Assistant REF Officer

Assistant REF Officer

Job Number

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Optional - Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Claire Davis, Research Excellence Framework Manager, c.davis@bangor.ac.uk.

Committed To Equal Opportunities

Purpose of the Job

As part of the Research Office, the postholder will contribute to a comprehensive range of administrative and operational functions involved with the university’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) preparation and Annual Research Review. This role will be line managed by the REF Manager.

The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It first took place in 2014 and 2021. The next exercise is planned for 2029. Further information on the purpose and details of the current exercise is available here https://www.ref.ac.uk/. Information about Bangor's 2021 REF return can be found here: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/ref-2021.

The REF Group reports to the University’s Research Committee and undertakes annual research reviews. This comprehensive review looks at all aspects of research related inputs and outcomes, such as volume and type of research active staff, their research publications, impact activity, research grant capture, supervision of PhD students (registrations and completions) and information about the research environment and research culture within the institution.

The role will also work closely with the Repository and Research Data Officer and Impact Development Officer. This will involve contributing to the management and development of the University’s Current Research Information System (PURE), ensuring open access compliance and adhering to funder requirements regarding research data management and reporting. The role requires close collaboration with all colleagues in the Research Office, academic and research staff, senior research leaders, postgraduate researchers and other professional service colleagues across the institution to support delivery of the University’s Research and Impact Strategy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with the REF Manager in preparations for Bangor's return to the Research Excellence Framework.
  • Provide administration and support relating to university-wide REF related activities, liaising with senior research leaders and the wider research community across the institution.
  • Support the compilation of key data returns and consultation exercises for REF, ensuring data and information on research outcomes and activities are up to date, generating reports on complex, inter-related research activities for a wide variety of internal and external audiences.
  • Maintain and adapt internal monitoring processes for research evaluation to meet the needs of internal monitoring of REF and in response to developments in the REF criteria and guidance.
  • Provide clear advice and guidance to a wide range of staff from junior to senior academic and professional services staff regarding the REF criteria and guidelines and internal REF related procedures.
  • Provide administration and support for monthly meetings for the REF Group.
  • Maintain processes and budget for the external assessment of outputs, impact case studies and narrative components of the REF submission. This will involve building relationships with academic staff within Bangor, professional services staff and academic experts from other Universities.
• Work with the REF Manager in the administration of the quarterly research report and the Annual Research Review.
  • Maintaining and adapting internal processes for monitoring research activity across the institution to ensure accurate data is provided for the Annual Research Review and the Annual Planning Rounds.
  • Liaison with key professional services staff to gather research related information required for the Annual Research Review.
  • Provide reports and analysis of data and research information for the Annual Research Review.
• Deliver on the portfolio of work relating to the repository (PURE), research data and impact
  • Contribute to the development, maintenance and effective use of the University-wide research repository (PURE) for all research outcomes and activities.
  • Maintain processes for the collection, validation and cleaning of research output and research data records within PURE.
  • Maintain processes for validation and uploading research students’ thesis into the PURE repository.
  • Contribute to ensuring the highest levels of open access compliance to support REF eligibility and institutional policy requirements.
  • Contribute to the administration of transformative publishing agreements as a route to open access compliance.
  • Contribute to the development of interoperability between PURE and external systems (e.g. Researchfish, ORCID, Jisc Publications Router).
• Maintain a working knowledge of sector developments in REF, research data management, open access, responsible metrics and research systems via involvement with key sector-wide groups such as ARMA (Association of Research Managers and Administrators) and the UK PURE User Group.
• Develop a working knowledge of the research groups and themes in the university.
• Develop and deliver specific independent projects, with high-level guidance, during the development and implementation stages of the REF, PURE system developments and as part of the Annual Research Review.
• Lead the administrative support for the monitoring of Research Centres and Institutes activity in the university.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Professional Services (e.g. Finance Services, Digital & Library Services) to ensure seamless research support processes.
• Provide administrative support for other research-related committees as required.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• 2 AS Levels or 1 A level or NVQ level 4 in a relevant subject area (or equivalent) or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject area

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of the current issues in Higher Education including the policy and funding environment as they relate to research and impact.
• Experience of working in administrative roles in Higher Education, or equivalent organisations.
• Understanding and experience of providing and delivering customer and/or support service.

Desirable

• Experience of working in Higher Education in a research support role.
• Experience of working in a research support, REF, research data or research systems role.
• Experience of collating and analysing qualitative and quantitative data and information.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and engage proactively and effectively with staff and stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise own work and deliver to agreed deadlines.
• Proven ability to adhere to detailed and precise requirements.
• The ability to work as a team player.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Excellent numerical and IT skills (Microsoft Office).

Desirable

• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.  When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.   If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa.   The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.   If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.  

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.