About the Role
This is a two-year fixed-term role combining responsibilities across the Research Capability Hub (0.6 FTE) and the Institute of Educational Technology (0.4 FTE).
Within the Research Capability Hub, the postholder will manage the operational delivery of stakeholder engagement, relationship management and co-creation activities across the ESRC-funded programme. They will work across the UK social science ecosystem, including ESRC investments, Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs), Doctoral Training and Research Networks (DTRNs), universities, research organisations and wider stakeholder communities. The role includes coordinating DTPN and DTRN activities, managing stakeholder communications and engagement processes, and contributing to the Hub’s monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities.
Within IET, the postholder will support communications and public engagement activity, promoting research, partnerships, courses and events through digital communications, social media, events and external engagement.
This is a collaborative and delivery-focused role requiring excellent communication, organisational and relationship-management skills. The successful candidate will be confident working with senior academics, professional services colleagues, external partners and stakeholder communities, and able to exercise sound judgement while managing competing priorities.
The role combines strategic coordination with hands-on delivery and will suit someone who enjoys turning plans into action, building effective stakeholder relationships and ensuring complex activities run smoothly.
The postholder will report to the Senior Hub Manager and work closely with the Workstream 1 academic lead, other academic leads and colleagues across IET, the wider University and external partner organisations. The role will involve attending and organising meetings, workshops, conferences and stakeholder events, with regular on-site working and occasional travel required.
About the Research Capability Hub (RCH)
The Research Capability Hub (RCH) is a UK-wide initiative funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through a £5.2 million investment over five years. Led by The Open University in partnership with national and international organisations, the Hub aims to strengthen social science research capability, training and collaboration across the UK. Stakeholder engagement, co-creation and partnership working are central to the Hub’s mission and long-term success.
About the Institute of Educational Technology (IET)
The Institute of Educational Technology (IET) is a leading centre for research, innovation and scholarship in technology-enhanced learning, open education and educational futures. Based within The Open University, IET works across research, teaching, knowledge exchange and partnership activity at national and international level.
As IET continues to grow its externally funded portfolio, partnerships and public-facing activity, the Institute is seeking to strengthen its communications, engagement and external profile-building activity across digital channels, events, research dissemination and stakeholder engagement.
Key Responsibilities – Research Capability Hub (0.6 FTE)
- Manage stakeholder engagement activity across the UK social science ecosystem, including ESRC investments, DTPs, DTRNs, research organisations and professional bodies.
- Lead the planning and operational delivery of stakeholder events, workshops, webinars, consultations and networking activities.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders across the Hub partnership and wider stakeholder community.
- Act as a key operational contact for stakeholder engagement and communication activity, ensuring responsive and professional stakeholder support.
- Support the delivery of stakeholder engagement plans aligned to the Hub’s strategic priorities and ESRC requirements.
- Manage stakeholder engagement systems, records and reporting processes, ensuring continuity of relationships and institutional knowledge.
- Coordinate DTPN and DTRN activities, including meetings, communications, engagement tracking and associated network activity.
- Deputise for the Workstream 1 Lead in stakeholder engagement activities, meetings and external forums where appropriate.
- Prepare reports, briefing papers, presentations and engagement updates for internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to communications, dissemination and engagement activity across digital channels, stakeholder networks, governance structures and wider Hub activities.
Key Responsibilities – Institute of Educational Technology (0.4 FTE)
- Coordinate stakeholder communications, dissemination and promotional activity across digital, event-based and external engagement channels.
- Plan and deliver internal and external IET events, showcases and engagement activities.
- Develop engaging written and digital content for a range of audiences, including academic, professional, student and public audiences.
- Support the promotion of IET research impact, externally funded activity and educational innovation.
- Contribute to the development of IET’s external profile and visibility across relevant academic, professional and research communities.
- Work collaboratively with academic and professional services colleagues to identify opportunities for communications, dissemination and public engagement activity.
- Coordinate communications and promotional activity linked to conferences, workshops and public-facing events.
- Evaluate and improve IET communications processes, digital presence and engagement approaches.
- Attend relevant University and external engagement events where appropriate.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of stakeholder engagement processes, communications and operational delivery across the Hub.
- Support the forward planning and coordination of stakeholder engagement activity across multiple concurrent workstreams and external partnerships.
About You
Essential
- Degree qualification in Communications, Media, Digital Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Significant experience of managing stakeholder engagement, partnerships, networks or communications activity within higher education, research, public sector or comparable environments.
- Demonstrable experience of building and maintaining productive relationships with senior stakeholders, including academics, professional services leaders, external partners, funders or sector bodies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience of producing high-quality reports, briefings, presentations, digital content and communications for a range of audiences.
- Strong digital communications and audience engagement skills, including experience of managing websites, newsletters, social media channels, webinars or other digital engagement platforms.
- Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating stakeholder engagement activities, including workshops, conferences, consultation exercises, webinars or large-scale events.
- Strong project and operational management skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple priorities, manage competing deadlines and deliver complex activities to a high standard.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and proactively identify opportunities, risks and solutions within a complex and fast-moving environment.
Desirable
- Experience of working within UKRI, ESRC or other externally funded research programmes.
- Understanding of the UK social science research and training landscape.
- Experience of stakeholder mapping, engagement planning or community development.
- Experience of co-creation, consultation or participatory engagement approaches.