Head of Research Engagement and Impact

The Purpose of the Role

Trinity University Dublin is seeking to appoint a Head of Research Engagement and Impact to join its team in Trinity Research. Reporting directly to the Director of Research, the Head of Research Engagement and Impact will work on a number of initiatives including taking primary responsibility for: advancing a culture of engaged research, knowledge mobilisation, evidence for public policy, and research impact across and beyond the University; developing University-wide systems for capturing and reporting on research activities and impact; and coordinating with academic and professional colleagues to broaden local and global engagement and impact.

The ideal candidate will have experience with developing research impact and public engagement with research, engaging a wide range of stakeholders, and using a range of systems to produce high-level guidelines and reporting for various audiences. The successful candidate will proactively manage their own workload, prioritising tasks as they arise, as well as being able to work well as part of a team. This role demands excellent administrative and organisational skills, and the ideal candidate will be able to initiate, develop and plan their activities and projects in order successfully to deliver on objectives.

Demanding imagination, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to manage many priorities, the postholder will deliver on a range of priorities for Trinity Research, including representing the University on national and European committees and working groups focused on advancing quality, context-sensitive approaches to engaged research, evidence for public policy, civic engagement, research impact, and knowledge mobilization.

Context

The Head of Research Engagement and Impact sits within Trinity Research and reports to the Director of Research. The postholder will be a part of the Director’s Leadership Team which also comprises: the Head of Research Strategy and Policy, Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity, the Head of Research Development, and the Post-Award Manager. As currently configured, the post does not have direct line management responsibilities. The Director reports to the Dean & Vice-President of Research who has overall responsibility for Trinity’s research strategy.

Main Responsibilities

Strategically advancing a culture of research engagement and impact University-wide:

• Develop and implement a strategic work plan for research engagement and impact in consultation with the Dean of Research, the Director of Research and a range of University stakeholders.
• Review current and emerging trends on research engagement and impact across higher education institutions and research funding sectors to develop recommendations, guidelines and processes for maximising public engagement with research and research impact.
• Work with locally-based Impact Officers to ensure a coherent approach to research engagement and impact is developed throughout the University, develop a community of practice and ensure relevant staff are equipped to effectively lead research impact initiatives locally.
• Provide support for the University’s researchers and staff by developing training and resources on public engagement with research, research impact and evidence for public policy in collaboration with other colleagues.
• In collaboration with Research Development colleagues, provide proposal development guidance and training to researchers and staff on how to maximise research engagement, knowledge mobilisation, and impact at all stages of the research lifecycle.
• Host events aimed at advancing a culture of engaged research, evidence for public policy and research impact, effectively building networks and strategic partnerships that maximise research impact.
• Prepare and update reports and assist other professional and administrative staff in preparation and interpretation of data to demonstrate impact from University’s research and translational activities.

Maximise the impact of Trinity’s research on public policy

• Collaborate with key academic public policy leads to build the University’s public policy interface, leveraging already- existing initiatives and developing new ones.
• Design, develop and deliver a range of initiatives to familarise Trinity researchers with the policymaking process and with policy engagement opportunities, including producing a range of training activities and a suite of and support resources.
• Explore proactively policy engagement opportunities by keeping abreast of policy fellowships, evidence-for-policy opportunities, government consultations etc. and promote these to the University’s research community.
• Advance key collaborations with public policy professionals to maximise impact from research activities and proactively bring researchers and policymakers together to discuss topical issues, facilitating dialogue and networking.

Developing University-wide systems for capturing and reporting on research impact:

• Develop and deliver University-wide systems for capturing research impact and research engagement data.
• Monitor and retrieve information relevant to research impact, in order to develop strong impact case studies and fulfil the University’s internal and external reporting duties.

Additional

• Manage and deliver other strategic priorities for Trinity Research, including representing the University on relevant national and European committees and working groups.

Person Requirements

Qualifications

The post-holder will have the following qualifications:

• A University degree or equivalent – essential

Knowledge & Experience

The post-holder will have the following knowledge and experience:

Essential

• Recent relevant experience of working in a professional research support role within a Higher Education environment
• Experience of delivering or facilitating the delivery of research impact utilising indepth knowledge of best practice.
• Track record of initiating and developing relationships with non-academic partners
• Working knowledge of the research-policy interface
• Demonstrable delivery at strategic institutional level within a Higher Education institution
• Experience of planning and delivering a range of events or training activities
• Experience of selecting and analysing data to prepare high quality reports, including the presentation of cogent conclusions and recommendations for senior stakeholders.

Desirable

• Recent relevant experience of working within a research impact or engaged research role in a Higher Education environment
• Experience of supporting academic staff on research-policy engagement activities
• Experience working with public policy actors and non-governmental organisations on engaged research and impact activities

Skills & Competencies

The post-holder will have the following skills and competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, time management and organisational skills – essential.
• Highly credible, with excellent verbal and written communication skills – essential.
• Strong analytical skills and high standards of accuracy that advances evidence-informed decision making – essential.
• Excellent presentation skills – essential.
• Ability to build relationships and liaise effectively across the university community – essential.

Trinity Competencies

In Trinity there are 6 Core Competencies that are applicable to all roles across a range of professional, administrative and support jobs, unlike specialist or technical skills which may be job specific. They provide a common language for describing performance and the abilities/attributes displayed by individuals. They focus on ‘how’ tasks are achieved, not ‘what’ is achieved.

Below is a summary definition of the 6 Core Competencies.

1. Agile Leader:

Sees the big picture and harnesses opportunities to achieve the University’s goals. Creates clear direction for the future and how to get there.

2. Unlocks Potential:

Energised, capable and confident to take ownership and responsibility for their development and goals. Motivates, supports and develops people to perform to the best of their ability.

3. Service Ethos:

Finds ways to increase stakeholder and customer satisfaction. Builds relationships, is proactive and delivery focused in order to anticipate, meet & exceed expectations.

4. Builds Trusted Relationships:

Communicates in a clear and respectful manner building trust and commitment for mutually beneficial outcomes.

5. Decision‐making:

Confidently makes timely decisions based on knowledge, evidence and sound judgement.

6. Achieves Results:

Delivers results by setting direction, planning, executing and evaluating impact.