Job Description:
Citizens and Science Programme Manager
About Involve
Involve is a think tank and charity specialising in public participation. Our mission is to inspire,
innovate and embed effective citizen engagement, so that members of the public are able to take
and influence the decisions that affect their lives.
We are a different kind of think tank. Rather than selling new ideas and moving on, we work in
partnership – with government, other organisations and citizens – to do deeply transformative work.
Citizens and Science Programme Manager
Summary of role
The post-holder will be responsible for managing, developing and coordinating Involve’s Citizens and
Science programme, and in particular, ensuring that Involve delivers strong results, impact and value
within the Sciencewise partnership.
Sciencewise is a programme funded by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, to help
bring the public voice into controversial and complex areas of policy making, particularly those
involving science and technology. Sciencewise supports policy makers to make effective use of
public dialogue in such areas – providing co-funding, specialist support and advice on how to use
these deliberative techniques to ensure that high risk policy decisions are informed by public values.
Involve are one of three partners delivering Sciencewise programme. We take the lead on capacity
building, and provide training to hundreds of civil servants annually on public dialogue and the
contribution it can make. As experts in public participation, we are also designing and piloting
innovative new tools that can offer insight on public views higher speeds and at lower costs than full
scale face-to-face dialogue. We coordinate engagement on one of the most controversial and
complex innovation issues currently facing government – the use and sharing of data; and work to
ensure that Sciencewise’s offer is well calibrated to the policy context. Alongside our partners
Ricardo-AEA and the British Science Association, we take responsibility for ensuring that the
programme as a whole is well managed and governed.
This is an exciting and crucial year for Involve’s work in Sciencewise, as we seek to extend and
develop our training offer, embed this across government, and support policy makers on a journey
towards using dialogue tools independently. Now over ten years old, Sciencewise comes to the end
of its current contract at the end of the 2015/16 financial year, and in the forthcoming months will
be vital as the next chapter in the life of this vital government programme starts to open out.
Working with a strong internal team and external partners, the Programme Manager will play a
pivotal role in the management, co-ordination and delivery of Sciencewise. You will be vital to
programme wide decision-making at Management Team/Programme Board meetings, and
contribute significantly to the strategy, direction and coherence of the programme. A confident
chair and facilitator, you’ll chair the quarterly meetings of our Dialogue and Engagement Specialists
and facilitate deliberative online webinars with the public, experts and policy makers.
Beyond this, the post-holder will be responsible for developing a wider programme of Citizen and
Science related work at Involve, developing complementary projects that build on our existing
expertise and experience. You’ll work with the MT, trustees and staff to agree a strategy for
Involve’s programme in this area, leading the thought process around where the most fertile
opportunities lie, and where we can make the greatest difference to further our charitable
objectives. You’ll be entrepreneurial and pro-active, with a track-record of successful business
development and excellent networking, negotiation and relationship building skills. You’ll bring the
imagination, energy and vision to build Involve’s programme of work, with outstanding abilities at
bid-writing and a fine eye for business strategy.
This is a one year contract, but with the possibility of extension.
Candidates can find out more about Sciencewise here, and Involve’s Citizens and Science
programme here.
Key responsibilities
Responsibility
Percentage of
role
1. Sciencewise Programme management
Coordinating and managing the Involve Sciencewise team.
Delivering training sessions with policy makers and civil servants.
Extending and developing our training offer; brokering new relationships and
repeat arrangements with departments and government agencies.
Leading the design and coordination of an innovative online tools; and
facilitating online deliberative webinars with the public.
Liaising with policy makers and civil servants, overseeing research on the
policy context, and developing offers to meet their needs.
Coordinating cross-government engagement on public input into policy
issues concerning the use and sharing of data.
Working with partners and contractors, and acting as the main contact point
for Involve’s role in the programme.
Chairing quarterly meetings of Sciencewise Dialogue and Engagement
Specialists.
Contributing to overall programme management and decision-making,
including at monthly Programme Board/Management Team meetings.
50%
Ensuring that Involve delivers its Sciencewise work to high quality and
impact; on time and on budget.
2. Business development
Leading the development of business strategy around Involve’s Citizens and
Science programme, including after the end of the current Sciencewise
contract.
