Would you like to spend your time working alongside academics, supporting them with a national exercise that comes round only once every seven years?
The Research Excellence Framework decides how research funding is distributed across UK universities and how their research is judged nationally. Its results shape funding and reputation for years afterwards. The next exercise, REF2029, is submitted in November 2028.
The School of Technology is looking for a REF Administrator to support the submission for the Unit of Assessment (UoA) 12 in Engineering, the University's second largest Unit of Assessment. This UoA covers three departments in the University: Engineering; Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology; Materials Science & Metallurgy. It comprises around 260 full time equivalent research staff and expects to submit in the region of 650 research outputs, together with a portfolio of impact case studies and a Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) statement.
At its heart this is a role about supporting people. REF requirements are detailed, they change as national guidance develops, and they land on academics who are already busy. You will spend much of each week in the departments rather than at a single desk, explaining what is needed in plain terms, helping researchers get their work into the system correctly, answering the questions nobody else can answer, and taking as much of the administrative load off academic colleagues as you can.
Reporting to the School REF Project Manager, you will take day to day responsibility for agreed parts of the submission, which may span research outputs, impact case studies, the SPRE statement, staff eligibility and the staff volume measure. You will work closely with the UoA12 Chair and Deputy Chairs, departmental REF leads and individual researchers across the three departments, keep activity moving against the project plan, support the UoA12 Committee, and coordinate the collection and validation of the evidence the submission depends on.
You will not be doing this on your own. You will work as part of a small REF team in the School Office, with the support of the School REF Project Manager, and alongside colleagues in the central University REF, Research Information and Impact teams. There is real scope to shape how the work is organised, to build a network across the University, and to take on more as the submission develops.
The work is varied and the post is a visible one. At different points you might be helping a researcher with their publication records, working with an academic lead on an impact case study, preparing papers for a Committee or checking staff contract data. Few people get the chance to see a REF through from preparation to submission, and it is experience that is valued across the sector long afterwards.
You do not need to have worked on the REF before, and we would rather hear from the right person than the obvious one. What matters most is that you enjoy working with academic colleagues and are good at it: approachable, patient, able to explain detailed requirements clearly to people who have little time, and trusted to handle sensitive information with discretion. Alongside that you will need to be well organised, comfortable working with detailed information, and able to use your judgement where guidance is incomplete or still evolving.
You might be continuing a career in university professional services, or you might be a capable administrator or project manager from another sector looking for something with a clear purpose and a visible result at the end of it. Both are welcome, and we are happy to talk the role through informally before you decide whether to apply. Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please provide a cover letter and a copy of your CV. In your cover letter, please outline how you match the criteria for the post and your motivation for applying. Further information on the role and employee benefits can be found in the job particulars.
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Ben Mason, REF Project Manager Email: [email protected]
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact: Susan Meah, Office Co-ordinator Email: [email protected]
Please quote reference NN51486 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.