Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS)
Job Description and Person Specification
Post: PROGRAMME MANAGER: EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE
Academic and HE Support Staff Grade 8: £37,382 - £45,941
The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) is a small Scottish
voluntary sector organisation, focused on supporting the social services workforce in
Scotland to deliver positive outcomes for people who access care and support. We
work through three core teams: Innovation and Improvement, Knowledge Media,
and Evidence-informed Practice.
We wish to recruit someone to lead our Evidence-informed Practice team. The
successful applicant will be a champion and a leader of evidence-informed practice
in the social services. In addition to having demonstrable leadership and passion for
evidence-informed practice, they will be familiar with the social services
environment. They will have the skills and confidence to inspire and engage the
social service workforce to use evidence of all types to improve outcomes for those
they support.
As a staff member within a small organisation you will be expected to be a selfstarter and to take responsibility for the development and day-to-day delivery of the
projects for which you are responsible. You will be proactive in developing effective
networks and in promoting the role of IRISS throughout Scotland.
PROGRAMME MANAGER: EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE
Statement of purpose
As Programme Manager: Evidence-informed Practice you will be responsible for
providing leadership for our programme of work to promote the use of evidence of
all types in Scotland’s social services. For us, evidence includes lived experience,
practice wisdom, and empirical and theoretical research evidence. In this role you
will make a contribution to thinking about evidence-informed practice across the
social services, champion the use of evidence across a range of social service
stakeholders and organisations, and develop and produce a range of resources to
facilitate improved use of evidence.
You will need to be a demonstrable leader in this area as well as a practical doer –
developing strategies, facilitating events, delivering projects, producing resources.
You will lead the Evidence-informed Practice programme, taking responsibility for
developing and delivering an imaginative and effective programme. In addition you
will develop specific IRISS projects, ensuring they are delivered within the timescales
and to the quality expected. You will manage the programme budget and provide
leadership and line management for the other staff within the evidence-informed
practice team.
Accountability
The Programme Manager (Evidence-informed Practice) is accountable to the
Director of IRISS.
Key responsibilities

Enthuse the social services about evidence-informed practice

Contribute to thinking about evidence-informed practice across the social
services and continue to strengthen the strategies developed by IRISS for its
implementation

Create opportunities and ideas for improving evidence-informed practice

Develop and establish relationships across social service stakeholders to
support better use of evidence

Develop, implement and review IRISS’s programme of work in relation to the
promotion of evidence-informed practice in Scotland’s social services

Contribute to the development, implementation and review of the annual
business plan for IRISS

Define the deliverables, resource requirements and work plans for projects,
and manage their development and delivery (revising as appropriate to meet
changing needs and requirements)

Ensure programme deliverables have impact, are high quality and are
delivered on budget and on time

Enthuse and motivate the project team assigned to the projects

Conduct project presentations, compile reports, and maintain required
project documentation

Line-manage the Project Managers within the Evidence-informed Practice
team

Take a lead role in preparing funding bids for the work of the Evidenceinformed Practice team

Maintain effective working relationships and clear communication with
project stakeholders (internal and external)

Represent and promote IRISS at relevant meetings and conferences
As one of three Programme Managers within IRISS you will be expected both to
provide leadership and enthusiasm for your team and to contribute to the broader
development of IRISS as one of the key organisations supporting the social services
workforce. You will be highly motivated to make an original contribution to research
utilisation and deeply committed to ensuring the success of IRISS as an organisation.
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not
an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and
evolve over time. Consequently the post holder will be required to carry out any
other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfill the purpose of the
job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Programme Manager:
Evidence-informed
Practice
Educational/ professional
qualifications and
knowledge
Essential
A post-graduate social
A professional
science research degree or qualification in a human
equivalent training and
services profession
experience
A PhD in a relevant area
Extensive knowledge of
methods and approaches
for the effective
promotion of evidenceinformed practice
Up to date knowledge of
the social services sector
in Scotland
Previous experience
Proven experience in
leading and championing
evidence-informed
practice
Proven experience in
designing and managing
projects
Proven experience of
successful funding bids
from a range of sources
Proven team leadership
experience, including
experience of leading
cross-functional project
teams
Proven experience of
successful line
management of
professional staff
Job-related skills and
achievements
Desirable
Strong networking and
negotiation skills
Proven practical skills in
successful partnership
working with colleagues in
other agencies and
disciplines
A good publications record
Excellent presentation
skills to a range of
audiences both small and
large
Ability to communicate in
writing in a clear and
succinct manner, for a
variety of audiences, and
to expect and deliver the
highest standards of work
Ability to act judiciously,
thoughtfully and
strategically at all times,
and to be sensitive to
political aspects of the
work
Rigorous planning and
management skills,
demonstrating attention
to detail and quality in
every aspect of work
Demonstrable leadership
skills and behaviours
Confident and committed
to the use of modern
information and
communications
technologies
Personal Qualities and
Abilities
Passionate about the use
of evidence to improve
social services practice
Demonstrates initiative,
self-motivation and a
commitment to the ideals
and aspirations of IRISS
Excited about learning and
development for self and
others
Totally committed to
quality and high standards
of customer care
A genuine liking for people
and partnerships
Willing to work flexibly to
meet event deadlines,
staff absences or other
urgent work, including
longer hours from time to
time and occasional,
planned overnight stays
Committed to the
organisational values of
IRISS