Working with Involve’s trustees and with the Senior Management Team to
make decisions around a series of strong options for programme
development and direction.
Leading bid-writing and tender identification.
Strategic networking, relationship building and negotiation.
Writing regular blogs and building a communications profile.
50%
Other relevant duties may be undertaken as agreed with the Director to enhance the effectiveness
of the Involve team and our programme work.
Job title:
Reporting to:
Line-managing:
Key relationships:
Programme Manager
Involve’s Director
Policy Analyst
Director; team members; partner & other external organisations.
This role is based in London.
Competencies
Applicants must demonstrate the following competencies:
Dimension
Competency
Organisational
skills
 Can shape and implement joined up strategies and plans that maximize
the potential for impact.
 Understands and anticipates a wide range of external trends and
developments, and what they mean for the programme.
 Competent at managing large-programme finances (£100-200k), budgets
and reporting.
 Leads an agile approach to programme management and inspires a culture
of imaginative thinking, responsiveness and flexibility.
 A role model for reflection and learning, who demonstrates continual selfdevelopment and inspires openness in others.
 Leads a clear direction of travel and maintains focus despite a wide array
of options and competing priorities.
 Understands and is able to negotiate in a fast-moving policy environment,
with firm grasp of the policy context of BIS, and across departments and
NDPBs with a science and technology remit.
 Strong understanding of the role of citizens in science and technology
policy, and where the value add of the public lies.
Delivery skills
Team skills
Communication
skills
Passion and
outlook
 Able to work effectively in a multi-organisation partnership, and manage
programmes in that context.
 Leads collaboratively with partners and team to manage, monitor and
deliver against common goals.
 Able to build, motivate and maintain strong teams.
 Confident at working with people at all levels.
 Able to effectively manage relationships, including at the most senior
levels.
 Confident at establishing role and authority amongst a group of other
leaders.
 Identifies and builds strategic networks.
 Effectively manages team dynamics when working across dispersed teams
and in a partnership context.
 Able to inspire passion in others, and show how public participation in a
specific programme sphere contributes to the bigger picture of a deeper
democracy.
 Able to translate our mission to inspire, innovate and embed effective
citizen engagement into operational form.
Making an Application
The application process consists of:
1. A CV of no more than two sides of A4. The CV should include:
 A full education history from GCSE (equivalent) onwards including dates
 A full employment history, stating whether employment has been paid or voluntary
 An indication of interests and activities outside education and work
 Two referees with contact details.
2. An application form
Any CVs that are over 2 sides and any application forms that include answers that are over the
specified word limit may be automatically discounted depending on the volume of applications. We
appreciate it when candidates merge their CVs and application forms into a single file document.
Candidates invited to interview will use their CV and the application form to demonstrate their
ability to perform the role, using examples from their professional career to-date. Candidates are
unlikely to be invited to interview if they: submit standard CVs and cover letters; state they meet the
criteria without providing supporting examples and evidence; or ignore the application instructions
above. This post is only open to applicants who have the right to work in the UK.
Please send applications to jobs@involve.org.uk
Application deadline: Midday 23rd June 2015.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified no later than 25th June 2015. Interviews will be held on the
29th June 2015. Due to the high volume of applications expected, we regret that only successful
candidates will be informed.
Practical Information
Pay:
Hours:
Start Date:
Location:
£39,960 - £48,840
Full time – 35 hours a week
As soon as possible
Involve, 33 Corsham Street, London, N1 6DR
Involve is an equal opportunities employer and, true to our mission, we take inclusion in the
workplace seriously. The following benefits are available to staff:
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Workplace pension with employer contributions of 3%
Childcare vouchers
Season Ticket Loan scheme (interest free loan of up to £5000)
Cycle to Work scheme (interest free loan up to £1000)
Phone/data allowance of £13.50 per month
An enhanced maternity leave package (14 weeks full pay, followed by 8 weeks of 50% pay;
followed by 17 weeks of statutory maternity pay; followed by up to 13 weeks unpaid) for
qualifying employees
An enhanced paternity leave package (14 weeks full pay, followed by 8 weeks of 50% pay;
followed by 17 weeks of statutory paternity pay; followed by up to 13 weeks unpaid) for
qualifying employees