private sector developments, to feed into best practice within the Department
• To organise and facilitate workshops, focus groups, development activities and briefings on a wide range of equality-related topics and contribute to internal and external good practice seminars and conferences, such as post departmental survey workshops, focus group targeted areas (e.g. women in clinical neurology).
• Prepare and deliver presentations to department leaders & coordinators, summarising findings, areas for process change, and proposed implementation plans in consultation with department managers and EDIC and Strategic Support team.
• Project manage, and on occasion lead, departmental EDI initiatives, including supporting all initiative leads, to ensure the timely achievement of objectives

Essential requirements

• Educated to A-Level or equivalent and/or professional experience related to the work of this post
• Knowledge of equality and diversity challenges faced in large, complex organisation
• Knowledge of Athena SWAN
• Experience in monitoring, reporting, and evaluating data
• A working knowledge of higher education policies and processes and of current issues affecting the higher education sector
• Cultural sensitivity
• Drive, enthusiasm and a strong personal commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity