Research Lead And Project Manager, Science Diplomacy For Research Publishing Reform

Research Lead and Project Manager, Science Diplomacy for Research Publishing Reform 10 October 2024
About the project This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced researcher and project manager to join our team to lead new work to help drive reform in research publishing, so that critical evidence is more accessible to decision makers and users across the world.
The G20 in South Africa in 2025 is a unique opportunity to ensure that research is recognised as a global public good, by elevating the discourse on research publishing reform and ensuring it is recognised as an important global challenge that underpins human progress. By advocating for effective policy change vehicles, championing equitable funding mechanisms, and driving policy harmonisation, the G20 can help to dismantle the barriers to research access created by the current publishing system.
Building on 30 years of work to strengthen research publishing in the Global South, INASP is pleased to be creating a new project to help accelerate and shape reform of the global research publishing system through more effective science diplomacy. The project will undertake research to understand: the potential of science diplomacy, existing research publishing initiatives in Africa, the impact of barriers to research access on development outcomes, and the political economy of open access for development research funders. Research outputs produced by the project will serve as the foundation for a programme of engagement with key decision makers around the G20 and related international fora.
About INASP INASP – the International Network for Advancing Science and Policy – is an international organisation, established in 1992, with a mission to support tertiary education and research systems in the Global South. For over 30 years INASP has worked with universities, research organizations, think tanks and governments across Africa, Asia and Latin America to strengthen research, teaching and learning, and to ensure that Global South researchers and educators can produce the knowledge that their countries and communities need.
We work to achieve impact in three areas:
Enabling researchers to generate critical knowledge for policy, practice and their communities, by supporting early career researchers and their institutions to work with stakeholders to undertake research that addresses priority problems.Enabling youth to secure meaningful and dignified work, by working with tertiary institutions and their staff to ensure that degree programmes give graduates the skills, confidence and resilience to thrive.Enabling women educators and researchers to lead change, by working with research systems and institutions to ensure curricula and classrooms are inclusive and enable women to succeed in their studies and research.With a base in Oxford, UK, we are a virtual team which spans 13 countries.
The Role We are looking for a highly motivated, well-organized, entrepreneurial Research Lead and Project Manager with strong analytical skills, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills to join the INASP team.
You will be an experienced researcher, comfortable designing and undertaking desk-, survey- and interview-based research, with quantitative and qualitative skills to collect, code and analyze data.
You are likely to have a background in either academic or policy research or have worked in international relations with some experience of applied research methods. Experience working in, or closely with, relevant institutions in African countries would be an advantage.
The post holder will design and undertake research and analysis and lead on the drafting of a range of written outputs including working papers, policy papers, policy briefs, and blogs. They will participate in policy engagement events such as side meetings at global summits, conference sessions and private roundtables and will support collaborations with partner organisations and individual consultants. They will be responsible for day-to-day project and financial management and reporting.
The Research Lead will be part of a team that includes a Project Director, a Senior Technical Advisor (INASP's Executive Director) and other consultant experts. They will report to the Project Director with a dotted line to another senior member of INASP staff. They will be supported by a Project Coordinator and be part of INASP's team of around 20 staff and Associates.
Key Responsibilities Lead design and delivery of projects outputsPlan and develop policy engagement eventsManage the day-to-day aspects of the projectManage the project budget and hold responsibility for project reportingRepresent INASP and the project with fundersParticipate in briefings of senior officialsLine manage one or more INASP staff members and commission and manage the work of Associates and consultantsKeep up to date with the latest issues in both research publishing and science diplomacy We are looking for candidates with Demonstrated experience with basic policy research, including literature reviews and qualitative research methodsExperience in either research publishing and initiatives to increase Open Access or experience in international relations with some exposure to researchProven experience of managing people to deliver outputs and achieve resultsExperience of working in or with research, higher education, government or related organisations in the Global SouthExcellent writing ability with the ability to adapt writing styles for different audiencesCompetent and engaging public speaker for online meetings as well as in person workshops, roundtable meetings etc.Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritizeCreative and critical thinking skills, able to problem solve and identify alternative ways forwardThe ability to spot new opportunities to engage or influenceA proactive, positive and flexible attitude and approach to work, comfortable working within, and managing, a deliberately adaptive project Terms Job Title: Research Lead and Project Manager, Science Diplomacy for Research Publishing Reform
Salary: £37,000-£50,000 (as a UK employee and depending on skills and experience; rates for postholders in other countries will need to fit within approved FCDO rates)
Duration: Fixed Term, 12 months with potential to renew.
Time: Full time
Location: Remote
Please note: INASP is a UK-based organization. For UK residents, this would be a salaried position; for non-UK residents, the post may be in the form of an employment or consultancy contract, depending on the legislation of your country of residence. INASP is unable to sponsor candidates who do not already have the right to live and work in the UK.
This role is contingent upon contract award by UK FCDO.
How to apply Applications should be submitted online and will require the following:
A CV of maximum 2 pages (excluding publications which can be on additional pages)A cover letter of no more than 2 pages outlining how you meet the essential and/or desirable criteria in the job description and what you would bring to the role. Please include where you saw the job advert in the cover letter.Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a short work test, before the first set of interviews. Interviews will take place on the week commencing 21st October online via Zoom / Teams. INASP is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of their race, gender identity, biological sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Applications from people with disabilities, or those with health problems, are welcome and will be given full consideration. Please inform us of any help or special equipment you might need in order to carry out the duties outlined in the job description, attend for interview, or participate in the recruitment process.
We will not respond to any enquiries from agencies.
Data ProtectionWe are committed to ensuring that your personal details are protected and that we are fully compliant with our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act and the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
As part of your application to work for INASP you will share some personal information with us, like your name, address, telephone number and email address. We will only use that information to process your application and to monitor recruitment statistics. We will not share it with any third parties without your permission.
Personal information about unsuccessful candidates will be held securely for 6 months after the recruitment exercise has been completed, it will then be destroyed or deleted. We retain de-personalized statistical information about applicants to help inform our recruitment activities, but no individuals are identifiable from that data.
If you are subsequently employed by INASP, we will compile a file relating to your employment. The information contained in it will be kept secure and will only be used for purposes directly relevant to your employment. Once your employment with INASP has ended we will retain your file for 6 years in accordance with our retention schedule and then delete it.
SafeguardingINASP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.

#J-18808-Ljbffr