ESRC Research Talent Advisory Group: member vacancies

Closing date: 9 September 2024, 5:00pm UK time
Number of positions: Various
Length of term: Up to three years
Time commitment: Up to 10 days
Remuneration: Travel and subsistence for in-person meetings
Interview date: No interviews
Outcomes communicated: September 2024

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is establishing a Research Talent Advisory Group (RTAG).

RTAG will play a key role in delivering its mission to sustain a world-class, diverse and inclusive research base that supports talent across the entire research career.

The group will provide expert input and advice that will:

help to shape and develop our strategy, policies and ideas
provide assurance, monitoring and benchmarking on our research and innovation decisions
ensure that our research and innovation decisions are supported by expert knowledge and insight from members with broad experience across the social science research and innovation community

Who we’re looking for

As a member of ESRC RTAG, you will play a key role in delivering ESRC’s mission by:

providing strategic advice on the development and implementation of ESRC’s research talent strategy and any relevant and related components
providing strategic advice on ESRC’s research talent decisions in the context of the wider research and innovation landscape, and recommending how strategic areas of relevance to RTAG’s remit are prioritised
identifying emerging strategic opportunities through horizon-scanning and advise on the most effective interventions
providing constructive challenge and assurance that ESRC’s ideas, policies and strategies are fit for purpose, taking account of all necessary stakeholder perspectives
helping to monitor and benchmark existing activities and investments, and their impacts

We encourage you to apply if you have expertise in the following areas:

equality, diversity and inclusion
early career researcher representative
research careers beyond academia
researcher development
research leadership
research skills

To ensure fair community representation and recognise existing membership, unless there is a compelling strategic case, we are unlikely to accept your application if you are employed by the following universities:

Durham
Glasgow
Nottingham
Leicester

We will be seeking to ensure a diversity of membership including:

coverage across the UK
a range of disciplinary perspectives
different methodological approaches
members from both within and beyond academia

The group will be made up of six to nine members, supplemented as appropriate with additional invited experts according to need.

What you’ll be doing

The group will play a key role in delivering ESRC’s mission to sustain a world-class, diverse and inclusive research base that supports research talent across the entire research career.

The research base will build the skills needed to lead large interdisciplinary, cross-sector and international projects and maximise the value of our data resources.

Researchers at all career stages need cutting-edge skills to push forward the frontiers of social science across the UK and to excel in an increasingly interconnected, digitised, data-rich environment.

RTAG will be responsible for advising on the development and maintenance of ESRC policies. It will support the delivery and training of diverse social science researchers across the lifecourse to have fulfilling careers in research and innovation.

The group will advise on a range of topics, in particular:

the research talent ecosystem, ensuring an appropriate flow of talented people into social sciences training and professional development for the benefit of research communities and the wider economy
doctoral training and development
research teams, including postdoctoral researchers, research technicians and technology and skills specialists, and research leaders in support of healthy and productive working environments
research culture, including equality, diversity and inclusion within the social sciences
porosity of researchers and their ideas, knowledge and expertise between sectors of research and the economy

This group will complement existing ESRC advisory groups.

How to apply

Submit your application through the Citizen Space application form.

The application form contains the following sections:

personal information (for example, name, organisation and contact details)
diversity information
skills, knowledge and experience

The skills, knowledge and experience section includes free text sections for:

personal statement: why you wish to join RTAG and what you think you can bring to the role (maximum 300 words)
detail on your involvement: in any relevant advisory, strategic, policy, assessment or similar groups, panels, board or committees
experience: describe how your experience and career path to date means that you meet the essential and desirable criteria to be a RTAG member (maximum 500 words)

Your application will be final upon seeing the end screen: ‘You have completed this survey’.

If you have any queries or additional needs to enable you to complete the application form, email: researchtalentdevelopment@esrc.ukri.org

How we’ll assess your application

We will make appointments based on individual knowledge and experience in line with the criteria listed.

We will also consider the need for expertise in particular research and innovation areas, along with the coverage of panel membership overall in relation to the expertise requirements of RTAG.

The types of evidence that you may provide will depend on your background, but may include:

participation on committees, boards or panels
experience of mobility across, or engagement with, a range of sectors or organisations beyond academia
experience of activities related to skills and careers for the social sciences or research more widely, including doctoral training, researcher development and research support for teams in the social sciences
experience of working internationally, particularly in the context of global challenges
experience of working in policy development, strategy development or both
experience of the development of research outputs into real world value, for example in the form of people, policy, infrastructure, data management, standards, evidence of involvement in monitoring and evaluation

Essential criteria

These include:

professional expertise relevant to the remit of RTAG
knowledge and understanding of the social science landscape in the UK and internationally. How UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) works within this landscape and an understanding of the challenges facing the appropriate sector or discipline (both broadly and relating to your own area of expertise)
knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion activities being undertaken in research and innovation across the UK and internationally, and a demonstrated commitment to making progress on equality, diversity and inclusion issues, with experience of improving outcomes
knowledge and experience of policy or strategy development across key social science stakeholders (for example government, UKRI, industry and third sector)
awareness and understanding of societal, ethical or legal considerations related to the social sciences or research more widely
understanding of the interface between academia, industry and other relevant ESRC stakeholders
ability to work collaboratively and productively with other RTAG members

Desirable criteria

These include:

previous experience of working with ESRC or UKRI
awareness and knowledge of the infrastructures, facilities, resources and services necessary for the social science community to carry out ground-breaking research and support its translation into economic and societal impact
expertise in multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary working across fields in the social sciences and more widely, including the formation of collaborations and partnerships and facilitation of knowledge exchange

We expect you to be able to commit the necessary time and attention to your appointment and to have the full support or the necessary permission of your employer.

We will assess expressions of interest against the criteria set out in the role description.

In addition to reviewing applications against the criteria for appointment, we will consider people diversity and institutional and sector balance as part of the decision-making process.

Further information

Equality and diversity

We recognise that diverse ideas, experiences, backgrounds and perspectives are fundamental to successful research and innovation.

We are committed to ensuring that our committees, panels and boards are inclusive, diverse and representative of the research community.

We are committed to the principle of providing equal opportunities for all.

Through this appointment activity, we aspire to increase the diversity of our advisory structures and welcome applications from all individuals and sections of the community.

An equality and impact assessment has been developed to make our processes and group as inclusive as possible.

We will also contribute towards additional costs for caring responsibilities to enable you to attend.

We ask that you provide diversity information that will be used anonymously by ESRC for statistical purposes. This is to support us in assessing how effective our policies and procedures are in eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting opportunities.

This information will be treated in confidence by ESRC and will not be used in the assessment of applications.

Safeguarding good scientific practice

As a public investor in research, ESRC aims to facilitate the highest standards for research integrity.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a signatory to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

ESRC also implements the UKRI policy and guidelines on governance of good research.

Appointees to ESRC RTAG are expected to be aware of their obligations regarding these policies.

Learn more about UKRI’s guidance and policies on research integrity and misconduct as part of UKRI’s good research resource hub.

You must declare if you are, or have been, subject to any current or past scientific misconduct investigations.

We reserve the right to reject any application where such issues are considered an impediment to the individual holding a public appointment.

This information will be treated in confidence.

Last updated: 27 August 2024