The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a new national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology. We have recently celebrated our 5 year anniversary and our science is going from strength to strength. We are committed to developing our students to become leading scientists of the future.
Role overview
We launched our PHD programme in 2020 and will be welcoming our third cohort in October 2023. This role is key to ensuring that the scheme delivers against expectations of funders, students and the Franklin overall. Building a support network and providing a wide range of training opportunities to give the students exposure to variety of skills and experiences which will enhance their future career opportunities.
Reporting to the Director of HR but with close collaboration with the Programme Director, Recruitment Specialist, Communications and Engagement Manager and Director of Strategic Marketing.
Responsibilities
You will:
Manage the student journey from enquiry to graduation.
Work collaboratively with PHD candidates/students, their supervisors and key scheme influencers to continue to build and develop the programme.
Maintain an annual calendar of activities for all cohorts and ensure the smooth running of the programme through all key milestones, including induction, reviews, project allocation etc.
Work closely with both internal and external stakeholders to communicate progress of key milestones and provide updates on the progress of all cohorts.
Meet with PHD students to monitor their wellbeing and achievements and work with supervisors to resolve issues.
Design and deliver the PhD recruitment activity which supports the Franklins ED&I strategy to reach a diverse range of candidates and opens up opportunities for under-represented groups into STEM.
Build awareness of the programme and promote the scheme externally.
Building sustainable partnerships with a variety of academic institutions to deliver the programme and provide challenging opportunities for the students.
Line manage the Training Co-ordinator.
Work with the HR team to build a portfolio of career development opportunities (including mentoring and coaching) and support the development of career structures for science, technical and professional roles within the Franklin.
Selection criteria
Skills and experience:
Ability to manage multiple parallel activities and projects
Experience in training programme design and delivery – preferably within a scientific and or academic environment
Understanding of training principles and practice in research
Strong project delivery
Experience in project analysis, evaluation and reporting
Ability to work at pace and meet deadlines
Ability to communicate well with and work alongside a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders
Have worked in or have an understanding of an academic environment and the challenges faced by post-graduate students
Flexibility to take on other tasks when needed
Calm under pressure
Team player
Commitment to personal development
Comfortable taking on new challenges and learning new skills
Excellent organisational and strong IT skills
Ability to work well within a team and support other team members when needed
Preferable but not essential undergraduate qualification in relevant subject or postgraduate qualification
Values and behaviours
Utility: The ideal candidate will be comfortable designing new systems and processes, bringing a range of best practice and knowledge together from across the community to create something new.
Engagement: The candidate will be able to take on board multiple needs and perspectives when planning and delivering projects.
Learning: The candidate will be committed to developing their own skills and practice as a team member, and work with others to gain a broad understanding of our world.
In return we offer:
25 days holidays + site close for Christmas (in addition to your allowance)
Hybrid working
Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
Bus pass discount scheme
Access to employee discount platform via Perkbox (discounts/wellbeing/Employee Assistance/counselling)
Occupational Health services
Health cash plan
Access to wellbeing resources through Thrive
Subsidised on-site canteen
Free on-site parking
Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff
About Us
The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a new national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology.
The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it. For further information, view our .
Applications for flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.
Location: The Franklin is based in Harwell Campus, UK’s innovation hub and well-established as one of the leading science and innovation campuses in Europe.
At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we welcome applications from all around the world!
To be considered for this role, please send a CV and cover letter through explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. Please include information about your education and work experience.
Closing date for applications is Sunday 12th August 2023 ; however, we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we find the right candidate.
Applicants should refer to our
