About us
After receiving Royal Assent for the Higher Education and Research Act, work is underway to establish UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) from 1st April 2018. Its creation represents the largest reform of the research and innovation funding landscape in the last 50 years. As a new, independent, non-departmental public body it will bring together the functions of the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and the research and knowledge exchange functions of HEFCE (to be known as Research England).
Research England is being established as a new council within UKRI. Research England’s aim will be to create and sustain the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and knowledge exchange system in English universities. This includes providing grant funding to English universities for research and knowledge exchange activities and infrastructure (over £1.9 billion in 2017-18); developing and implementing the Research Excellence Framework in partnership with the funding bodies in the devolved nations; overseeing the sustainability of the Higher Education research base in England; and overseeing the £900 million UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF); and the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
Purpose of the role
The Head of Communications will establish and develop Research England’s brand and reputation. This is a varied role encompassing strategy, planning, media relations, crisis communications and external and internal messaging. You will need to establish an effective communications function, initially working on the set-up and launch of Research England and then to embed effective communications as Research England becomes operational.
You will work closely with senior leaders across Research England, as well as the UK Research and Innovation Corporate Communications and Engagement and communications and analysis professionals across the eight other Councils.
You will be a passionate and experienced communications professional who is able to work with considerable autonomy and be effective at working across the organisation to improve the outcomes of the work of colleagues. You will be confident in dealing with internal and external stakeholders, including journalists and be capable of keeping a cool head in challenging, fast-changing situations and be able to prioritise well to meet deadlines. Your excellent writing skills will enable you to write and edit copy so that it is easy to understand, well-structured and appropriate to the audience in question and you will also oversee the design, print and distribution of publications.
About you
It is essential that you have a successful track record as a communications professional with excellent listening, influencing and negotiating skills.
You must have experience of communicating with the media including handling queries, writing news releases, organising briefings and gaining positive media coverage.
You will be able to demonstrate the ability to adapt, reach out and build trust and collaborative working. Proven strength in stakeholder management, with the ability to build effective relationships with people of all levels both internally and externally.
It is essential that you have knowledge of how to ‘modernise’ communications functions and activities, driving innovation in ways of working leading to organisational effectiveness and the ability to adapt to changing demands and conditions.
It is desirable to have an understanding of the policy organisation and higher education research and knowledge exchange policy.
Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services; to apply please visit our job board at http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc243873_7841.aspx and submit your CV and a covering letter, coupled with your reasons for applying to EPSRC. Please quote the reference number IRC243873.
Closing date for this vacancy is 28th January 2018
Interview Date: 8th February 2018 in Bristol. Candidates who have been invited to interview will also be invited to meet with David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England on 6 February in Bristol for an informal discussion. A presentation will form part of the interview process. Details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Please note: Candidates must have the right to work in the UK, Research England does not hold a sponsorship licence.