Programme Development Manager

The Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) was set up in 2018 by approximately ten higher education institutions, including Durham University. It now has more than 110 UK university and policy members. Institutional leads from each university comprise the knowledge exchange brokers/policy impact colleagues whose responsibilities include disseminating opportunities to relevant colleagues within their institution. The network is voluntary, and is funded entirely by member donations. In 2025 UPEN was awarded funding from Research England and ESRC to deliver a project focused on infrastructure and capabilities for academic-policy engagement. This includes i) supporting people - specifically those working to enhance research and policy connectivity, ii) understanding place and the relationship between local and national research an d policy systems, and iii) practice – i.e. the approaches taken to better connect research and policy.

Durham University is a key partner in this major investment and with Public Policy Southampton is co-leading the area of UPEN Programmes activity that focuses on supporting people and building capacity and capability for people and institutions. The postholder will play a lead role in advancing our understanding of the key skills and competencies involved in policy engagement and developing related ideas and programmes to enhance professional development. This will include exploring what a professional competencies or career development framework for knowledge mobilisers working at the research/policy interface might involve. The post holder will engage with people working in universities and policy settings as well as other professional bodies to gather input, test ideas and co-design a structured package of UPEN provision. They will also lead on the delivery and c oordination of programmes, such as peer mentoring and pairing schemes. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will be a central focus of the programme of work, in terms of approach to activities, delivery of opportunities and desired outcomes.

While there is a broad set of ambitions for the post, it is an excellent opportunity for someone to bring their own ideas and approaches to it. The postholder will be someone with experience of developing and managing programmes who has a strong collaborative and creative approach to work, can connect people and ideas, is able to understand the needs of both policy and research environments and navigate university systems and processes.

This role, situated within Durham University’s Public Policy Hub in the Research and Innovation Services Department, will directly support the Senior Policy Engagement Manager in the successful delivery of this area of UPEN Programmes. The post-holder will collaborate with key stakeholders across UPEN Programmes, including Public Policy Southampton who jointly lead the People pillar of work, the Professional Development sub-committee and the project host, University College London, where they will liaise with the team on a regular basis as well as being responsible for representing Durham University’s interests at monthly meetings, encompassing meeting attendance and the timely delivery of written and verbal project progress reports to the Head of Programmes and Operations. Other key stakeholders include core UPEN Programmes partners and its wider membe rship.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of the job description.

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