Scientific Programmes Manager Jobs in Woking, Surrey
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Volunteer Manager to join the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Kew). Volunteers contribute significantly to the delivery of Kew’s mission, supporting all aspects of Kew’s work notably in Horticulture, Science, visitor engagement, schools, community and access programmes and Galleries. We currently count on over 800 volunteers across our two sites - Kew Gardens in west London and Wakehurst, our wild botanic garden in Sussex.
The volunteering function sits within the Gardens directorate in the Learning and Participation department but has an organisational-wide remit, working closely with business areas such as Horticulture, Science, HR and H&S. There is a devolved structure for the management of volunteers with a full time Volunteer Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at the centre with responsibility for delivering the Volunteer Strategy and associated KPIs, policy and procedures. This central resource support is vital for the continued expansion and development of the volunteering programmes in a coherent and equitable way and to a uniformly high level.
The Volunteer Manager will engage with all volunteers, including those under 18 years of age and vulnerable adults. An Enhanced DBS check is required.
About You
We are seeking an experienced volunteer manager who will ensure our volunteers, and staff who coordinate them, have the skills and support they need to confidently and consistently perform their roles to support the implementation of Kew’s Manifesto for Change.
You will manage the central function for volunteers across Kew Gardens and Wakehurst, supporting processes linked to recruitment, selection, induction, training, pastoral care and leavers. You will have excellent knowledge of the UK volunteer sector and understand the legal context of engaging volunteering and how it differs from employment. With excellent IT and administrative skills, you will be experienced in collecting, maintaining, analysing and reporting on volunteer data.
You will be an ambassador for Kew’s volunteers and a visible presence for all volunteers, advocating for them internally and externally. Your strong interpersonal skills will ensure excellent levels of communication with volunteers and staff, and this will include representing volunteers on Kew’s Leadership Forum and chairing the Volunteer Steering Group.
This role is based at Kew Gardens with occasional regular travel to Wakehurst and occasional travel within the UK. There will also be the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.
About Us
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.
Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi!
Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
No agencies please.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Closing date for applications: 11th May 2024, 23:59 (BST)
Organisation: Scriptoria Sustainable Development Solutions
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Flexible (London and/or remote, plus business travel)
Salary: £35,000 – £38,000 – depending on experience
Start date: ASAP
Do you have a scientific PhD and postdoc/industry experience? Do you want to apply your scientific skills and research experience to health and sustainable development projects? Are you interested in meeting people, sharing your skills and learning to be a first-class communicator? Then this is the job for you.
Who we are
Scriptoria is a values-driven, ethically-focused consulting company that has a strong international reputation for excellence. We specialise in helping clients around the world to tackle sustainable development, poverty reduction, health, and climate and environmental issues. Our Consulting, Data, Communications and Training Teams focus on knowledge management, data management and communications to help research, international development, government and other organisations better manage information and communicate their findings.
Who we're looking for
We are looking for a dynamic new team member with a PhD in a science/STEM subject to join our innovative Consulting Team and to contribute to the work of our Data and Training Teams. Agriculture and the health sciences are areas we are particularly interested in.
Specifically, we want an individual with a passion for research and sustainable development, a friendly, outgoing personality and a willingness to learn new skills. We’re looking for someone who wants to engage with international development and research projects to help them work more efficiently and have a greater impact.
This role will offer a range of experience and the opportunity to contribute to the diverse range of services that Scriptoria provides.
Approximately half of your time will be spent working with our exceptionally experienced team of knowledge management and data consultants to help us develop and deliver cutting-edge data-management/analytics solutions and project-management software systems to our clients. Your work will also involve working to help us manage and organise the projects we deliver to clients. The other half of your time will involve meeting with and training clients (to pass on your skills in research communications), both online and through face-to-face courses. Finally, you will be encouraged to contribute to company-wide strategy and business development.
Your role will include:
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Helping sustainable development and research programs to develop and implement digital tools and analytics systems to better manage their workflows and use their data
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Working with projects in Africa and Asia to provide technical advisory and consulting services to help them to better manage and share information, knowledge and data
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Training and mentoring international researchers by delivering courses, workshops, and individual support in areas including journal article/report writing, grant writing, project management and communications for non-specialists
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Contributing to business development across the company, including marketing and client outreach.
Working with Scriptoria
Our senior team has an exceptional skill set, and we recognise that candidates with all the skills we need simply may not exist. But don’t worry, if you have some of the skills we want but lack others – we will train you to fill those gaps. This will include thorough training in the delivery of our well-respected training courses.
Our staff have the choice to work wholly or partly from home or from our office in Tooting, SW London, during regular operational hours (08.30-17.30). If working from home, staff must have a working environment suitable for holding video-call meetings/training sessions with clients.
Wherever you work, you will interact regularly with senior team members to gain new skills and exchange ideas.
This job will require regular travel to deliver training courses (mostly in the UK, estimated 2 to 8 days per month) and may also involve international travel, including to developing countries. So, applicants must be willing to travel (in line with UK government guidance).
