Evaluation Programme Manager in England

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, and business support teams explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About STFC

As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) develops and exploits frontier research in particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics and space science through activities at UK universities and its own national laboratories, working internationally through a range of long-term collaborative research projects. STFC also builds and operates many of the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary research facilities at our research and innovation campuses. Our Strategy, Planning and Communications (SPC) Directorate brings together the essential functions that are needed to help shape, communicate and monitor progress against STFC’s strategic plans. Our role is to enable the organisation to determine its strategic direction and translate this into a coherent set of plans, communicating these across the organisation. In SPC, open communication and mutual support are encouraged. We are always looking to build positive change in our Directorate: our teams cultivate a safe environment and are ambitious in our actions to challenge inequities when we find them.

About the role

We are looking for two Evaluation Programme Managers who will be involved in getting hands‑on with some of our most exciting and high‑profile projects by running key evaluation and analysis projects in STFC’s evaluation programme. This will include designing and delivering robust evaluations to demonstrate the impact of STFC’s activities, ensuring evaluations are delivered in accordance with best practice in evaluation methodology, and that findings are useful to key stakeholders in UKRI and across Government. The post holder/s will lead projects across STFC’s remit, mainly focusing on large scale programmes or facilities such as the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) and the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN). The post holder/s will work closely with senior management and with staff at various levels in STFC, across wider UKRI and externally. External stakeholders include Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), other Government Departments, universities and industry.

About you

For these posts, we are looking for someone with the ability to think strategically and be committed to continuous organisational improvement. Someone who can influence and make changes when appropriate, and the capability to make effective decisions independently. Previous analytical experience is required to successfully undertake these roles. We are also looking for core and transferable proficiencies and abilities which will enable candidates to develop into the roles, and supported by training, adapt and grow your skills as needs change. We are looking for people who can lead our projects and work effectively with other evaluation experts, including appointed evaluation contractors, to design and implement suitable and robust evaluations to deliver reliable evidence that can advise policy. This will involve work to develop monitoring frameworks, theories of change, logic models, surveys, interviews and methodologies to assess the impact of our work.

Person Specification

• A relevant degree or equivalent work experience in a STEM subject or a subject such as social sciences, economics, mathematics, or other numerate subjects. (S)
• Experience in delivering robust quantitative and qualitative analysis, ideally in the context of evaluating funding or policy interventions, including steps taken to ensure it was robust. (S&I)
• Proficient at developing, influencing and executing strategic plans with sound judgement; able to set priorities, allocate resources and drive initiatives aligned with organisational goals. (S&I)
• Demonstrate the ability to make well informed decisions, seek opportunities, and articulate a vision to others; provide direction and motivation and lead in the delivery of complex activities and/or team responsibilities including with external stakeholders. (S&I)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with keen attention to detail; ability to develop and deliver well-structured, clearly articulated professional documents and presentations for a range of internal and external audiences. (S&I)
• Ability to plan and prioritise work and that of others to implement frameworks or new procedures to deliver successful outcomes; respond flexibly to changing requirements as required. (S&I)
• Capable of working collaboratively to identify challenges, develop creative solutions and implement changes within a team setting; able to lead the successful delivery of activities internally and externally. (S&I)

Additional Information

To apply for this position, please submit a CV and a covering letter in which you describe your motivations for applying and how you meet the criteria in the person specification. You are advised to write no more than 3 pages, and applications without a covering letter will be excluded from shortlisting. CVs should be no more than 3 pages long. Candidates may have backgrounds in research, industry, the third sector or many others, including considering returning to work from a career break, health change or caring responsibility. The perspective candidates bring from these personal and career paths will have value in the role, so please tell us about the experiences you have had that could contribute to this role and your future career when addressing the criteria in your covering letter.

We offer flexible working arrangements and expect this role to operate in a hybrid working model with time spent working at home and in the office. The post holder will work with colleagues across all STFC’s sites and will be based at one of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Harwell, Oxfordshire), Polaris House (Swindon, Wiltshire), Daresbury Laboratory (Warrington) or the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (Edinburgh). There will be occasional travel between STFC sites with the costs covered by us. The post is available as full time, part-time or job-share. Applicants should be open as to their desired working pattern when they apply.

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.