Research & Knowledge Exchange (RKE) Officer

Closing date: 23.59 hours BST on Sunday 19 July 2026

Hours: Full Time – 35 hours a week

Contract Type: Permanent

We are the University of Cumbria, for and from Cumbria and our localities, rooted in serving our communities, with people, place and partnership at our heart. Now is a very exciting time to be joining us because we are delivering a new "Towards 2030" strategic plan focused on making the most of our three most valuable assets; People, Place and Partnerships, to become a catalyst for economic well-being for our region, nationally and internationally.

The Research and Knowledge Exchange Directorate at the University of Cumbria is currently seeking an experienced Research and Knowledge Exchange Officer. This is a particularly exciting time to join our Directorate as we are investing in several strategic programmes, bringing in additional capacity, expertise, and development opportunities.

Reporting to the REF and Research Culture Manager, the Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) Officer will play a key role in supporting and coordinating a broad range of RKE functions and processes. You will contribute to strengthening the University’s research culture, ensuring robust research governance, and enhancing the visibility and impact of RKE activities both internally and externally through effective communications and event coordination.

A central responsibility of the role is to support the implementation and continuous development of research ethics, integrity, and governance frameworks, ensuring that all relevant policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements are consistently applied. The RKE Officer will also contribute to initiatives that foster a positive and inclusive research environment, promote best practice, and support continuous improvement.

In addition, you will provide operational support for the University’s preparations for the Research Excellence Framework (REF), working collaboratively with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure the timely and accurate coordination of related activities.

We are seeking a  proactive and experienced individual with a can-do attitude and excellent communication skills. You will bring both expertise and enthusiasm to a role that offers genuine scope to influence the University’s research trajectory.

In return, we offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, a competitive salary, 33 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, hybrid working in line with business needs, and an excellent pension scheme with 8% employer contribution. For more information, please click here.

For more information about the university of Cumbria, click here.

Informal Enquiries: Anish Kurien | Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange | anish.kurien@cumbria.ac.uk.

We encourage applications from the broadest range of society, including all under-represented groups with particular emphasis on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in our University and in comparison, to the sector.

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