Administrative Data Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council
Salary: £56,745 dependent on skills and experience, plus London allowance of £5,385 where applicable.
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8FTE)
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months).
Location: Caxton House, London or Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
This is an exciting opportunity to work in one of UKRI’s important investments in research infrastructure set up to maximise the potential of administrative data as a resource for research. Combined data from across government and hundreds of UK public bodies will be used to improve healthcare, education, business growth and the fight against crime.
ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data, to enable better informed policy decisions that improve people’s lives.
By linking together data held by different parts of government, and by facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers to these newly joined-up data sets, ADR UK is creating a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function – tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions.
The partnership is coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub, which also promotes the benefits of administrative data research to the public and the wider research community. The Strategic Hub is currently a team of 18, embedded within ESRC, led by the Director (Dr Emma Gordon) who reports to the ESRC Deputy Executive Chair and ultimately the ADR UK Programme Delivery Board.
Job Purpose
Research using administrative data needs the support of the public, the support of Government, and the support of researchers. We need a social contract which balances the safety of personal data alongside the enormous potential for public good.
As Strategic Lead for Campaigns and Communications for the ADR UK Strategic Hub you will own the communications strategy and stakeholder engagement narrative in support of ADR UK’s objectives, right across all the stakeholder types from Parliamentarians, through to Permanent Secretaries, privacy lobbyists, special interest groups, other relevant research organisations, the research community and non-academic audiences including the general public.
You will be responsible for working with and advising the Director of the Strategic Hub and the Head of Operations. You and your team will work closely with the communications teams across the partnership as well as with UKRI, other related data investments and government.
Key Responsibilities
1. Develop, lead and deliver the overall communications and engagement strategy to ensure ADR UK has a strong voice, brand and reputation.
2. Develop, lead and deliver an approach to promote the value of sharing administrative data for research which contributes to a change in narrative across government and other audiences (including non-academic) including creating a range of promotional materials that tell the story of its benefit to society.
3. Foster proactive collaborative working amongst ADR UK partners, UKRI as a funder and government department press offices with the shared aim of delivering a high-quality, timely and coordinated approach to communications and maximising the benefits to ADR UK of the combined expertise and resources across teams.
4. Coordinate the tracking and capture of the impact of administrative data sharing for research; design and deliver approaches to celebrate and recognise the value of admin data and achievements of ADR UK.
5. Actively liaise with individuals and organisations in a number of sectors including parliament, academia, members of the public, other funders – to ensure that this diverse audience has high levels of understanding of ADR UK’s vision, strategy and initiatives and their views are being considered.
6. Collaborate with other organisations to leverage the potential of affiliated and partnership campaigns to achieve mutual objectives.
7. Mobilise people to bring about change by deploying a range of marketing and communication channels such as digital technologies, traditional media, events, stakeholder engagement and insight to help deliver ADR UK’s strategic objectives.
8. Develop, lead and deliver ADR UK’s media strategy including proactive placement of features; developing links with journalists; preparations for media appearances; dealing sensitively with difficult coverage; and reactive and flexible responses to crisis scenarios, including out of hours when required.
9. In light of the new approach of retaining personal data for long term research use: coordinate and develop an ADR UK public engagement strategy to maintain public acceptability of using admin data for research, which learns from existing knowledge as well as builds on planned and ongoing activity within ADR UK, UKRI and other bodies.
10. Provide expert internal advice in developing creative and effective approaches to convene and engage key stakeholders.
Shortlisting and Interview Criteria (Person Specification)
Essential
* Education to degree level or ability to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge in a communications environment.
* Proven experience in a lead external affairs, campaigns or communications post.
* Proven track record of creating and successfully implementing stakeholder engagement approaches, communication strategies and campaigns.
* Experience of working collaboratively to build relationships and networks and lead across organisations and organisational levels.
* Political awareness, the understanding of the context in which UKRI operates and knowledge of the way in which parliament, Whitehall and the Devolved Governments function.
* Clear ability to develop and lead both individuals and a team.
Desirable
* Experience of leading media relations/public affairs for a research or government organisation.
* Experience in parliamentary engagement such as working with committees and all party interest groups.
* Experience of working with journalists, the press and broadcasters at national and local level.
* Experience of working with the research community in academic and/or in government.
* Experience of crisis communications and reputation management.
* Experience of public speaking and being a media spokesperson.
* Experience of managing a communications budget including commissioning freelancers.
About the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The ESRC is the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science. It supports the development and training of the UK’s future social scientists and funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policy-makers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective.
For more information about ESRC, please visit https://esrc.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 at 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.
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