Researcher Development Specialist - Research Staff
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Job purpose
The postholder will lead on the delivery of strategic projects to support implementation of the Concordat for the Career Development of Researchers, driving established frameworks of development activity for research staff as well as designing, piloting, evaluating and embedding new culture change initiatives.
Main duties & responsibilities
- Lead on implementation of the Concordat Action Plan, collaborating with Research Services, University Services, Colleges, Schools, PIs and researchers to ensure awareness of the Concordat’s mission, themes, roles, and responsibilities.
- Work collaboratively across the Research Culture and Researcher Development portfolio, and in line with strategic priorities, to take a lead on maintaining, creating, supporting, and enhancing Research Staff development. This includes leading on the Research Staff Assembly, Research Staff Induction, and career-relevant short-form event programme, and collaborating on annual conferences and festivals (such as REDS, WriteFest etc), the Research Fellowships Framework, Pathfinder career development; initiatives supporting Researchers as doctoral supervisors; the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network; Talent Lab and Research Staff leadership development.
- Oversee successful delivery of pilot projects and new Research Staff development initiatives that align with delivery of the Concordat Action Plan.
- Lead on the development and maintenance of policies, guidance, digital resources and other materials related to Research Staff development, in support of the above.
- Oversee a comprehensive internal and external communications strategy (via weekly round-up emails, committees, digital materials, events, and other creative and social media) to ensure awareness of projects and progress.
- Line-manage a small (up to 2.0 FTE, dependent on funding) team of Researcher Development Project Officers and Interns, to deliver strategic internal and external projects related to Research Staff development. For example, key current initiatives include Research Staff Talent Labs such as Flourish and the Glasgow Crucible, and Research Staff communities such as the Research Staff Assembly and Coffee Connect.
- Embed an approach to project scoping, planning and evaluation to enable GDPR compliant data gathering to inform annual reporting, impact analysis, and to meet all external reporting requirements.
- Represent the Research Services Directorate at meetings, external groups, conferences, and seminars to keep up to date with developments and gain and share across the team information/knowledge of working practices in the higher education context.
- Develop and maintain strong personal internal and external networks to access intelligence and good practice from across the higher education sector, and where relevant, more broadly. Proactively analyse and provide targeted communications/intelligence as a credible advisor to allow appropriate action to be taken to support the development and delivery of research/er initiatives.
- Be an effective team player who is cooperative, communicative and gains the trust and support of colleagues and partners through respectful collaboration and building consensus.
- Ensure that the Research Services mission is shared, understood and supported through consistent collation/storage of relevant data and supporting information and the regular updating of Research Services project status reports and portfolio web pages.
- Work in collaboration with the Research Services senior leadership team to progress the development of an efficient and responsive service within the framework of the University’s mission and strategies, processes, procedures, and systems. Contribute to team meetings, planning, joint initiatives and projects, and ongoing development of the team by sharing information in a timely manner and providing transparency in decision making.
- Proactively identify, undertake, and share opportunities for ongoing professional development, both for yourself and for colleagues the wider Research Culture and Researcher Development portfolio.
- Perform other duties as requested, consistent with the grade level of the position and agreeing appropriate prioritisation of work with line management or other relevant stakeholders as needed.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential:
A1 Either: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4) or equivalent, (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related roles. Or: Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different role(s).
A2 A detailed and up to date understanding of researcher development within the Higher Education landscape.
A3 Demonstrable understanding of the principles and responsibilities of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (often called the Researcher Development Concordat).
A4 Familiarity with theories on adult learning and instructional design, including the role of technology in supporting learning.
Desirable:
B1 PhD
B2 Working knowledge of University of Glasgow structures, policies, IT systems, practices and procedures that relate to support for postdoctoral researchers.
B3 Familiarity with digital applications for communicating with researchers.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Excellent communication and influencing skills, both written and oral.
C2 Excellent IT and relevant software skills and the ability to use them effectively in support of work activities.
C3 Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish effective relationships with staff and services both inside and outside the University, in particular to support development of new policies and practice to support researchers.
C4 The organisational, planning and administrative ability to deliver on complex, multi-stakeholder projects with multiple conflicting deadlines.
C5 Ability to design and facilitate high-quality, creative, pedagogically-robust, and engaging development opportunities for research staff.
C6 Ability to deal professionally, sensitively and tactfully with staff and data, working in an ethical and legal manner in accordance with all relevant legislation (including GDPR).
C7 Ability to work collaboratively and responsibly as a member of various teams.
C8 Ability to undertake comprehensive evaluation of projects, in order to present and report evidence for strategic decision making.
C9 Self-motivation and the ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
C10 Influencing skills when working with others to implement service improvements.
Desirable:
D1 Web-editing and social media communication skills.
Experience
Essential:
E1 Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating events, training, and other innovations in the sphere of professional and career development.
E2 Policy development, including consultation with key stakeholders and effective use of evidence to inform policy.
E3 Design and delivery of a communications strategy to increase awareness of new policy, initiatives or developments and / or influence organisational change.
E4 Experience of managing complex projects with stakeholders from multiple organisational units.
E5 Experience of managing data and producing reports (e.g. to funders and management).
Desirable:
F1 Experience of successfully overseeing the work of staff.
F2 Experience of working with researchers across a wide range of disciplines.
F3 Experience of working with University committees, senior academics and managers.
F4 Experience of developing online learning resources.
World-Changing Campus
We have delivered one of the most significant expansions of a UK university city campus for over a century.
Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has invested in its estate to expand its world-class campus and facilities.
An area covering 14 acres of land next to our magnificent Gilmorehill campus has been redeveloped to build a mix of modern research, teaching and public spaces.
Our new buildings will mean the University remains a centre for world-changing research, as well as a vibrant community hub and centre for public engagement.
The development will transform our teaching, learning and research spaces. It will allow us to bring together the best minds of today and tomorrow within world-class interdisciplinary research spaces that offer flexibility and stimulate collaboration, and modern study spaces that will combine study and social learning space with technology enabled teaching.
- The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is changing the way research is conducted at Glasgow. The ARC is the creative and collaborative heart of research at the University of Glasgow, bridging the boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration and true societal impact . The ARC brings more than 500 world-leading researchers from a range of disciplines together in a building specifically designed to break down organisational structure and facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
- The James McCune Smith Learning Hub is an inspirational and diverse learning space. The flagship building was the first to be completed as part of our campus development, and provides a creative environment, combining flexible study and social learning space with multi-styled and technology-enabled teaching. It can accommodate more than 2,500 students, and includes a lecture theatre with capacity for 500 students. State-of-the-art teaching facilities, with flexible study spaces and interactive teaching for students, help to create a more immersive learning experience.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created a guide to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 27 April 2025
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.
This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open ended. Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.
The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability