Investment Manager
Salary: £36,650 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract type: Fixed-Term (8 months)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire, with hybrid working
Grade: UKRI Band D
Closing date: Sunday 23 February 2025
Proposed interview date: Tuesday 4 or Thursday 6 March 2025
The Arts and Humanities Research Council is recruiting for an 8 month fixed-term Investment Manager to support the Health Humanities portfolio.
Arts and Humanities Research Council
UK Research and Innovation is an organisation that brings together nine partners to create an independent voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) supports world-class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity. It supports research and postgraduate training in a wide range of subject areas, from ancient history and heritage science to modern dance and digital content. Research into these areas helps us to interpret our experiences, probe our identities, interrogate our cultural assumptions and understand our historical, social, economic and political context. It adds to the economic success of the UK, through its contributions to the knowledge economy and innovation agenda. The research we fund can lead to improvements in social and intellectual capital, community identity, learning skills, technological evolution and the quality of life of the nation.
Team purpose
This role sits within the Health, Environment and Urban Humanities (HEUH) team at AHRC. The HEUH team vision is to place humanity at the heart of solutions and responses to the biggest and most pressing contemporary challenges facing the UK and the world. There are 3 portfolios within the team: health, environment, and cities and urban environments, supporting a diverse and growing number of investments in areas such as creative health, social prescribing, resilience, weather and climate change, natural history, cities, circular fashion, and immersive technologies. As one of AHRC's disciplinary teams, the HEUH team shapes the policy and strategy for future investment in these areas, manages existing investments, and commissions new research within its remit. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the portfolios within the team, the team interacts and collaborates regularly with other teams within the AHRC and across UKRI.
AHRC's investment in health research has been rising since 2012 and our portfolio contains over £60m of funding, covering health research challenges including mental health, health inequalities, tackling infections, heathy ageing, and much more. AHRC's focus is the application of arts and humanities disciplines to tackle these challenges. Some of the disciplines and approaches we fund in health research include: ethics; history; philosophy; linguistics; AI and design; medical humanities; and creative health. Co-creation, community participation, and including the voice of people with lived experience is embedded in the research we fund.
Job purpose
Reporting to a Senior Investment Manager, you will provide management support across AHRC's Health research portfolio, including delivery of the AHRC led interdisciplinary Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities programme. AHRC's Health research portfolio is highly interdisciplinary, the investment manager will therefore be required to help build and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders in support of different activities. You will need to work collaboratively across AHRC, with UKRI colleagues, and with external stakeholders. You will represent AHRC at a cross-UKRI level where we are involved as a partner on programmes led by other UKRI Councils.
The Investment Manager will work closely with Senior Investment Managers to identify strengths, gaps, and trends in the portfolio, scope and develop new areas for investment, and prepare associated bids for funding.
You will work with colleagues to support information and data management, strategy development, analysis and reporting. You will coordinate responses to requests for information; work with the data team to analyse our funded portfolio; contribute to briefings and scanning activities; and support the development of case studies underpinning future activities and strategy.
The Investment Manager may also play a role in the delivery of the HEUH team's priorities, particularly in relation to the management and development of key programmes, investments and partnerships across all portfolio areas within the team.
Main outputs and activities
In this role you will:
* Support and/or lead, as appropriate, the management of current investments and funding opportunities relating to the health research portfolio.
* Lead the collection, analysis, and communication of information in relation to funded projects and programmes in the health portfolio.
* Support scoping work, including portfolio analysis and engagement with stakeholders to inform development of strategy and new initiatives.
* Coordinate events, workshops, conferences, visits and engagement activities, working closely with relevant colleagues across the organisation.
* Contribute to the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of funded projects, including development of research impact narratives and case studies
* Support the development of bids for new funding in areas within the team's remit
* Develop and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including representing AHRC on different cross-UKRI groups and deputising for Senior Investment Managers and/or the Team Head when required.
* Provide secretariat support, including minute-taking to internal or external groups.
* Represent AHRC externally, giving presentations or facilitating discussions as needed.
* Actively contribute and participate in AHRC corporate projects and represent the HEUH team on internal steering groups.
