Policy and Research Coordinator

Organisation: Cranfield University

School/Department: School of Water, Energy and Environment
Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible and part-time working will be considered.
Contract type: Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period: 12 months
Salary: Full time starting salary is normally £28,203 per annum
Posted Date: 21/07/2023
Apply by: 02/10/2023

Role Description

We are looking for a pro-active, skilled policy and research coordinator to join our team and contribute to the growth of the British Society of Soil Science.

About the Role

Since the World Congress of Soil Science, which we hosted in Glasgow in 2022, the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) is becoming increasingly recognised as the go-to organisation for evidence relating to soil.

This new post will deliver the Society’s strategic activities linked to our policy work including producing draft guidance notes and consultation responses for our committees to comment on and working with policymakers and stakeholders to raise awareness of our members’ collective evidence-base and best practice knowledge. The post will use our policy work to engage with external stakeholders to implement change and to encourage new income streams into the Society. 

The post will also provide policy and research support to other areas of the Society’s business, including developing and undertaking surveys, analysing the results and producing clear reports and recommendations.

About You

With proven experience of writing scientific documents and effective research, you will be responsible for delivering policy work linked to our annual strategy. Your strong communication skills will ensure we engage with the right organisations and maximise the impact of our policy activities. This will include working with civil servants, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and members in senior positions in their own organisations.

Your strong understanding of scientific concepts will enable you to take academic research and evidence and make it easily accessible to a wide range of audiences, with the aim of extending the reach of our members’ knowledge. You will have a strong attention to detail and be able to draft recommendations based on existing published evidence and research.

You will be highly engaged and organised, and equally able to work autonomously and as part of a team. You will be able to work to pre-defined deadlines but able to respond quickly new priorities.

There will be a requirement to coordinate work on behalf of the Society and to attend on site to organise conferences and events, throughout the year.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) was founded in 1947 by eminent British soil scientists with the aims of advancing the study of soil. We represent 900 members and aim to make a positive difference in the sustainable management and long-term security of soils that is critical to solving the environmental and societal challenges we face today.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                    

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Sarah Garry, Executive Officer on: sarah.l.garry@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: hrrecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4596.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 2 October 2023