The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) RICHeS Senior Operations Manager Salary: £45,272 Hours: Full time or Part Time (minimum 0.8FTE) Contract Type: Fixed term - 12 months Location: England-Cheshire-Warrington Grade: UKRI Band E Positions Available: 1 Closing Date: 15 Jan 25 Proposed Interview Date: W/C 03 Feb 25 Org Context Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) is a new £80 million investment into the UK's heritage science sector. To deliver this exciting new programme, AHRC is developing a RICHeS Infrastructure Headquarters (IHQ) to manage the programme on a day-to-day basis. This new team will be based at Daresbury and be responsible for managing the investment, engaging with the heritage science community, and measuring the impacts of the programme. Key activities for the team in 2024 and 2025 will be supporting grant holders, designing, and delivering future funding opportunities, managing the RICHeS subdomain website, and capturing programme and project level impacts. Purpose An opportunity has arisen for a Senior Operations Manager to join the Infrastructure Headquarters (IHQ) for Research for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) on a temporary basis to cover maternity leave. RICHeS is a major investment into the UK's conservation and heritage science capability and capacity, and will drive the generation of a national research infrastructure that enables access, innovation and collaboration. The RICHeS Senior Operations Manager will provide day to day operational management of the RICHeS programme and IHQ, including budget management, risk management and post grant support, as well as line managing an Operations Manager. They will be an engaged, supportive and collaborative member of the IHQ team. The post holder will report to the Head of RICHeS. They will be expected to work effectively with a network of colleagues who lead on different aspects of AHRC's work (including communications, research, international, skills, strategy and impact), as well as STFC colleagues based at Daresbury and other colleagues within UKRI. The post holder will oversee the RICHeS research strategy, commissioning and managing external reports and disseminating outcomes. The post holder will take a lead on supporting the development of the Heritage Science Data Service for heritage and conservation science, working closely with the grant holder(s) to ensure delivery, access and impact. The post holder will provide post-grant support for recipients of RICHeS funding, ensuring RICHeS provides a genuine step change for heritage and conservation science, and that grant holders are engaged, collaborative and focused on delivery. The landscape of conservation and heritage science research infrastructures is broad, diverse and dispersed across a range of organisations, and includes facilities, equipment, and data services. This role will deputise for the Head of RICHeS, as required, maintaining relationships with those organisations and funders with a responsibility for the provision of different infrastructures, and encouraging and facilitating partnerships between those organisations. Main Outputs Provide day to day operational management of RICHeS including managing and maintaining project, business and operational plans Manage post-grant support for RICHeS funding recipients on reporting, project delivery, and project change requests Provide support to the Heritage Science Data Service investment to ensure access, reporting, and delivery Manage the RICHeS project risk register, including reporting on risk to the RICHeS Programme Board Day to day budget management of RICHeS and IHQ, including financial management of estate costs, the Access Fund and commissioned activities and reports Supporting the development of the IHQ site as a workplace for the IHQ team and hub for the heritage and conservation science community, and represent both RICHeS and AHRC at internal and external meetings and events Being an engaged and supportive member of the IHQ team, helping RICHeS deliver a step change for the heritage and conservation science community, captures impact and builds knowledge Develop and maintain close working and strategic relationships with colleagues across AHRC and UKRI to align activities and priorities, and to ensure UKRI financial, grant management and recruitment processes are followed Line management of the Operations Manager, including delegation and recruitment Develop and deliver the RICHeS commissioned research strategy Support the planning and delivery of engagement, networking and training events Develop and maintain an overview of developments in the conservation and heritage science research infrastructure landscape, strategic partners, and other funders, relevant to the remit of the role Shortlisting Criteria (S) - Assessed at shortlisting (I) - Assessed at interview (S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview Essential: Project management skills, including budget or financial management (S&I) Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both spoken and written, and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences (S&I) Strong and collaborative team working skills, including briefing colleagues, and deputising for senior staff (S&I) Ability to manage and support staff, including recruitment and delegation (S&I) Ability to manage complex workloads with multiple deadlines and priorities (S&I) Ability to work collaboratively across teams, councils and communities to manage and meet complex deadlines (S&I) Ability to follow, develop and refine business processes (S&I) Understanding of risk management, including identifying and communicating risk (S&I) Problem solving skills and the ability to find the answers to complex questions (S&I) Desirable: Knowledge of AHRC's delivery mechanisms and agood understanding of the AHRC's strategy for supporting arts and humanities research (S&I) Experience or interest in heritage and conservation science, the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector or research infrastructure (S&I) Please note that this role will require the post holder to be willing to travel and to work away from the office and on occasion outside normal working hours. APPLICATIONS Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the attachments section (ignore free textbox for cover letter under 'Experience' section) which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for 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 process. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 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. BENEFITS: UKRI can offer the successful candidate: - Flexible Working - 30 days annual leave Public Holidays - Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme - Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) SOC GRANTED Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitmentukri.org 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: Jan 15, 2025 Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 45,272 Hours: Full-time / Part-time