Senior Public Engagement Manager (Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health)

This senior full time post is available on a fixed-term basis until 31 March 2022 and will be based within a dedicated Centre space on the University’s Streatham Campus at Exeter

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university that combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter has over 21,000 students from more than 130 different countries and is in the top 1% of universities in the world with 98% of its research rated as being of international quality. Our research focuses on some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. Fifty per cent of our organisation is made up of Professional Services support staff that partner closely with the academic colleges to ensure we achieve our strategy and vision.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic person with extensive experience in creating a culture of engaged research and supporting public engagement in research. This senior role will drive the engaged research approach within the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health in the University of Exeter

Funded by a GBP 4.1 million research grant from the Wellcome Trust, the Centre is bringing together leading scholars across the medical humanities, social sciences and health research with public groups, communities and organisations to explore how we can create and sustain cultures and environments that enable health and well-being across the life course.

The Centre has an ambitious public engagement vision focused on creating a culture of engaged research across all Centre activities and contributing to the theoretical understanding and implementation of different approaches to engaging publics in research, locally, nationally and internationally. The Centre’s public engagement work will also contribute significantly to leading the University’s ongoing commitment to fostering engaged research throughout the whole institution.

The postholder’s main responsibilities will be to:

• Co-develop a conceptual framework for public engagement and engaged research, in partnership with the Public Engagement Group and Academic Lead for Public Engagement for the Centre.
• Co-develop different models and approaches to deliver the Centre’s vision for public engagement and engaged research.
• Identify appropriate evaluation frameworks and develop an evaluation strategy to ensure ongoing learning and reflection on both the processes and outcomes of the Centre’s public engagement vision and activities
• Write reports/ position papers about theoretical frameworks and approaches to engaged research
• Candidates should be educated to degree level and have significant experience of working with the public and developing and supporting a culture of engaged research. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential as is an understanding of the importance of developing and supporting relationships with different publics and academic and administrative colleagues.

Further information is available from the University of Exeter.