CANDIDATE BRIEF

Overview of the Role

Are you interested in developing a research impact community? Do you enjoy working collaboratively in a complex and dynamic environment? Would you like to lead support for impact across disciplines at a research-intensive University? 

Based within the Research & Innovation Service (RIS), the Impact Network Development Manager will play a key role in coordinating and managing excellent impact across the University of Leeds. You will work closely with Impact Managers, Impact Officers and Academic Impact Directors across the University, to develop a strong network of support for impact across the institution. Working for the Head of Research Quality and Impact, and with direction from the Director of Strategy for Research Impact, you will work closely with senior decision-makers to enable the development of ambitious impact portfolios to support the delivery of the University’s ten-year strategy, Universal Values, Global Change and to prepare for REF2029.

You will be pivotal in the development of an impact and engagement culture across the institution, through strengthening the network of colleagues supporting this activity. You will develop excellent knowledge and understanding of the impact of the university through your work on the impact portfolios. 

You will have significant experience of delivering activity in support of the higher education impact agenda as well as an excellent understanding of the wide range of impact that can arise through academic research and how these impacts can be supported and evidenced.  You’ll have strong communication and networking building skills with experience of working within and across teams to deliver results.  You’ll also be creative and solutions-focussed and possess strong organisation and prioritisation skills.  Experience of working on the REF impact agenda would be an advantage. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the University’s Impact Network. This network is for colleagues who support others to deliver research impact. The core of this network are professional services staff, and a wider group of school-level academic impact leads. This is a critical network for linking the central Knowledge Exchange and Impact team to the rest of the institution. 
• Strengthen relationships between the Knowledge Exchange and Impact (KEI) team in Research and Innovation Services (RIS) and impact colleagues/teams in Schools and Faculties  
• Design a “Training the trainer” style support programme for the Impact Network, based on a training needs review, in collaboration with colleagues in the Organisational Development and Professional Learning team (OD&PL).    
• Lead the collection and the analysis of the University’s Impact Portfolios data. This data is collected from schools and captures a wide range of information about knowledge exchange and impact activities. You will be responsible for reporting on the outcomes and presenting analysis to the Research Impact & Knowledge Exchange (RI&KE) Steering Group and the REF Steering Group. 
• Design and deliver the process which identifies REF2029 impact case studies from the wider portfolio pool.
• Lead on the REF2029 Impact Case Study review and development process, including providing secretariat support and expert advice to the internal review panels. 
• Provide support, advice and guidance on the development of impact strategies for schools.
• Mapping the support for impact, including understanding the support for impact from colleagues appointed to specific projects.     
• Through these activities, develop an understanding of local priorities and any gaps in support around staffing, funding, or training, and working with the Head of Research Quality and Impact, develop approaches to fill these gaps.  
• Manage the progress of the Impact Portfolios towards contributing to the REF2029 Engagement and Impact Statements and REF Impact Case Studies 
• Provide expert guidance on REF Impact Case studies to members of the Impact Network.  
• Build external networks to ensure practice at Leeds reflects best practice in the sector.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

Qualifications and Skills

• Significant experience of delivering activity in support of the higher education impact agenda, which may include Impact Acceleration Accounts, REF, KEF, research grant development, or partnership building;
• Excellent understanding of the wide range of impact that can arise through academic research, and how these impacts can be supported and evidenced;
• Experience of working within and across teams to promote and support the delivery of agreed strategies and deliver results
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to present complex information in a straightforward manner and persuade and engage others effectively
• Excellent network building skills with a proven ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels of an organisation, using strong negotiation and influencing skills to achieve successful outcomes
• Creative, pro-active and solutions-focussed, with an ability to deliver results through strong organisation and prioritisation skills
• Experience of facilitating and delivering training events or similar activities to a range of stakeholders
• Excellent IT and analytical skills with experience of using Microsoft Excel or similar software/systems for collating, analysing and interpreting data

• Experience of working on the REF Impact agenda, including supporting impact case studies
• Experience of embedding best practice in impact in a higher education setting
• Experience of working in a matrix management structure
• Experience of using a Current Research Information System (CRIS), such as Symplectic

Additional Information

Working at Leeds 

We are a campus based community and regular interaction with campus is an expectation of all roles in line with academic and service needs and the requirements of the role.  We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements. To find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Leeds area visit our Working at Leeds information page. 

Our University  

At the University of Leeds, we are committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equity of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains the best students and staff from all backgrounds. Whatever role we recruit for we are always striving to increase the diversity of our community, which each individual helps enrich and cultivate.  We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, those who belong to a minority ethnic community; people who identify as LGBT+; and disabled people.  Candidates will always be selected based on merit and ability. 

Information for disabled candidates

Information for disabled candidates, impairments or health conditions, including requesting alternative formats, can be found on our Accessibility information page or by getting in touch with us at hr@leeds.ac.uk

Criminal Records

A criminal record check is not required for this position. However, all applicants will be required to declare if they have any ‘unspent’ criminal offences, including those pending.

Any offer of appointment will be in accordance with our Criminal Records policy. You can find out more about required checks and declarations in our Criminal Records information page.