Manager - Evidence and Evaluation

The role of BBSRC Manager, Evidence and Evaluation (Analysis) enables insightful analysis to advise strategic planning and decision making. With a diverse and varied workload, this role works within the Evidence and Evaluation function, within the Strategic Planning, Evidence and Engagement Domain of BBSRC.

You will play a key role in producing analyses, working with a range of data sources, predominantly BBSRC research and training investments. Also, the associated outputs and outcomes, along with data from other funders (across UKRI, nationally and internationally), reporting on these portfolios, looking for trends and patterns in the data, and providing the evidence base to inform BBSRC. Spanning the full remit of BBSRC science, you will work collaboratively with colleagues across BBSRC and the wider UKRI.

In your analysis and with support from the wider team, you will have the flexibility to use a range of data analytics approaches, including commercial tools such as Power BI or Tableau or open-source software such as R and VOS viewer. Approaches currently used within the team span text analysis (text mining, searching, clustering), network analysis (to explore collaborations and interactions), research classification and a range of data visualisation approaches to support the dissemination of analyses to our key collaborators.

A bioscience background would be beneficial in this role. With analysis also core to this role, you will be numerate and IT literate with strong analytical and data visualisation skills, with the ability to analyse complex raw data and derive relevant information accurately and responsibly. Programming experience with R is desirable. You will be well organised and adaptable to change, with the ability to work flexibly across a range of activities and competing demands. Excellent team working and interpersonal skills are essential, together with effective communication skills.

Specific responsibilities of this role include:

• Contributing to strategic analyses of the BBSRC portfolio working with a variety of data sources, relating to BBSRC and other funders both nationally and internationally, including both grants and research outputs (e.g. publications) data.
• Working closely with BBSRC subject matter experts to define and analyse research portfolios, identifying awards by text searching, document clustering and auto-classification approaches.
• Summarising and visualising data relating to research portfolios, tailoring analyses to meet the needs of stakeholders both within BBSRC, across UKRI and externally.
• Supporting the development of various standard reports and dashboards relating to BBSRC investments and outputs data. This includes linking multiple data sources for integrated analysis, ensuring that source datasets are produced accurately and that dashboards are fit for purpose and intuitive to use.
• Contribute to responses for requests for information on BBSRC research investments, including Parliamentary questions, Ministerial briefing, and Freedom of Information requests, ensuring the data underpinning responses is robust and provided with appropriate context.
• Working independently and with other members of the team to build on existing practices for data analysis and visualisation, improving current methods or applying new approaches to discover and communicate relevant insights into our data which advise our strategic planning and decision-making. This includes: supporting work on the development of machine learning and auto-classification approaches; text mining and analytics for new knowledge discovery; and data visualisation approaches.
• Assisting in the monitoring of research investments data quality, arranging amendments as necessary and ensuring data accuracy and timeliness; this includes ensuring the research classifications are maintained.
• Participate in group and office wide activities, for example, attending BBSRC, cross UKRI and external meetings and deputising for colleagues within the Evidence and Evaluation Function as required.

The post may require some travel and/or work outside normal working hours on occasion.

Position and Person Requirements:

Shortlisting (S) and Interview (I) criteria:

Essential

• Hold a degree in a biological (or related) subject and/or equivalent relevant experience. (S)
• IT literate with extensive experience of the Microsoft Office Suite. (S)
• Excellent written communication skills. (S)
• Strong communication and presentation skills. (I)
• Experience of data analysis and visualisation with R or another programming language (S&I)
• Excellent analytical skills and highly numerate, with the ability to analyse complex raw data and derive relevant information accurately and responsibly. (S&I)
• Ability to work to a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. (S&I)
• Experience of data visualisation approaches/an interest in learning new software. (S&I)
• Ability to establish and maintain productive and professional working relationships (S&I)
• Personal initiative and judgement and ability to work independently and proactively, as well as part of a team. (S&I)
• Excellent organisation skills, ability to meet deadlines and prioritise own tasks and work of others, including adapting flexibly to changing priorities. (S&I)
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems. (I)
• Genuine interests in the aims and objectives of UKRI-BBSRC. (S&I)

Desirable

• PhD or equivalent higher degree in a biological or related subject (S)
• Experience of working with data visualisation software, such as Power BI or Tableau (S&I)
• Experience working with database software, such as Access or SQL, or Alteryx workflows for data management. (S&I)
• Experience of machine learning, statistical modelling, or text mining approaches. (S&I)
• Experience classifying research documents. (S&I)
• Appreciation of UKRI-BBSRC’s role within the UK research and innovation landscape. (S&I)