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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of the UK's next research assessment exercise.
- Company: Join UK Research and Innovation, a key player in UK higher education research funding.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 30 days annual leave, and access to a Civil Service Pension Scheme.
- Why this job: Shape impactful research systems while working in an innovative, agile team environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in Agile development, NodeJS, TypeScript, React, and secure systems design required.
- Other info: This is a hybrid role based in Bristol with a contract concluding in December 2029.
The predicted salary is between 41000 - 55000 £ per year.
SALARY: £68,525
LOCATION: BRISTOL (HYBRID)
CONTRACT: CONCLUDING DEC 2029
HOURS: FULL TIME
CLOSING DATE: 12 JAN 25
ABOUT THE RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK (REF)
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions, with the most recent exercise concluding in 2021. It is a peer review assessment process involving submissions from higher education institutions across the UK. Research England delivered REF 2021 on behalf of the four UK funding bodies and the results have driven the annual distribution of approximately £2 billion of research funding to UK universities.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
An exciting opportunity to lead and shape the design, development, and delivery of the UK’s next research assessment exercise. We require systems to be delivered to support:
- Administration of the exercise
- The submission of large volumes of research data from all participating HEIs
- The distribution and assessment of all elements of the research data submitted
ABOUT YOU
Working in an agile development team following a user centered design approach. We require passionate and innovative full-stack developers working with a combination of bespoke software and off the shelf products to produce a robust, accessible, and performant suite of systems to support the exercise over the next 5 years.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Development process optimisation
You will identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions
Stakeholder Management
You will mediate between senior stakeholders and build relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels
Programming and build
You can advise on the right way to apply standards and methods to ensure compliance
Availability and capacity management
You can manage the service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets
Information security
You understand information security and can design solutions and services with security controls Embedded
Prototyping
You approach prototyping as a team activity, actively soliciting prototypes and testing with others
Systems design
You will design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity
Systems integration
You will define the integration build
User Focus
You will collaborate with user researchers and sell or represent users internally
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
- Extensive experience of Agile software development and working in SCRUM teams
- Extensive experience of developing with NodeJS, TypeScript, NextJS, React
- Demonstrable experience designing, coding and debugging secure systems including NodeJS/express, RESTful APIs, React
- Excellent skills in web Front End technologies and methodologies such as React, CSS, Tailwind, Styles Components, Atomic Design, etc.
- Excellent knowledge of relational databases including data modelling, SQL, stored procedures, postgres
- Extensive experience with source control systems, including branching, merging, etc.
- Experience with continuous integration and continuous deployment
- Experience designing and working with n-tier architectures (UI, Business Logic Layer, Data Access Layer) along with experience with microservice oriented architectures
- Experience of working in AWS/Azure and setting up complex programmes/projects
- Extensive experience of design patterns such as SOLID and TDD
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BENEFITS:
UKRI can offer the successful candidate:
– Flexible Working
– 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays
– Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme
– Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider
Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
REF LEAD DEVELOPER employer: Research England
Contact Detail:
Research England Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land REF LEAD DEVELOPER
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and its significance in UK higher education. Understanding the context and impact of REF will help you articulate your passion for the role during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in Agile software development and SCRUM teams. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented Agile methodologies, as this is a key requirement for the position.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your technical skills in NodeJS, TypeScript, and React by discussing relevant projects or contributions. Consider preparing examples that demonstrate your ability to design secure systems and work with RESTful APIs.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with professionals in the field, especially those who have experience with the REF or similar projects. Engaging with others can provide insights and potentially valuable connections that may help you in the application process.
We think you need these skills to ace REF LEAD DEVELOPER
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the REF Lead Developer position. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize your extensive experience with Agile software development, NodeJS, TypeScript, and other relevant technologies mentioned in the job description. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise.
Showcase Your Skills: Clearly outline your skills in web front-end technologies, relational databases, and system design. Mention any experience with AWS/Azure and microservice architectures, as these are crucial for the role.
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Craft a personalized cover letter that reflects your passion for the role and the organization. Discuss how your background aligns with the purpose of the Research Excellence Framework and how you can contribute to its success.
How to prepare for a job interview at Research England
✨Showcase Your Agile Experience
Make sure to highlight your extensive experience in Agile software development and working within SCRUM teams. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you successfully implemented Agile methodologies and how they contributed to the project's success.
✨Demonstrate Technical Proficiency
Be ready to dive deep into your technical skills, especially with NodeJS, TypeScript, NextJS, and React. Prepare examples of systems you've designed, coded, and debugged, particularly focusing on secure systems and RESTful APIs.
✨Discuss Stakeholder Management
Since stakeholder management is key for this role, come prepared with examples of how you've mediated between senior stakeholders. Highlight your communication strategies and how you built relationships at various levels within an organization.
✨Emphasize User-Centered Design
As the role requires a user-centered design approach, be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with user researchers in the past. Share experiences where you actively solicited feedback and tested prototypes with users to ensure their needs were met.