Key skills and experience
Essential
Qualifications and skills
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A PhD in a quantitative STEM research subject
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2 years minimum of postdoc/industry experience (in a research or research-support role)
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A strong understanding of research processes and data analysis and management
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A demonstrated talent for writing - including writing journal articles and writing for non-specialists
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At least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal
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Experience delivering live training/teaching courses
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An excellent, practical knowledge of MS Excel and MS PowerPoint
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Excellent English language skills, to the standard of a native speaker
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The right to work in the UK
Characteristics and interests
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A friendly, open personality (bright, resilient, cheerful, confident)
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A passion for international development and building researchers’ skills
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An interest in information management and technology, data systems and analytics and in helping create new IT systems and software (programming skills are not required for this role)
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A willingness to travel and to take a flexible approach to working hours when travelling
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The confidence required to give presentations and training courses and to lead (facilitate) meetings, online and in person
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The ability to work very well under pressure and self-manage
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The ability to juggle multiple tasks and work alongside the company Directors
Desirable
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Experience working on collaborative research projects with international partners
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Experience working with programs such as Microsoft SharePoint or other knowledge management tools
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Experience with statistical analysis in R
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Experience in grant writing and/or grant management
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Experience writing communications materials that translate science for non-specialists and encourage engagement
Salary and annual leave
Salary will depend on qualifications and experience but is expected to be between £35,000 and £38,000 p/a (depending on experience). Annual leave is 25 days per year plus public holidays (33 days).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Advisor - Marine
£55,000 - £60,000 pa
Woking, GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working
This is a UK based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.
With an established track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy as well as a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus, you understand the importance of creating a world where people and nature can thrive together. That is why this role as Chief Advisor – Marine with the world’s leading independent conservation organisation is perfect for you.
Our major goal is to find solutions to the Triple Challenge of restoring nature, tackling climate change and feeding a growing global population all within the available resource limits of our one planet. As a member of our Science Team, you will help ensure we are viewed by the academic community and specialist bodies as a science and evidence-based organisation with conservation programmes and communications that are always informed by the latest scientific thinking.
As Chief Advisor you will lead our scientific understanding on marine issues and their impacts on the natural world and human society. You will help guide WWF-UK and WWF Network strategies on marine issues as well as help find solutions to address our Triple Challenge and reverse the decline in global biodiversity. We will look to you to provide technical support to our conservation and blue carbon work in UK coastal waters and be the lead expert on ocean systems and the drivers impacting them, including the potential for ocean tipping points. You will also act as a primary contact in your area of expertise with relevant UK government departments, specialists in the private sector, other NGOs and international policy-makers and have the ability to influence policy. You will help identify and fill knowledge gaps as well as provide the evidence underpinning WWF policy positions.
To play your part in saving our planet, you must have a track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy, coupled with a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus and the negative drivers impacting ocean systems. You will also possess a good grasp of current science and policy debates, along with experience of providing strategic leadership to organisations and programmes. You will have sound knowledge of international policy and governance structures as they relate to the oceans including the UNFCCC, CBD and the High Seas Treaty.
Effective at influencing key political and business stakeholders and shaping policy debates, you will also have excellent communication and advocacy skills. Good at building relationships, you will be comfortable inspiring direct reports and translating knowledge into policy, communications and programme design. Of course, you will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the natural world and WWF’s core mission too.
If you have the knowledge to provide scientific expertise and advice across our organisation to help us build a movement in defence of nature, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website via the link, complete the online registration and submit a copy of your up-to-date CV with the Supporting Statement highlighting what makes you a good fit for us.
WWF UK are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, we acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team via our website.
Our policies and benefits reflect the importance of people being able to have a good work-life balance and being able to bring their ‘full self’ to work.
WWF-UK believes anyone who is involved in our work or connected to it, especially children, should be safe from harm. Our first priority will always be to safeguard anyone at risk of harm or abuse. WWF-UK operates robust recruitment practices to ensure candidates for all roles are suitable. Our process includes values-based questions during interviews and annual performance reviews, reference checks that we verify orally, criminal records checks (at the appropriate level) and pre-employment declarations. We do not tolerate any form of abuse or exploitation and act robustly to any allegations or concerns.
Our world needs you like never before. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world, and we could be the last that can do anything about it. We are looking for people who are passionate about making it politically, socially and economically unacceptable to destroy our planet’s natural resources. We need you to join us in the fight for our world.
About us:
Action for M.E. is the only charity in the UK providing direct support including healthcare to children and adults with M.E.. We provide vital support services, campaign for change and invest in ground-breaking research to help put an end to the ignorance, injustice and neglect experienced by people with M.E.
Opportunity:
Having been paused to new referrals, Action for M.E.’s free, independent, Adults Advocacy service will soon be re-opening. It’s one of our range of free Support Services that work with adults, young people, and/or families living with M.E. We support colleagues across the team to take part in and share reflective practice, self-care, peer-support and training.
Our Adults Advocacy service offers non-statutory, single-issue, instructed advocacy for adults with a confirmed diagnosis of M.E. We encourage self-advocacy where possible, though many of our clients are too severely affected by M.E. to be able to take undertake this.
As an Adults Advocate, you will manage a caseload of clients, as well as inputting and contributing to the triage process along with your Advocacy colleagues. You will meet with clients by phone, email, Zoom and/or SMS; we can also facilitate communication by post if this is required. We are not able to offer home visits or face to face meetings.
What we can offer you:
We offer fully remote and flexible working with generous annual leave (30 days plus bank holidays, pro rata). The wellbeing of our staff is important to us, we offer a range of benefits to employees including (but not limited to) access to free counselling and voluntary wellbeing weekday sessions, examples of recent sessions include guided group meditations and a book club.
To view the full job description, download the job pack, and apply for this role, please visit our Recruitee site (please note that we only accept applications via Recruitee; any application sent directly to an Action for M.E. mailbox will not be considered).
Should you have any questions about the role, or require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to contact our recruitment team, details of how to do this are contained in the application pack, "how to apply" section.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.