Job profile

Would you like to support national and internationally leading research and help academics to support and enable academics to create impact with their research and expertise?   We are currently seeking a Knowledge Exchange and Impact Officer to join our Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) team to contribute to the delivery of the University’s Research and Innovation Strategy and Corporate Plan.

Our Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) team at Edinburgh Napier supports the full research journey and research planning process​ – from helping with finding funding opportunities and writing proposals, through to supporting post-award management of research projects​ through to communicating results and enabling impact.  

Joining our RIE department now presents an excellent opportunity to be part of the expanding full service, research and knowledge exchange support infrastructure at Edinburgh Napier.  Following excellent REF2021 results, we are strengthening our support teams to realise our research ambitions, increase our R&KE income, and deliver even greater impact in the years ahead.

Our Benefits

We are committed to providing a wide range of benefits including:

• Minimum of 41 days annual leave (including 10 fixed holidays at Easter and Christmas) and the option to purchase additional annual leave
• Employer pension contributions of 20.8%
• A wide range of learning and development opportunities
• Opportunity to join our staff inclusion and support networks
• Access to our benefits platform Vivup which includes huge range of discounts across the UK’s major retailers, health care discounts and Cycle to Work (click here for more info)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

The Role

The Knowledge Exchange & Impact Officer plays a key role in ensuring our research ambitions are underpinned by a strong support infrastructure to enable knowledge exchange and impact from research. The role holder will work closely with the Head of Research Funding & Knowledge Exchange, the REF Manager, various teams in RIE and across the University.  This role provides support to academic researchers engaged in research activities and will provide coordination of initiatives which support continuous improvement in systems & processes, training and a broad range of activities which aim to increase capacity for knowledge exchange activity and improve the underpinning research environment and support.

Responsibilities will include:

• Support academics to maximise the impact of their work, providing tools, techniques and knowledge to help them to identify, plan for, develop and deliver, communicate and evaluate the impact of research, enterprise, public and policy engagement projects at all stages of the project lifecycle.
• Work closely with relevant academic and professional services teams to build and maintain a good understanding of academic research interests & existing impact and engagement activity across the Schools.
• Be the lead impact contact for Schools supporting School management teams to devise impact strategies and evaluate their success and to identify projects with high impact potential and proactively support their development.
• Support academics to use stakeholder analysis and the theory of change to identify beneficiaries, target audiences, and user groups to help them explore routes for impact development.
• Design and deliver training, briefings and other materials and practical support in relation to enabling impact, impact evidence and evaluation, commercialisation as a route to impact, public and policy engagement, internal and external assessment requirements, and the use of impact in teaching and learning.
• Provide advice and guidance for writing policy briefings and the promotion of academic-policy/ public engagement activities for strategically significant research projects or identified areas of research/research groups.
• Be the lead coordinator for the University’s Knowledge Exchange Concordat, supporting the project lead in the implementation of an approved action plan
• Maintain up to date knowledge of external funder and assessment requirements and support the REF Manager in response to changes and management of future research assessment returns.

What we’ll need from you

• Education to degree level
• A strong understanding of research impact in its widest context and an appreciation of the different ways in which academic and scientific knowledge can contribute to society, the economy, and the environment.
• Knowledge of research management in Higher Education, including an excellent understanding of impact requirements in research assessment (REF).
• Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with academic and professional colleagues, and external stakeholders, with credibility to engage and influence.
• Experience in working closely with academic staff to develop REF Impact Case Studies, including providing technical advice on the complex guidance and editorial advice, writing, and copy editing.
• Experience in designing work plans, motivating and monitoring others to achieve milestones and deliverables in a timely and quality manner.

To read more about this exciting role, please click here.

Additional information

Salary: £36,024 - £44,263 (Grade 5)

Application closing date: 6 February

Interviews: 16 February

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams.

Edinburgh Napier is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels proud, confident, challenged and supported and are holders of Disability Confident, Carer Positive and Stonewall Diversity Champion status. Please see here for more information.