Please note: this role is only open to University of Glasgow current employees.

Job Purpose

The PGR Policy Adviser will work closely with the PGR Strategy & Policy Manager, PGR team and a wide range of colleagues to lead, coordinate and/or deliver projects and strands of policy, analysis, and project work supporting continuous development and enhancement in the Postgraduate Research (PGR) experience, the PGR Enhancement Programme, and delivery of the University’s Research Strategy. As part of the PGR Policy team, the postholder will be an effective team player, contributing to the ongoing development and implementation of institutional policies, systems, processes and reporting, supporting institutional PGR governance, providing an agile and client focussed service to all stakeholders, and working effectively to build trust and foster collaboration and consensus on PGR matters across the institution. The PGR team sits within the Research Governance, Policy and Integrity portfolio and is part of the Research Services Directorate, Research & Innovation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

1. As part of the PGR team, contribute to the enhancement and development of a dynamic and inclusive community for PGRs at Glasgow, supporting the PGR Strategy Manager, the team, Graduate Schools, and other colleagues in achieving agreed objectives. This includes building working partnerships and generating consensus on projects, leading on relevant implementation work and on the development of effective communications about the project(s).

2. Develop and deliver agreed aspects of the cross-institutional, multi-year PGR enhancement Programme led by the PGR Strategy & Policy Manager and the PGR Executive Committee, through coordinating, contributing to and/or leading identified projects or strands of work, developing required analysis or monitoring techniques, and being accountable for reporting progress against milestones and agreed deliverables.

3. Work closely with the PGR Strategy & Policy Manager, PGR team, Graduate Schools and University Services to provide an effective data management, feedback, and reporting function, including supporting the development and analysis of PGR surveys and other feedback loops, supporting auditing and reporting exercises, ensuring data usage and storage is compliant with relevant regulations, and using data to provide evidence and insight to inform policy and practice.

4. Contribute to the work of PGR Committees and working groups as required, including researching and/or drafting notes, papers or other materials, taking ownership of action points or onward reporting, and ensuring that decisions are communicated appropriately to the community or escalated to other committees as required.

5. Build, develop, and draw on detailed, specialist knowledge of institutional and sectoral regulations and policies, funder terms and conditions, and good practice from across the sector in relation to PGRs and the evolving doctoral education policy and funding landscape to provide specialist / professional advice and recommendations, support projects and service requirements, ensure understanding and compliance with regulations or policies, and promote the dissemination of good practice.

6. Deputise for line manager as needed to represent the PGR Policy team, Research Services, and the University internally and externally in working groups, committees, or other fora, contributing to modelling and sharing best practice.

7. Undertake other duties as required to meet the needs of the team or more broadly within the portfolio and Research Services, contributing to the ongoing development of an efficient and responsive service.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience 

Knowledge, Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4) or equivalent, (including professional accreditation with the relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role. Or the ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles.

A2 Thorough knowledge and understanding of the postgraduate research policy and practice landscape in the UK, and relevant governance, policy, structures and operations related to delivering postgraduate research programmes and support.

A3 Knowledge of project management methodologies and approaches.

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge and understanding of the postgraduate research policy and practice landscape in the UK, and relevant governance, policy, structures and operations related to delivering postgraduate research programmes and support.

B2 Understanding of a wide range of student related processes, procedures and services (such as, Finance, Admissions, Research Support), policies (such as, PGR Code of Practice, intellectual property, Tier 4 compliance) and systems (such as MyCampus, Agresso or similar).

Skills

Essential:

C1 Aptitude for prioritising and managing complex tasks and projects from multiple sources, using excellent time, organisational and workload management skills and balancing multiple, competing and often tight priorities and deadlines.

C2 Proven ability to deliver a customer focussed service, identify opportunities/challenges and proactively put forward ideas and solutions.

C3 Demonstration of an approach to work that is flexible, creative, collaborative, and team-oriented, with a view to creating consensus and building partnerships.

C4 Highly effective interpersonal and influencing skills, including excellent written and oral communication, the ability to make persuasive arguments, prepare minutes from complex discussions, produce briefings and/or reports.

C5 High level of numeracy with ability to analyse, interpret and present complex data, drawing meaningful conclusions from analysis and recommending related courses of action.

C6 Highly developed attention to detail and analytical and problem-solving skills, demonstrating creativity and tenacity where needed.

C7 High level IT skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management.

Desirable: 

D1 Proven people management and influencing skills.

D2 Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive personal information, demonstrating a clear understanding of current GDPR requirements.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant professional, senior administrative experience with a record of demonstrably increasing responsibility and independence.

E2 Experience of working successfully in a complex organisational structure and/or in cross-disciplinary teams.

E3 Significant experience using spreadsheets, databases or other analytical tools to systematically collect, manage and analyse large amounts of data.

E4 Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement and spearheading change when required.

E5 Experience in supporting and delivering project work, including planning agreed tasks and timetables, managing deadlines and reporting on progress and outcomes.

Desirable:

F1 Relevant project management qualification.

F2 Experience of delivering presentations and/or training.

F3 Experience using University systems, particularly MyCampus, Qlikview, Cognos and Agresso.

F4 Demonstrated experience of the use and application of relevant project management and/or business analysis techniques and tools.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum pro rata.

This post is part-time (21 hours per week), and open ended. Three days to be worked between Monday and Friday. Actual days will be agreed with the successful candidate.

Closing date: 19 March 2025 @ 23.45