You will report to a Senior Investment Manager but would also be expected to work closely with colleagues at all levels across the organisation as well as across UKRI. While this current role is based within the HEUH team and is focused on supporting areas within the health portfolio, the incumbent may be asked to support other teams, at certain times, depending on business need.
ABOUT YOU
The ideal candidate will have an enthusiasm for the arts and humanities, and a particular interest in how these disciplines can be applied to contemporary challenges in health research. You will be a solution-oriented and proactive team player, with direct or relevant experience of the research funding landscape, for example working in delivery or management of funding activities in research/innovation sector, managing research programmes, or working in a policy setting (e.g. Government or civil service)
Shortlisting Criteria
Area
Criteria
Essential/ Desirable
Qualifications
• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline or sector
Essential
Key Knowledge and Skills
• Experience in successfully managing projects and/ or programmes of work, and ability to work independently and use initiative
• Ability to analyse and summarise complex information/data and propose workable solutions
• A good understanding of and/ or experience in the UK higher education system, particularly administration, commissioning, or management of arts and humanities research grants and capital projects
Essential
Essential
Desirable
Interview Criteria
UKRI Competency
Criteria
Essential/ Desirable
Strategic Awareness
• A background in Health Humanities research or a related discipline, or a good grasp of the role of arts and humanities in health research
• Some knowledge of Grants systems.
Desirable
Desirable
Leading & Communicating
• The ability to lead projects, and to manage and develop colleagues to enable their learning and development as well as to deliver personal, team and corporate objectives.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to draft guidance documents, reports, and give presentations.
Essential
Essential
Working with Others
• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and networks with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels, and to use these to deliver outcomes for the organisation.
• Excellent team working skills, and experience of encouraging a collaborative approach within and across teams and organisations; including recognising the contribution and diversity of individuals and different viewpoints to enable realisation of team and individual potential.
Essential
Essential
Changing and Improving
• A willingness to embrace and facilitate effective change and to help others to do the same.
Essential
Making effective decisions
• The ability to translate evidence into clear and concise written and oral communications to enable robust and transparent decision making, or for strategy development and implementation.
Essential
Additional Details
Employee Benefits
UK Research and Innovation recognises and values employees as individuals and aims to provide a pay and reward package that motivates staff to the best of their ability. The reward and benefit package includes a flexible working scheme, an excellent Defined Benefit pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance and a number of other benefits.
Developing Talent
We are committed to developing employees in their roles throughout their career. Learning and development plans enable employees to continue their professional development through training and development opportunities such as e-learning, classroom training and on-the-job experiences. We encourage our employees to share their learning across teams and organisations.
Equal Opportunities
We strive to make decisions based on individual merit and ability. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and promote equality of opportunity in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. As holders of Disability Confident Employer status, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Final appointments will be subject to pre-employment screening.
How to Apply
Only online applications will be accepted and should be submitted in the form of an up-to-date CV and covering letter each of no more than two sides of A4. The covering letter must clearly outline why you are applying for this post and address in turn how you meet each of the shortlisting and interview criteria described in this advertisement (ideally using each criterion as a sub-heading).
Please ensure that the vacancy reference is included in the file name description of each document uploaded.
Any applications submitted without a covering letter, or that fail to address the shortlisting criteria points will not be considered further.
Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 01793 867000. Please quote the appropriate reference number when calling.
About The Arts and Humanities Research Council
The AHRC supports world-class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity. It supports research and postgraduate training in a wide range of subject areas, from ancient history and heritage science to modern dance and digital content. Research into these areas helps us to interpret our experiences, probe our identities, interrogate our cultural assumptions and understand our historical, social, economic and political context. It adds to the economic success of the UK, through its contributions to the knowledge economy and innovation agenda. The research we fund can lead to improvements in social and intellectual capital, community identity, learning skills, technological evolution and the quality of life of the nation.
Further details can be found via the following links: https://ahrc.ukri.org/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce' .
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Additional Information
* Organisation: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
* Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
* External Closing Date: Feb 23, 2025
* Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 36,650
* Hours: Full-time