Postgraduate Research Support Lead

Job Description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

RPI supports agreed University and Faculty priorities for research and innovation: income generation, research excellence, postgraduate research student (PGR) experience, partnership development and knowledge exchange leading to income and/or impact and commercialisation of IP and student enterprise. We focus on delivering professional, value-add advice and support to our community of researchers and innovators. We are a well-connected team that understands the priorities of the organisation and our external stakeholders and customers, and the external environment in which we operate. Team members collaborate, reflect, develop their skills and have a risk-appropriate mindset of continuous improvement to our processes, policy and approach.

You will lead a central team coordinating support for some 3,000 PGRs. An excellent PGR experience is a priority in our research strategy. We operate a hub and spoke model; a central team you will lead, and with PGR support delivered in each faculty by a Doctoral School. You will think and plan strategically, using sector networks to keep on top of developments and inform your work. You will maintain oversight and ensure your team is well connected within RPI and with faculties and other professional teams. You will provide expert guidance to academic and professional colleagues on the University's regulations, policy, and procedure as well as student systems, research degree funding and financial processes. You will work closely with the Deputy Vice President (Research) and collaboratively across the faculty Doctoral Schools, academic PGR leads and with key other central professional services to drive continuous improvement and to contribute to initiatives to meet strategic objectives that enhance the PGR student experience. You will play a significant role in ensuring compliance and supporting statutory returns.

The primary focus of this role is to:

• Lead and manage our central professional postgraduate research student teams, working closely with colleagues across the university to seek input, ensuring consistent processes which are fit-for-purpose in a changing internal and external environment.

Oversee the postgraduate research student lifecycle:

• Managing research degree programmes, regulatory processes, quality assurance and systems to support these, and operating effectively within our institutional governance framework.
• Ensure a positive and supportive research environment for PGR students that results in an enhanced PGR student experience, with significant improvements in timely submission and completion rates, and a culture of best practice in academic supervision.

Typical deliverables will include:

• Fit-for-purpose and accessible policies and regulatory documents, such as our Code of Practice for Research Degrees, which balance expectations of statutory bodies, funder terms and conditions and University aims and objectives and which are, in turn, implemented effectively.
• Carefully judged, risk-aware advice to a range of colleagues on complex student issues including progression and complaints, and the application of University regulations in specific student cases.
• Agreed processes that are transparent and consistent. For example, for cohort recruitment of publicly funded PGRs, the management of institutionally matched scholarships and statutory returns.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Leadership and management of the PGR Support team in RPI, setting high standards, supporting excellent performance and managing arising issues.
• Strategic oversight of PGR matters ensuring the hub and spoke model works effectively, and relative roles and responsibilities are understood and delivered.
• Lead, or contribute to, University-wide projects which may arise from new or revised legislative or policy requirements, both internal and external, with respect to PGR students. Consult on and implement resulting changes across the University.
• Oversight of development, implementation and updating of quality enhancement policies and procedures, including the Research Degree Regulations (and updates to the Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes), which satisfy the requirements and expectations of national bodies (e.g. QAA and UKRI) and compliance (UKVI). Ensure that these policies and procedures are communicated to and understood by staff, supervisors and students as relevant.
• Support for training of the central team and Doctoral School teams with the aim of driving greater consistency and efficiency in operational activities.
• Coordinate and review materials connected to student complaints or appeals as appropriate, providing advice and guidance as necessary.
• Review and improve processes and systems associated with recording, evaluating, and following up on student engagement and experience.
• Ensure that student outcomes are monitored, meeting standards set by the Office for Students and the Quality Assurance Agency.
• Work closely with colleagues across the University to develop, review and improve policy, processes, and systems to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop an understanding of the rules for funder schemes and maintain oversight of the allocation of internally funded studentships, scholarships, and other financial awards.
• Oversee the University PGR Committee’s annual reporting schedule using this as a tool to identify and drive improvements to process and data quality.
• Ensure the needs of PGR students and related staff are represented in appropriate fora.
• Represent the University externally on panels and committees relevant to PGR students.
• Actively promote the successes of PGR students, supervisory and/or programme teams both within the University and more broadly, to relevant external communities, including partners, stakeholders and prospective students.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies.
• Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies.
• Access to menopause support in the workplace.
• Paid time off and support for fertility treatment.
• And more.