Assistant Director (RSSD) Head of Research Performance and Systems Innovation – Research Strategy and Services – 107018 – Grade 9 Full-time

Assistant Director, RSSD (Head of Research Performance & Systems Innovation)

As part of a strategic reorganisation, we are investing in a new role: Assistant Director, RSSD (Head of Research Performance & Systems Innovation). This role will lead a newly formed team with responsibility for research performance oversight and planning, REF management, systems innovation, and research data and analytics. This is an exciting opportunity to work in close partnership with academic and professional services colleagues to shape a new and agile approach to institutional research delivery—one that is insight-led, digitally enabled, and strategically aligned with the University's Birmingham 2030 ambition.

The Assistant Director, RSSD (Head of Research Performance & Systems Innovation) will provide leadership in the areas of:

• Strategic research performance planning, ensuring alignment between research strategy, and performance targets.
• Research Excellence Framework (REF), leading the institutional REF submission, overseeing planning and delivery, and ensuring compliance with external assessment requirements.
• Research systems, ensuring that key institutional platforms (e.g., Pure, Worktribe, and other research management systems) are fully integrated and optimally support researchers and administrators.
• Research systems innovation, working with colleagues from across RSSD and Professional Services to realise the potential of digital innovation in a research support function.
• Research data governance and analytics, leading the approach of the Senior Research Leadership Team, to research intelligence, business analytics, and data-informed decision-making.

Main duties include:

• Leading the Research Performance & Systems Innovation Team, ensuring a collaborative and high-performing function.
• Acting as the University's institutional lead for REF, overseeing all aspects of REF 2029 planning and submission, and serving as a key advisor to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), Director of RSSD, REF Board, and the University Executive Board on matters related to research strategy, REF, and research systems.
• Chairing the Professional Services REF2029 Oversight Group, providing cross-institutional leadership and coordination across all elements of the REF submission, including Outputs, Impact, People, Culture, and Environment.
• Developing systems and processes that enhance research assessment capabilities while reducing the administrative burden on academics.
• Leading institutional engagement with Research England, UKRI, and other relevant external bodies, ensuring Birmingham is well-positioned in national research assessment exercises.
• Providing strategic oversight of research systems, ensuring that platforms such as Pure, Worktribe, and Core Fusion are effectively managed and continuously improved.
• Overseeing the Research Systems Oversight Board, ensuring that research systems meet evolving institutional needs and external compliance requirements.
• Leading on institutional approaches to open research data, business intelligence, and research data analytics, ensuring that data is leveraged effectively to support research excellence.
• Leading a culture of systems innovation within RSSD, working with College Hubs and other Professional Services teams to identify opportunities for digital process improvement, realising the full benefits of digital innovation across all our teams. Lead the 'Systems Innovation' workstream as part of the wider RSSD Change programme.
• Working collaboratively with Finance, IT Services, the Planning Office, Colleges, and other Professional Services teams to integrate research planning, REF, and research systems into a cohesive institutional approach.
• Providing leadership and support for research compliance, audits, and external reporting requirements.

Required knowledge, skills, and experience:

Essential

• Senior leadership experience within a complex, research-intensive environment, with a proven ability to deliver strategic outcomes.
• Significant experience of leading large, complex, cross-institutional projects or programmes in a research-intensive environment, with a proven ability to advise, coordinate and deliver successful outcomes in partnership with senior academic and professional colleague.
• Experience managing research systems (e.g., Pure, Worktribe, Core Fusion) and driving system enhancements.
• Strong analytical skills, with expertise in research data governance, business intelligence, and predictive analytics.
• Proven ability to lead change programmes, integrating digital tools and strategic planning in research support.
• High-level stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior academic leaders, funders, and external regulatory bodies.
• Experience developing research planning frameworks, aligning strategy, performance measurement, and institutional reporting.

Desirable

• Expert knowledge of REF and national research assessment frameworks, with experience leading institutional REF submissions
• Experience working with UKRI, Research England, and other external funding bodies.
• Expertise in digital transformation and research data strategy.
• Understanding of research ethics, governance, and compliance frameworks.

Please ensure that a Cover letter and CV is attached with your application. Informal enquiries to Samantha Weaver, email: s.weaver@bham.ac.uk

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