Hours
17 hours 53 minutes per week (0.5FTE)
Contract Basis
Open ended
Location
Musselburgh
Institute Specific Information
The Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) works to promote critical thinking, practical engagement and social justice on issues of health and development globally, with a particular emphasis on low income and conflict affected countries. We facilitate learning for students from many nations through courses provided in Edinburgh and, increasingly, through online delivery; conduct research; and advise governments, Ministries of Health and non-governmental organizations on issues of health and social development. The Institute represents one of the ‘flagship’ areas of work at QMU, with strong commitment to profiling research of policy relevance and influencing practice through concerted networking.
The Institute provides a vibrant working context, pursuing work of major social relevance in a multicultural, collaborative and supportive environment. We are committed to sustainability and staff development, work in a modern space fostering team-work and use of modern technology, and model flexibility in staff work patterns to support work-life balance.
Role Purpose
This is a key role in the IGHD. The role holder will support IGHD’s leadership team and other staff in the effective and efficient delivery of research programmes. In particular, the research programme officer will be in charge of the communications and research uptake portfolio, as well as will be responsible for financial and day-to-day administration and reporting support for institute research projects, namely ReBUILD for Resilience and REDRESS.
Main Duties / Responsibilities
Specific duties will focus on communications and research uptake, financial administration and monitoring, general administration and reporting.
Communications and research uptake functions (25% FTE)
- Design the project’s communication strategy and lead on its implementation, with support from the PIs/Investigators and in coordination with staff from partner institutions as relevant.
- Conceptualise, produce or commission (where appropriate), and maintain a suite of high quality communications content in relation with the research projects, including written and visual content in digital (video, web, social media) and print (posters, postcards, leaflets, branded items) media.
- Maintain an active and coherent communications presence, including via profiling work on social media, updating relevant website entries, organising virtual and in person events.
- Maintain a log of activity and evidence of impact from activities undertaken including by making use of web and social media analytics.
- Work pro-actively with colleagues to generate ideas and provide advice and support for academic and support staff on matters relating to communications and digital engagement activities.
- Facilitate research uptake activities on assigned projects, by drafting relevant policies and plans, engaging with project’s technical work and audiences, liaising with project staff at partner institutions, press offices, and funders as appropriate.
- Provide support for research uptake activities such as drafting and copy-editing of research and policy briefs, preparing and formatting professional quality reports, presentations and materials for external use.
Financial administration, monitoring and reporting (25% FTE)
- Independently prepare reports on project activities and grant finances in coordination with RGCU and project PIs/investigators.
- Ensure smooth project administration through the maintenance of effective records, liaising with IGHD staff and other university departments as required.
- Create and put in place financial reporting and filing systems as required for the project.
- Provide efficient and accurate financial reporting and storage of financial records.
- Maintain accurate budget records on individual and project funded budgets.
- Contribute to the preparation of new project proposals, leading on the financial and administrative sections of the proposals.
- Administer financial claims, travel claims, reimbursements, and event expenses.
- Manage invoicing, travel bookings and other key logistics such as risk assessment as well as event organisation (including bookings, catering, visitor management, etc.).
Person Specification – Essential
- Experience of research communication and uptake activities, including producing high quality dissemination materials and adapting content for different audiences in a range of media/formats
- Experience of financial and administrative project management work, including budget management and activity monitoring
- Excellent organisational and planning skills with attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to prioritise competing demands within defined timeframes and ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, and to think strategically to deliver objectives
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, spoken and written
- Good organisational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy
- Strong IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and the internet, and good knowledge of communications technologies/social media/website maintenance
- HNC level qualification or above
Person Specification – Desirable
- Commitment to the field of global health and development
- Experience of work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds
- Experience of working in an educational establishment
- Familiarity with risk assessments
- An understanding of how to link and co-ordinate various methods of dissemination/communication to maximise impact
- Awareness of good practice in digital communications and use of social media