Aimhigher Evaluation, Research and Data Manager

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £ £35,880 to £45,163, with potential progression once in post to £ £47,874.

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to April 2026

Role Summary

This post will work as a member of the Aimhigher West Midlands Team in the central coordination hub based at the University of Birmingham. Aimhigher is a partnership of local HEIs, schools and colleges which undertakes collaborative outreach activity in the local area. The partnership receives funding from the Office for Students to deliver the Uni Connect programme, alongside delivering locally funded activities. 

The post holder will ensure Aimhigher retains a systematic and robust approach to its use of data, monitoring and research techniques in order to evaluate performance and impact. They will achieve this by developing and implementing the Aimhigher evaluation strategy. This will include the sourcing and effective storage and management of data, the establishment and development of tools/systems, the production of reports and the provision of expertise, recommendations, training and guidance to develop good practice across the partnership.

Person Specification

• Educated to Degree level
• Knowledge of, and extensive experience and demonstrable success in, the planning, management and delivery of large scale research and evaluation projects 
• Detailed knowledge of data protection legislation and experience of data sharing between organisations
• Extensive experience of analysing large and complex data sets, identifying trends and clearly presenting this information to both expert and non-expert audiences
• Excellent inter-personal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with representatives of a wide and varied partnership, as well as external stakeholders
• Experience of managing and developing databases, advanced expertise in using Microsoft Excel, and efficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and SPSS (or able to demonstrate an ability to become rapidly familiar with these systems) 
• Experience of designing surveys and working with survey production software
• Familiarity with the landscape of sector data available through UCAS and HESA, or able to demonstrate an ability to rapidly become so
• The resilience to deal with and work around the limitations of legacy systems
• Experience of providing monitoring and evaluation training and guidance to non-technical colleagues 
• Excellent organisational skills, with ability to organise own work and operate effectively with minimal supervision
• The ability to work effectively with others in a team setting
• Able to identify priorities, anticipate / meet deadlines and achieve targets
• Prepared to work evening and occasional weekends when required
• Prepared to engage in continuous professional development
• The post holder will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check

Skills:

• Critical thinking - Essential (E)
• Knowledge of research/evaluation methods (E)
• Experience analysing large and complex datasets (E)
• Ability to clearly present information to expert and non-expert audiences (E)
• Diplomacy – ability to deal with different stakeholders with different priorities (E) 
• Proficiency in Excel (E)
• R/python (D)
• Organisation (E)
• Working as a team (E)
• Knowledge of the sector - Desirable (D)
• Knowledge of data protection (D)

Informal enquiries can be made to Baljinder Rana B.rana@bham.ac.uk  

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 9th February 2025

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