Senior Impact Officer (XN05)

Job responsibilities

Supporting Impact development and management

• Responsible for developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure that robust and effective administrative processes are used; Prepare draft guidance for Impact assessment pathways for programmes and awards;
• Undertake defined research and evaluation into NIHR Academy supported programmes as required;
• Responsibility for tracking and classification of applications;
• Responsibility for production of draft case studies, impact portfolio of NIHR Academy schemes and programmes;
• Support Impact managers liaise with external stakeholders and other funders to monitor and track progression of NIHR Academy award holders.
• The post holder will be required to assist the impact manager to manage change in response to external events and new policies; this may require the reformulation and adjustment of plans and strategies to ensure that the impact assessments for programmes and projects in the post holders portfolio remain fit for purpose;
• Support the management and development of impact assessment methods for the portfolio of NIHR Academy programmes;
• Assist Impact Managers in planning the annual cycle and timing of Impact reports and assessments in the post holders area of responsibility;
• Writing reports and working draft papers as required; and

Communications and Engagement

• Liaise with queries and occasional complaints about career tracking and impact assessments by telephone, email, and in person, escalating unresolved queries to the impact manager and assistant director as necessary
• Publicise NIHR Academy activities through attendance at some external meetings, seminars and conferences
• Communicate and work with a range of people nationally at all levels of seniority both internal and external to the NIHR Academy, in line with DHSC policies
• Develop and maintain strong and positive working relationships within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), NHS Trusts and other health-related organisations
• Work closely with the wider NIHR Academy Evaluation and Impact team to ensure that they have sufficient Impact information to be able to respond quickly to Information Requests, Parliamentary questions and long term Analysis. This involves researching and reporting on research outputs
• Liaise with members of the NIHR Academy Executive Senior Management Team and Awards Managers, and University Hospital of Leeds NHS Trust staff, in order to meet responsibilities and undertake duties effectively

General Administrative support

• Responsible for providing administrative support to Impact Managers and Assistant Director of the Evaluation and Impact Team.

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of research and/or research management or demonstrable experience within a senior administrative post
• Experience of evaluation, research or impact assessment

Other Criteria

Essential

• Advanced working knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets
• Advanced level oral and written communication skills
• Confident and comfortable when communicating to others and dealing with sensitive issues
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information
• Ability to negotiate
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• An understanding of public sector health research and its management
• An understanding of research impact assessment methods
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively as an advocate for health services research and development
• Assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new problems
• A willingness to work across discipline boundaries
• An understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods and data analysis
• Understanding of data protection, FOI and information management
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, building and maintaining good working relationships
• Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
• Deliver work on time, to anticipate fresh demands
• Effective liaison skills with the ability to deal tactfully with colleagues, senior academics, NHS managers, members of the public and various stake holders
• Identifying opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results
• Ability to plan and organise a broad range of new and ongoing activities
• Ability to prepare information and impact summaries for various audiences to often short deadlines.

Desirable

• An understanding of health research capacity development
• An interest in health research
• Statistical knowledge
• Experience of contributing to reports/papers

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a social science, health science, mathematics or other relevant research methodology discipline

Desirable

• Masters Degree