Head of Performance and REF

Research Division 

This post is available immediately on a full-time and permanent basis. This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus (on average 2 days/week) and some from home. We offer opportunities for flexible working.

About the role

This new role is based within the Research Division, which has a key role in enabling the delivery of the University’s Research and Impact Strategy, to meet our ambitious research income and postgraduate research targets, and for a successful Research Excellence Framework (REF). The role offers an exciting opportunity to lead a team of research and impact performance in-house experts in support of research performance, quality, strategy and policy development. 

You will lead on approaches to research performance monitoring and benchmarking analyses across key indicators including research income and outputs. Working closely with the Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Quality and Impact and the Divisional Director of Research, you will help to shape our REF strategy, and have operational oversight on all policies and processes relating to REF submission preparations.

About You

You will have substantial experience with research policy and planning, including a strong track record in research performance and quality management. With excellent attention to detail, you will provide briefings and data analysis to senior managers. Drawing on experience in managing complex programmes, you will have oversight of the delivery of our annual review processes for research, and lead on our multi-year plans in preparation for our REF submission.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Benefits

• 41 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity leave 

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

For further information please contact Fiona Pac-Soo, f.pac-soo@exeter.ac.uk

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