Research and Innovation Capacity Development Manager

**Open only to current employees at the Univerisity of Leeds**

Are you an experienced Research Development or Academic Workforce Development professional with a passion for supporting co-produced interdisciplinary research? Do you believe in the power of SHAPE or STEAM research to provide genuine solutions to society’s biggest challenges? Are you passionate about engaging all communities, individuals and sectors in research to democratise knowledge generation and inspire new ways of developing solutions? Do you enjoy coaching, mentoring and empowering diverse research teams to increase their ambition, develop their skillset, and engage in innovative, ambitious and groundbreaking research activity?

Acting as a revolving doorway between the University and the wider world, Leeds Institute for Societal Futures brings academic expertise into dialogue with lived experience, industry insight and community knowledge. Our work is rooted in collaboration, driven by the belief that the best ideas emerge when knowledge is shared, not siloed. We work side by side with those leading change on the ground, offering an open and respectful space for partnership, co-creation and action. As a result, we develop practical, policy-relevant solutions that deliver meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally.

We are looking for a Research & Innovation Capacity Development Manager to lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of a suite of cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral capacity-building initiatives in research and innovation (R&I). The postholder will play a pivotal role in strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, embedding co-creation practices, and enhancing ability to secure and deliver high-quality research and impact outcomes across our internal and external research networks. Working across all academic disciplines and a diverse range of external partners from all sectors and communities, they will champion innovative approaches to researcher development, knowledge exchange, and challenge-led collaboration. They will be a confident coach, mentor, facilitator and research development expert with a comprehensive understanding of the skills, experience and capabilities needed to deliver significant societal impact from research and drive social change, and with the capability to uncover these qualities in others.

We are looking for an accomplished, experienced, and self-motivated research development and/or academic leadership development expert. As an exceptional facilitator, you will be an expert at translating understanding of expertise and lived experiences between diverse audiences and different backgrounds. You will be an accomplished designer of training and coaching programmes with a deep understanding of the specific skills, behaviours, challenges and opportunities that arise within interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral academic research collaborations. In particular, you will be a dedicated advocate of community engagement and voice enhancement, able to support even the most underrepresented communities and individuals to engage meaningfully with complex and high-impact challenge-based research. You will have the capability to build close working relationships with diverse, cross-disciplinary internal and external networks to ensure the activity of the institute is championed, disseminated and translated into real-world societal change. You will also train, coach and mentor our networks to work together, design their research strategies, develop specific projects and funding opportunities, and increase their capacity to work across disciplines, methodologies, sectors and communities in a productive and effective way. As such, a high-level of expertise in both research development, and facilitation and leadership development, is essential. You will be expected to actively pursue appropriate CPD and horizon scanning to ensure your expertise remains at the forefront of strategic, national and global government priorities and societal needs relevant to our remit, and to contribute positively to the development of a constructive, solution focused and empowering atmosphere both within the immediate Institute team and our wider networks. You will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluating delivery in this area and reporting against strategic aims and KPIs, then refining the service to support a culture of continuous improvement.

This appointment comes at a particularly exciting time to join our Institute. The University of Leeds Strategic Plan (2020-2030) sets out an ambition to place the University at the heart of a global network, finding innovative solutions to regional, national, and global challenges. Key to delivering this vision is the development and launch of two Leeds Institute for Societal Futures (Societal and Climate,) that will exemplify our strategy to combine research and innovation, knowledge exchange, and education, to deliver global impact. Leeds Institute for Societal Futures (LISF) will generate additional academic outcomes that could not be achieved by individual faculties or schools, through a focus on interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary collaborations; and will enhance the University’s external standing and impact in major global challenge areas. The Institute will also remove barriers for inter-faculty research, collaboration and postgraduate education and become recognised a centre of excellence for tackling global challenges and driving world-changing research, education and knowledge exchange through impactful international partnerships.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of the Institute’s R&I capacity development strategy in partnership with the Institute Senior Leadership Team, and especially the Deputy Director (Research & Engagement) and Head of Leeds Institute for Societal Futures.

• Identify, develop, shape and oversee strategic initiatives to build cross-sectoral, inter-, multi- trans-disciplinary and co-produced user-led research capability and enhance institutional competitiveness.
• Provide high-level strategic advice to senior leaders on developing institutional capacity in interdisciplinary, challenge-led research.
• Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of a series of targeted coaching and mentoring programmes for researchers at all career stages.
• Develop and deliver advanced training in interdisciplinary skills, cross-sectoral/cross-disciplinary communication, co-creation, and research impact design.
• Lead, coordinate and empower four cross-institutional, cross-sectoral challenge area research networks, made up of academic, academic-related and external professionals and research users, driving sustained engagement and collaborative activity, organising and chairing regular network meetings and events, ensuring regular communications and engagement activity is delivered and designing and delivering activity relevant to the needs of the network.
• Oversee the delivery of in-house pump-priming funding rounds, providing expert guidance to applicants to maximise quality and success rates.
• Design and lead quality-enhancement training and development initiatives that aim to increase research income per FTE and deliver demonstrable societal impact.
• Promote and embed best practice in co-production and community engagement within research design.
• Monitor and report on programme outcomes, demonstrating return on investment and alignment with institutional KPIs.
• Actively represent the Institute and University in internal and external forums, influencing policy and practice in research capacity building.
• Build networks across Research and Innovation Services, academic faculties, other internal institutes and research entities and external partners to champion truly collaborative working and ensure a strong internal network of R&I related colleagues.

• Act as an ambassador for the Institute and the University of Leeds when engaging with external organisations.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Sophie Bramley, Head of Leeds Institute for Societal Futures

Email: s.g.bramleyleeds.ac.uk

Additional Information

Working at Leeds

We are a campus based community and regular interaction with campus is an expectation of all roles in line with academic and service needs and the requirements of the role. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements. To find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Leeds area visit our Working at Leeds information page.

Our University

At the University of Leeds, we are committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equity of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains the best students and staff from all backgrounds. Whatever role we recruit for we are always striving to increase the diversity of our community, which each individual helps enrich and cultivate. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, those who belong to a minority ethnic community; people who identify as LGBT+; and disabled people. Candidates will always be selected based on merit and ability.

Information for disabled candidates

Information for disabled candidates, impairments or health conditions, including requesting alternative formats, can be found on our Accessibility information page or by getting in touch with us at hrleeds.ac.uk

Criminal Records

A criminal record check is not required for this position. However, all applicants will be required to declare if they have any ’unspent’ criminal offences, including those pending.

Any offer of appointment will be in accordance with our Criminal Records policy. You can find out more about required checks and declarations in our Criminal Records information page.

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Location Leeds - Main Campus Faculty/Service Faculty of Social Sciences School/Institute Leeds Institute for Societal Futures Category Professional & Managerial Grade Grade 8 Salary £51,753 to £59,966 per annum Working Time 100% Post Type Full Time Contract Type Fixed Term (Fixed Term for 12 months to complete a specific task or time limited work) Release Date Wednesday 04 March 2026 Closing Date Thursday 26 March 2026 Reference ESLSS1139

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