Impact and Engagement Manager

Overview

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role. If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

Job Description – Impact and Engagement Manager (26000080)

Job Description

Job Number: 26000080

Department: Research and Innovation Services

Contract: Open-Ended/Permanent – Full Time

Closing Date: 23-Feb-2026, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement : Not Applicable.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? – Information Page.

The Role and the Department

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.

The Policy, Systems and Performance (PSP) team within the Research and Innovation Services directorate works to support high quality research performance, impact and intelligence through data, integrity and governance, support for institutional strategy development and the compilation of relevant returns including HEBCI, KEF, KEC and REF.

The overall purpose of the position is to assist the University in developing research impact to enhance the societal benefits of its research, and to support the development and submission of impact case studies, engagement measures, and narrative statements to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

The position of Impact and Engagement Manager is a strategically important role within the RIS Directorate. The post-holder will report to the Director of Policy, Systems and Performance and work closely with the Senior Impact and Engagement Managers, one of whom will be the direct line manager of this post. They will work with the Director of PSP to support impact across the University but also have specific responsibility for developing a portfolio of REF impact case studies in the Science Faculty. In this capacity the post-holder will work closely with the Deputy Executive Dean for Research and the Deputy Executive Dean for Impact and Research Engagement within the Faculty, with the Senior Research Administrators and Impact Directors in the associated Departments (Biosciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Psychology).

The post-holder will contribute to the interpretation of the REF rules and regulations pertaining to impact and provide advice, guidance and support to academic leaders and researchers around impact and engagement within the REF context with the aim of achieving research impact that has broad reach, rigour, and world-leading significance.

Working closely with relevant academics, professional support colleagues, and the I&E team, the post-holder will contribute to a community of practice across the University to facilitate the development of high-quality impact and collection of robust supporting impact evidence. They will be involved in engagement activities working alongside academics and RIS teams to produce plans and activities that optimise impact potential. This post will support the critique and writing of impact case studies by relevant researchers in the Science faculty and the Impact and Engagement team who work across the other faculties. Working with the researchers the post-holder will be required to understand complex information and then communicate it in a concise and compelling manner.

The post-holder will support recording impact in the IT Systems and processes for recording impact including encouraging researchers and departments to record and share impact-related information that will enable the University to develop its impact case studies. This data and information will be used for the REF but will also contribute to the submission to the KEF, Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey and any other reporting requirements.

The post-holder will, as required, be involved in identifying and addressing challenges in the impact and knowledge exchange space.

Key Duties

In addition to the above, key duties will include:

• Supporting academics and PS staff to use appropriate systems and processes to capture impact data, to support broader impact culture, REF impact, and knowledge exchange.
• Supporting embedding impact into research to support a research culture in which all can flourish. This will include working with academics, especially Faculty research leadership teams and other PS staff to communicate research impact and engagement to audiences effectively and compellingly, including through the preparation of impact case studies for REF2029.

The role is permanent and full time. Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our Tusker Car Benefit Scheme for electric or hybrid vehicles.
• We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• We provide health and wellbeing support including discounted access to sport and gym facilities and a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector.
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products and more.
• Various salary sacrifice schemes are available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team to assist with practicalities. Visa support is available where applicable.
• Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

We welcome applications from groups under-represented in our workforce and are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

Qualifications/Experience

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
2. Experience of supporting the delivering of the Higher Education Impact agenda.
3. Experience of supporting research impact for, and understanding of, REF.
4. Experience in Science discipline research and/or research impact in the Sciences.
5. Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of services, events, and activities within the organisation.
6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements.
7. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
8. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

1. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
3. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
4. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
5. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

How to Apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What you need to submit

• A CV.
• A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University’s values.
• Review and look for ways to improve systems and procedures that are relevant to your area of work in line with the University’s frameworks and regulations.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise, in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
• Manage the delivery of impact and Engagement support across the University to a high standard.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from staff and others who you work with and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
• Provide specialist knowledge and support when interpreting and analysing complex data and information sources.
• Look for ways to improve processes across all areas of your work.
• Identify any learning needs that should be met by the service and design activities and arrange any training.
• Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.

Planning and Organisation

• Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by your area.
• Contribute to progressing the strategic and operational priorities of your area.
• Seek feedback from staff and other key stakeholders so that the service is being adapted to meet customer expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Analyse data on the level of service being provided by your area to recommend areas for future improvement.
• Meet the development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.
• Provide advice and share guidance with your stakeholders to ensure that the University’s policies, procedures and regulations are complied with.
• Use your operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
• Coordinate and organise committees and other business meetings and deal with any related complaints.
• Update policies and procedures in response to any internal or external changes.
• Use your expertise to provide training or guidance to other stakeholders.
• Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and swap information with peers.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices – Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role. If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk