Evidence and Evaluation Manager

Evidence and Evaluation Manager

Salary: £46,743 per annum

Hours: Full time or part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)

Contract: Fixed Term (12 Months Parental Leave)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available)

Grade: UKRI Band  E

Closing: 22nd July 23:59

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.  

About the role

BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. It is essential that BBSRC can demonstrate the effectiveness of its investments in order to make the case for continued support for UK bioscience. To help achieve this, BBSRC supports a programme of evaluation activities to assess the impact arising from its investments and draw out any lessons for the future. 

BBSRC is currently recruiting a Senior Evaluation Manager to join our evaluation team and support the delivery of BBSRC’s evaluation programme. The post will give to the development of a robust evidence base of the performance, achievement and impact arising from BBSRC’s investments in bioscience. The post will also work with colleagues across BBSRC to embed evaluation activities, helping to build a learning culture, and ensuring that key findings from evaluations are used to shape and influence future strategy.

Examples of previous BBSRC evaluation work are provided below:

• Industrial biotechnology: https://www.ukri.org/publications/evaluating-bbsrc-investments-in-industrial-biotechnology-research/ 

• Antimicrobial resistance: https://www.ukri.org/publications/evaluating-bbsrc-investments-in-antimicrobial-resistance-research/ 

• Translational funding: https://www.ukri.org/publications/economic-evaluation-of-bbsrcs-translational-funding/ 

• Wheat research: https://www.ukri.org/publications/evaluating-the-impacts-of-bbsrcs-investment-in-wheat-research/

Further details on BBSRC’s vision and ambition for bioscience are set out in BBSRC’s Forward Look:

• BBSRC Forward Look: the power of bioscience: https://www.ukri.org/publications/bbsrc-forward-look/

Your Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the role are:

• Work in partnership with other BBSRC colleagues to design and implement monitoring and evaluation plans for BBSRC’s investments in research, innovation and training.

• Lead the delivery of specific evaluations of BBSRC investments including internally-led and externally-commissioned activities. This includes developing an understanding of specific bioscience investments and the approaches for measuring whether they have achieved their aims and delivered the anticipated outputs, outcomes and impacts.

• Lead on the associated data collection and analysis using various quantitative and qualitative research techniques, including data analytics, bibliometrics, designing surveys and conducting stakeholder interviews.

• Lead the delivery of internal evaluation work including, for example, analysing and synthesising relevant data, identifying suitable peer reviewers, managing evaluation panel meetings, and drafting evaluation reports from the meetings.

• Lead the commissioning and management of externally-commissioned evaluation work, building effective working relationships with contractors.

• Communicate evidence to a wide range of partners, explaining technical information clearly, and describing the implications and uncertainties of evaluation and analysis.

• Contribute to BBSRC’s knowledge and understanding of evaluation and impact evidence approaches, maintaining awareness of current standard process in research evaluation.

The post will manage a diverse portfolio of work that supports the delivery of BBSRC’s evidence base and will be situated in BBSRC’s Evidence and Evaluation team.   The role involves close collaboration with colleagues from across BBSRC, with opportunities to work with the wider evaluation community within UKRI. 

BBSRC is looking to recruit an individual with an enthusiasm and ability to develop skills required to support the evaluation of research investments. The post does not require applicants to have previous knowledge of research evaluation techniques and training will be provided. 

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Good analytical skills with experience of gathering, synthesising and interpreting information from multiple primary and secondary evidence sources. (S/I)

   

• Ability to apply critical thinking skills to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems. (S/I)

• Effective communication skills with the ability to produce clear and well-structured documents or presentations. (S/I)

• An ability to plan and prioritise your own work and the work of others to deliver successful outcomes, as well as respond flexibly to changing requirements as required. (S/I)

• Effective interpersonal skills including working well in teams with colleagues and external partners. (S/I)

• An understanding and interest in the current UK research, innovation and training landscape, and how research gives to the delivery of impact. (S/I)

• Scientific literacy with an interest in bioscience and related subjects. (S/I)

About hybrid working

We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and occasionally at other UK locations.

BBSRC staff will be assigned to Tier 2 meaning a standard expectation of 40–60% onsite attendance (pro-rated against working time) including those hosted by BBSRC. This will come into effect on 1st October 2026.

At times, this may involve overnight stays and/or occasional work outside of standard office hours.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. Committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected]

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee, and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected].