Regional Programme Manager NC3Rs; MRC, Feb 2018

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Regional Programme Manager - NC3Rs 

Employer: MRC (NC3Rs)

Salary: £37,769-44,396

Job Type: Fixed term, full time

 

Science-led and evidence-based, the NC3Rs is the UK’s national organisation for the 3Rs, established in 2004 to accelerate the development and uptake of new models and tools that replace, reduce or refine the use of animal in research and testing. We have shown that science and technology focused on minimising animal use or improving animal welfare, can deliver benefits to human health, protection of the environment and business opportunities.
 

The NC3Rs is primarily funded by Government and has an annual budget of approximately £10 million. Its activities are divided between its role as the UK’s major 3Rs research funder and programmes led by its own team of scientists. Further information can be found at www.nc3rs.org.uk.
 

A major goal described in the NC3Rs Vision 2015 - 2025 is to maximise support for the 3Rs within UK research institutions. To deliver this the NC3Rs, working with small consortia of universities, is appointing Regional Programme Managers who will provide dedicated 3Rs advice at the project, laboratory and institute level.

You can read about the work of our Regional Programme Managers here. 

 

Role of the Regional Programme Manager

The Regional Programme Manager will work with scientists from a range of disciplines and levels (including department heads, principal investigators, post-doctoral researchers, research assistants and PhD students), those working under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (including project and personal licence holders), animal care and veterinary staff, and senior administrators (including those involved in governance and research integrity).

The main responsibilities include:

  • Working with the institutions to identify priority 3Rs areas to focus on, including opportunities for the sharing of best practice within and between institutions.
     
  • Providing expert advice on opportunities to implement the 3Rs in specific programmes of research, including input into project licence applications, as well as identifying opportunities for institute-wide activities such as tissue sharing.
     
  • Fostering engagement in the 3Rs across the institutions, including disciplines not normally involved in the use of animals but where there may be opportunities for multi-disciplinary approaches to the 3Rs (for example, mathematical modelling or material sciences).
     
  • Collating existing 3Rs activities in the Universities and sharing as appropriate nationally and internationally.
     
  • Raising awareness and disseminating the work of the NC3Rs, including funding opportunities, events, online training resources, publications and guidelines.
     
  • Maximising the dissemination of new 3Rs approaches developed through NC3Rs-funded science, including identifying local media opportunities as appropriate.
     
  • Organising workshops and other events targeted to local needs (e.g. dedicated training for PhD students).
     
  • Participating in the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body.
     
  • Encouraging 3Rs research and knowledge exchange, including fostering collaboration between departments, universities, SMEs and industry at a regional level.
     
  • Horizon scanning for research and technologies with 3Rs potential and connecting them with end-users, for example through the NC3Rs CRACK IT open innovation schemes.
     
  • Supporting implementation of a self-assessment tool for universities to benchmark their performance on the 3Rs.

 

Education, qualifications, training

  • A PhD in the biological sciences.
  • Post-doctoral experience either in industry or academia is desirable, as is experience of working under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and/or as part of an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body.
  • Formal training in project management and/or events management is desirable.

Animals in research

  • Able to demonstrate a clear up-to-date understanding of the issues around the use of animals in research.
  • Demonstrable commitment to the 3Rs including where appropriate evidence from activities in previous research or roles.

Personal skills, behaviours and qualities

  • Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal – including the ability to assimilate and distil complex scientific information from a range of disciplines and provide authoritative and effective scientific advice and support.
  • Demonstrable experience of using interpersonal skills to build effective relationships and networks, including working with and achieving results through stakeholders at all levels. 
  • Proven ability to prioritise and plan workload to meet multiple and/or tight deadlines without compromising quality or working relationships. 
  • Excellent service skills and ability to set and maintain high service standards. 
  • An enthusiastic, positive self-starter who works well independently and with others. 
  • Diplomatic with good political judgement.
  • Ability to be discrete with sensitive information.

 

You can find the full job description, and apply for the role (there are 2 posts):

For Oxford here

For Cardiff & South West of England here

Closing date: 27 Feb 2018