Project Officer (Engagement)

The Project Officer (Engagement) role offers an exciting prospect for an individual passionate about creating inclusive opportunities for diverse groups to engage with contemporary STEM research, particularly at the intersection of computing, digital skills and heath. Groups will include young people, patients/people with lived experience of varied health conditions and other community organisations or public groups.

The post will be responsible for coordinating the development, delivery and evaluation of ambitious engagement and involvement activities in the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB), an interdisciplinary research centre based at the University of Birmingham which bridges the Schools of Mathematics and Computer Science and the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (Medical and Dental Sciences).

The postholder will need excellent communication, time management and interpersonal skills to motivate and enthuse researchers, project partners and public contributors to meet different project targets over sustained periods of time. This will include development and delivery of age-appropriate educational workshops, showcases, work experience placements and a hackathon event focused on how digital and computing skills can be acquired and applied to better understand and improve human health and medicine. These activities will primarily target diverse young people aged 11-16 from the Birmingham region, along with their families and communities. Content will connect to SMQB research challenge areas and draw on creative, hands-on engagement methods. The postholder will also liaise with collaboration partners including Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum to make the most their inspirational settings and opportunities.

There will be a focus on high quality engagement, with the goal of generating mutual benefit, learning and capacity building for all involved. The postholder will also consult with the wider computer science community to develop a suitable online public engagement symposium that will offer the opportunity for different individuals and groups nationally to share best practice with each other and to undertake skills training to support their future public engagement activities. The postholder will also play a key role in supporting SMQB’s priorities in generating research impact and knowledge exchange, so having an awareness of the role science plays in broader society will be advantageous.

In addition to being a collaborative team-player, the role is ideally suited to a creative self-starter who enjoys taking the initiative to independently progress and complete a wide variety of tasks, under guidance from SMQB’s management team. The ability to problem-solve and think imaginatively will also serve the postholder well, as there will be ample opportunity to shape plans in creative ways supported by digital artist and lived experience input. The role will sometimes require flexible working patterns to accommodate activities that must take place outside of core working hours. An understanding of GDPR regulations and the importance of confidentiality and risk assessments is necessary, as the role will frequently liaise with members of the public. An enhanced DBR check will be required of the role.

Informal enquires to Dr Caroline Gillett, email c.d.t.gillett@bham.ac.uk. To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button below or visit our careers website; https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/requisitions quoting 101013.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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