Job Description
Job Description
Position Details
Biomedical Services Unit, Research Strategy and Services Division
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £56,921 to £65,814 with potential progression once in post to £85,544
Grade: 9
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 3rd November 2024
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Background
The REF2021 concluded that the University of Birmingham is one of the best universities for delivering impactful research in the country and by 2030, the University of Birmingham intends to be one of the world’s top 50 leading universities across both education and research.
The Research Strategy and Services Division works alongside our inspiring researchers, and collaborates across other strategic areas of the University, to build partnerships that connect our research and education activities and translate our expertise into real-world outcomes.
Our reputation as an exemplary civic and a leading global university are mutually reinforcing, together, they strengthen our civic credibility and provide the foundation for our global reach. This in turn brings significant benefits to the regions in which we operate, and allows us to bring new insights, solutions, and opportunities for our students, our academic community, our city and region, and the world.
Department overview
The role is based in the Biomedical Services Unit (BMSU) which is within the Research Strategy and Services Division. The unit supports a breadth of in vivo research, working with around 250 research staff and over 70 project licences.
As a member of the Research Strategy and Services Division, the Biomedical Services Unit is dedicated to:
- Fostering collaboration and working as one team to support the research ambitions of the University;
- Improving processes and supporting innovation to provide a sector-leading service to our researchers;
- Providing an inclusive and exciting career path for our professional research support community, in an environment with personal development at its core.
Role Summary
The post holder will interact with stakeholders at all levels to ensure provision of a range of services and advice to researchers within the Colleges of Medicine and Health, and Life and Environmental Sciences. The impact of this role on the academic research agenda is significant, requiring the post holder to lead and deliver strategic services and support in a research-intensive environment.
The role requires substantial business, financial and senior administrative expertise and the holder will be expected to provide leadership and support across several key areas. These include promoting 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animals in research) initiatives, and ensuring compliance with both the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and health and safety regulations, whilst facilitating programmes of research.
The Deputy Director reports to the Director of BMSU who holds the lead role responsible for running and delivering biomedical research services, and acts on behalf of the Named Person Responsible for Compliance. The post holder will support the BMSU Director in the development and implementation of BMSU strategy to ensure the continuing success and future development of the BMSU, and realisation of the University’s overall vision, goals, strategy, core principles and values. The post holder will also act to provide cover and leadership in the Director’s absence.
As a member of the BMSU senior management team, the post holder will also engage with a range of senior colleagues in RSSD and Professional Services more widely, and external stakeholders such as the Animals in Science Regulation Unit, and animal welfare organisations.
The post holder is expected to demonstrate a substantial degree of independent professional responsibility and discretion over a broad portfolio of activities which cover every area of the BMSU agenda.
Main Duties
- Provide line management for animal care staff, advise the BMSU Director on staffing strategies, and guide personnel through periods of change by articulating a clear and positive vision while serving as a role model.
- Take the role of 3Rs Lead. This includes advising both animal technicians and research staff on all matters relating to the 3Rs principles and making a major contribution to the development and implementation of the 3Rs strategy, working to define and agree the strategy and priorities. This will require engagement with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Work with the Named Persons to ensure compliance under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). This includes identifying areas of potential risk or improvement and making recommendations to the BMSU Director.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Work with the relevant units to ensure BMSU safety management meets with University requirements to provide a safe and secure working environment. Develop and maintain records of all safety policy ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
- Facilitate the undertaking of research and the provision of high levels of service by devising and driving solutions that have a positive impact on the operational aspects of BMSU. They will ensure that the overall BMSU strategy and practices properly reflect and positively adopt the University’s strategic aspirations.
- Engage with members of the university outside of BMSU, including representing BMSU at university level for all matters relating to BMSU service delivery, enhancement and compliance.
- Engage with external organisations such as the RSPCA, NC3Rs, LASA, UAR and IAT, representing BMSU by sharing and influencing best practice and further raising the profile of BMSU and the university more widely.
- Lead on the re-development of the university’s externally facing animal research webpages, working with other members of RSSD and Professional Services to ensure the pages promote openness, highlight 3Rs and welfare-related activities, and showcase the high-quality research undertaken in the BMSU.
- Involvement with the financial aspects of service delivery, including budget management for the procurement of major equipment.
- Act for the Director of BMSU as required with delegated decision making and leadership authority.
- Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenge unacceptable behaviour.
- Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent qualifications). A higher degree in biosciences is desirable. Team management experience including evidence of motivating and progressing team development, with an understanding of people management and how to overcome issues.
- Authoritative and advanced expertise in the use of animals in research. This includes current and comprehensive knowledge, interpretation, and application of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and associated Home Office Guidelines, and application of the 3Rs.
- The post holder will be expected to obtain a Home Office personal licence (PILABC); former experience as a Personal Licence Holder is desirable.
- Demonstrable experience of engaging with external 3Rs and welfare-focussed organisations, with an interest in promoting openness and sharing of best practice.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy and high levels of personal communication with an ability to translate strategy into operational plans with measurable outcomes for a range of audiences. Able to provide examples of successful influencing of and negotiation with others, including senior managers and senior stakeholders, developing and presenting persuasive business cases through to delivery.
- Ability to exercise a substantial degree of independent professional responsibility, discretion and judgement to ensure that BMSU activities meet the needs of the researchers and University more widely, whilst remaining compliant under ASPA.
- Planning and managing financial and staff resources and experience of managing a diverse team of staff.
- Demonstrable experience of managing large and complex projects to deliver clear organisational benefits, and of operating successfully at a senior level within an organisation.
- Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to ensure these are upheld by others.
- Demonstrable personal skills in thinking strategically, analytically and creatively.
- Demonstrable professional development through a series of progressively more demanding and influential work roles.
- Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
- Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
- Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.
OH required
The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health clearance prior to appointment.
Informal enquiries to Emma Stringer, email: e.stringer@bham.ac.uk
View our staff values and behaviours here
We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
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