View Vacancy - Partnership Engagement Manager, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) North America

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
UK Research and Innovation

Main purpose of job:

The UKRI North America Partnership Engagement Manager role is an exciting opportunity to join a small but dynamic team working to grow UKRI’s strategic relationships in North America. 

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s largest public funder of research and innovation, with an annual budget of ~£8 billion, creating the best conditions to support research, training, infrastructure, innovation and knowledge exchange across all academic disciplines, and partnering globally with other like-minded funding agencies. The UKRI North America (UKRI NA) team is comprised of the Director, Deputy Director, Senior Policy Manager and a Partnership Engagement Manager based in the British Embassy in DC, and the Head of Canada Partnerships based in Ottawa. The team works in a collegiate manner to represent and grow the UKRI presence with key stakeholders in the USA and Canada. We work closely with the wider UK Government network in North America such as the UK Science and Innovation Networks (SIN) as well key external partners, for example the US National Science Foundation.

The Partnership Engagement Manager will lead, on behalf of the team, on developing and delivering communications strategies and stakeholder mapping to allow us to maximise our relationships in both the US and Canada. You will work to understand and communicate the impact of our work in North America, including through relevant data analysis. In addition, you will be relationship manager for one or more of the nine UKRI Councils and may lead specific policy and thematic areas (e.g. equality, diversity & inclusion). The role also includes corporate responsibilities such as financial management and reporting.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Communications

  • Liaise with the UKRI Communications team in the UK to develop and support the implementation of effective communications strategies for the US and Canada.
  • Provide high-quality reporting for UKRI, for example by attending and reporting on internal and external meetings and events, including NSF and other funders’ advisory boards, and producing a quarterly newsletter and policy update on behalf of the team.
  • Manage the day-to-day delivery of UKRI NA’s social media presence.
  • Work to understand and communicate the impact of the team, and of UKRI’s North America partnerships, including working collaboratively with the UKRI data team in the UK to analyse relevant datasets.

Relationship and policy management

  • Lead on stakeholder mapping and management for the UKRI NA team, helping the team coordinate activity across key internal and external contacts in collaboration with the wider UK network.
  • Manage the relationship with at least one of the nine UKRI Councils, building effective networks of contacts in the US and Canada to support the delivery of the Council’s objectives.
  • Manage specific policy and thematic areas in liaison with relevant UKRI colleagues to support delivery of objectives (e.g., equality, diversity & inclusion, emerging tech, climate).
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of events and North America visit programmes for UKRI officials and key stakeholders.

Corporate

  • Manage financial reporting.
  • Oversee the team inbox, respond to public enquiries.
  • Take on other corporate responsibilities and administrative tasks as needed.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
  • At least 5 years of experience in a research, innovation or related field, from an academic, government or corporate background. Fewer years of experience would be considered for candidates with advanced degrees or exceptional, relevant experience.
  • Excellent organisational skills and a proven ability to work independently to deliver results and manage projects in an environment of multiple pressures and demands.
  • A track record in working in multi-site, multi-disciplinary teams and delivering results through team work and collaboration.
  • Well-developed interpersonal skills and an evidenced ability to establish effective working relationships with senior figures from industry, government, academia and the research and innovation community.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills and an ability to convey complex scientific concepts to non-expert audiences, including via social media.
  • Experience of designing and delivering events.
  • A demonstrable enthusiasm for research, research and innovation policy and the internationalisation of research, and an awareness and understanding of US research and innovation policy.
  • Experience of using communications platforms such as Twitter in a professional context, including analysing the impact of social media messaging.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the UK and the research and innovation policy landscape.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the Canadian research and innovation policy landscape.
  • Experience of using data to tell impact stories. 
14 November 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40 (Monday – Friday 9:00-17:00)
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Washington
British Embassy
1
USD
$62,721
3 January 2022

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

Ability to travel both within the US and Canada, and for up to a week to the UK.

Valid passport required.

This is a full-time, fixed-term role with the possibility for renewal. Current contract is for 2 years (24 months) from start date.

Working patterns: Hybrid – working remotely as well as in office.

The UKRI North America team are developing hybrid working principles to allow team members to work flexibly and from home a few days a week, if desired and in line with business need.  Face-to-face engagement is essential to this role and the post holder will be expected to regularly attend internal and external meetings in person, once Covid-19 restrictions allow. 

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed): Relevant training will be provided following discussions with the post holder’s manager.

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

CANDIDATES - REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A CV/RESUME AND COVER LETTER. SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THESE MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.