CRAC:: vacancythree

Job Title: Employer Engagement Manager

Reports to: Senior Network Manager: HE Institutions and Stakeholders.

Job Purpose: The role is responsible for developing and sustaining CRAC's engagement with businesses and (non-HEI) employers, as well as related organisations such as professional bodies. The role has a focus on the career development of researchers, and is anchored within CRAC's Researcher Development team, but is expected to work across the range of CRAC's activity which concerns lifelong career development.

Issue Date: May 2008.

Applications: Covering letter and CV to be received by the CRAC office no later than 20 June 2008.
Interviews: To be held on 10 July 2008.

1 Main Responsibilities

To identify and develop strategies to address information gaps around the interface between employers, researchers and the Researcher Development Programme. In particular to contribute to building CRAC's knowledge base around employers requirements and the labour market.
To build relationships with key employers of researchers and to engage them directly in the Researcher Development Programme.
To develop a deep understanding of employers concerns and interests and to feed that understanding into the strategic development of the programmes' direction and activities.
To build and manage a network of employers associated with the Researcher Development Programme and to provide this network with appropriate information and opportunities.
To design a range of opportunities for employers to engage directly with researchers and more broadly with the aims of the programme.
To engage with employers to raise their awareness of the USPs offered by employees with a research background.
To run a campaign to raise awareness of the skills and attributes typically possessed by employees from research backgrounds. This may involve facilitiating a range of conversations about the experience of recruiting and managing staff with research backgrounds and feeding the outcomes back to HEIs and researchers.
To advise employers on the recruitment and retention of staff with research backgrounds.
To actively manage a number of key relationships between CRAC and its members.
To work with HE Careers Services to engage employers around activities aimed at Researchers.
To ensure that projects and work plans are delivered on time, to budget and to the required standard.
To take responsibility for personal development and to pass on expertise to other team members.

2 Key Relationships

HR, recruitment managers and line managers of researchers within non-HEI employer organisations.
The Researcher Development Team. Key contacts are likely to include the Director of Researcher Development, Senior Network Manager, Trainer Support Unit Manager, Research and Development Unit Manager, National Provision Manager and Hub Manager.
The CRAC Membership and Business Development Team.
Regional Hubs.
CRAC department heads and the wider organisation.

3 Person Specification and Experience

Knowledge and Experience

E	Experience of working with a range of employers
E	Experience in developing a knowledge base
E	Experience of communicating complex issues to a range of audiences both verbally and in writing
E	Experience in management of resources and priorities (people, time, finances)
E	Experience of using IT to communicate, analyse and present information, manage contact information and present financial information
D	Proven track record in developing and supporting networks
D	Experience of working in or with the HE, postgraduate and research environment or graduate and researcher employment
D	Experience of using databases to manage contact information
D	Experience of working with labour market data
D	Financial/budgeting experience

Attributes

E	Initiative, self-confidence, resilience and willingness to take responsibility for own actions
E	Talk passionately and inspire others, has a positive 'can do' approach
E	Willing to work collaboratively
E	Achievement orientated
E	Understanding of the need for flexibility in appropriate contexts
E	Recognises impact on others and willing to take responsibility for own development
E	Manages self and workload in a professional way, taking a flexible approach to hours of work to ensure the job is done

Skills

E	Understand the needs of your audience in order to communicate with clarity and consideration, verbally and in writing (including writing reports)
E	Use enquiry and questioning techniques together with effective listening skills to get to the root of a problem and/or to understand customer needs
E	Influence and negotiate in order to reach a mutually satisfactory outcome
E	Effectively lead and chair meetings which inspire confidence and ensure planned outcomes are met
E	Manage work plans and projects, recognising boundaries and knowing when to consult others
E	Prioritise and focus activities to create and ensure maximum impact
E	Combine creative and strategic approaches to generate new ideas
E	Think conceptually
E	Use analytical thinking to solve problems and make decisions
E	Lead and work as part of a team, working effectively and productively with others
E	Be business aware and customer focussed

E=Essential
D=Desirable