Public Engagement Manager

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Job Scope

The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. The Society's fundamental purpose is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science across the wide breadth of research areas.

Public engagement is one of the Royal Society's strategic priorities. Our wish is to engage with all to make scientific knowledge and the scientific approach part of the fabric of society. This includes listening to the views of the public, involving the public in our work and inspiring the public to explore new discoveries, the rich history of science and the scientists that shape our world.

The Public Engagement Manager will support the Head of Public Engagement with operational management and oversight of the public engagement team's core work packages and programmes. This will include line management of two Senior Public Engagement Officers, who work across events (including the annual Summer Science Exhibition), and researcher development (including training for researchers and funding for public engagement activities).

The Public Engagement Manager will provide secretariat support for the Society's Public Engagement Committee. The post-holder will also be responsible (with support from colleagues across the public engagement team) for developing and coordinating the Society's History of Science public engagement programme, in collaboration with colleagues from the Royal Society Library and Archives team.

We are seeking a committed and experienced public engagement professional, with significant experience supporting high-quality public engagement activities and events, who has experience of line management, knowledge of public engagement best practice, experience managing budgets, public engagement funding schemes and training programmes, and experience supporting researchers of all kinds to include public engagement in their work.

The post holder will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Reports to: Head of Public Engagement

Line manages: Senior Public Engagement Officer x2

Pay band: E

Salary: £52,000 to £58,000 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: 35 (some travel, mainly within the UK, some evening and weekend work required)

Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working
Closing date for applications: 12 January 2025

Interviews will be held: WC 3 February 2025

Responsibilities

• Operational oversight of key public engagement programmes, including (but not limited to) the annual Summer Science Exhibition and Summer Science Exhibits on Tour programme and public engagement funding and skills development opportunities for Royal Society-funded researchers.
• Budget management and reporting.
• Line management of (currently 2) Senior Public Engagement Officers.
• Development and coordination of the Society's History of Science public engagement programme.
• Acting as secretariat for the Society's Public Engagement Committee.
• Acting as Duty Manager and/or Events Manager for public events organised by the public engagement team, held at Carlton House Terrace.
• Being a Safeguarding Champion for public engagement activities and events.
• Representing the Society at external public engagement-related events and meetings.
• Maintaining positive working relationships with key internal Royal Society teams and external partner organisations to ensure effective delivery of the Society's public engagement activities.
• Supporting the Head of Public Engagement with reporting on progress against the Society's public engagement strategy and programme to the Public Engagement Committee, Council, and relevant funders.
• Supporting the Head of Public Engagement by undertaking or contributing to new projects and activities as necessary.

Key Knowledge and Skills Required

Knowledge and qualifications

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of office systems and procedures
• Knowledge of public engagement best practice
• Understanding of the importance of connecting science and society
• Knowledge and understanding of current challenges and opportunities in public engagement with research across the UK (and internationally)
• Knowledge of how to evaluate public engagement activities

Experience

• Experience managing or coordinating high-profile events (such as awards ceremonies or festivals)
• Experience of successful project management
• Experience coordinating or delivering training public engagement training for researchers
• Experience supporting researchers to work in an engaged way and/or to deliver high-quality public engagement projects
• Experience of line-management
• Experience of working successfully in a collaborative team environment
• Experience of tailoring content for different audiences
• Experience of managing and reporting on budgets
• Experience of committee meetings, preparing agendas and papers
• Experience of writing for a variety of audiences
• Experience managing or coordinating public engagement funding schemes
• Experience leading or supporting community engagement activities
• Experience of large-scale public dialogue or consultations

Circumstances

• Ability to work flexibly, including some evening and weekend work (especially during the Summer Science Exhibition)
• The successful candidate would be expected to work from the Royal Society offices on Carlton House Terrace a minimum of 2 to 3 days per week.

Competencies

• Self-management: Identifies difficult situations, recognises stress in others and takes steps to reduce it, controls pressurised situations, effectively enthuses those in the team, proactively sets goals and targets for own work.
• Working with others: Actively seeks ideas and criticisms from within the team, resolves conflicts within and between teams, embeds feedback processes within the team, seeks out new networks that will create opportunity for the Society, able to present complex issues simply, uses discretion, tact and empathy when negotiating with and/or seeking to influence others, understands the need to manage expectations and to only promise what is deliverable.
• Resource management: Determines strategy and deployment of resources, balancing cost and benefit; risk and potential for maximum impact across significant business areas, manages complex cross-cutting projects to time, budget and specification, ensures others accept responsibility towards results or quality, sets the quality standards for own business areas in accordance with strategy and contributes to the formulation of quality standards across the Society, sets and monitors priorities, identifies and manages risk effectively.
• Critical thinking: Uses questioning, analytical and probing skills to 'dig deeper', knows when enough information has been obtained and adapts presentation of information to the needs of the audience, evaluates the benefits, practicalities and value for money of ideas and obtains feedback, makes sound decisions in a complex or ambiguous environment and is able to gain support and manage challenges confidently.
• Adaptability: Actively seeks the input and opinions of others, often outside their section and accommodates and incorporates this thinking into any output, actively seeks new challenges and projects; leads discussions surrounding new ideas, approaches and projects, anticipates need for innovation and seeks new ideas, approaches and solutions.
• Managing people and relationships: Sets expectations of others and ensures they deliver, demonstrates a positive attitude towards work, celebrating success and instilling confidence, which encourages the same from others, encourages others to share ideas and participate in the discussion and decisions of the team, assesses needs of clients/stakeholders/staff and makes plans to meet these needs.