Job title: / Wessex Inspiration Network (WIN): Evaluation Officer: National Collaborative Outreach Programme
Department/School: / Widening Participation Office
Grade: / 6
Location: / University of Bath premises

Job Description

Job purpose
Evaluation of the impact of the Wessex Inspiration Network (WIN) consortium activities is a key requirement of the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) initiative funded by HEFCE. Working within the NERUPI Framework the post-holder will be responsible for developing innovative approaches to evaluating WIN activities to assess their effectiveness and inform future interventions. The person appointed will also have responsibility for ensuring that project data is uploaded onto the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) database.
Source and nature of management provided
Head of Widening Participation, University of Bath as Chair of the NCOP Steering Group
Staff management responsibility
None – can direct administrative and technical staff
Special conditions
Willingness to travel externally is required. A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required
Main duties and responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to:
1 / Work with the WIN NCOP Chair and evaluation adviser to develop effective methods of demonstrating impact of WIN activities, using experimental methodologies where appropriate.
2 / Ensure that participant and activity data is collected, monitored and analysed to indicate the impact of interventions.
3 / Engage with the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) NCOP initiative and upload data onto the HEAT database.
4 / Assist with the completion of HEFCE project returns as required.
5 / Attend HEFCE and HEAT briefing meetings as appropriate and advise the WIN Steering Group and staff on HEFCE evaluation requirements
6 / Disseminate project findings as agreed with the Steering Group including production and presentation of reports and publications for internal and external audiences including the academic community through refereed journals.
7 / Continually update knowledge and understanding in field or specialism to inform research activity.
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by your line manager.
You are required to follow all University policies and procedures at all times and take account of University guidance

Human Resources Page 1 July 2008

Person Specification template

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Assessed by
A/F / I/T / R
Qualifications
A first degree or equivalent / X / X
A Postgraduate research qualification focussed on education / x / X
A PhD in a subject area of direct relevance for the project or equivalent experience e.g. books and publications / x
Experience/Knowledge
Knowledge of current issues within education. / X / X / X
Experience of working in an educational environment / X / X / X / X
Experience of working effectively within a team. / X / X / X / X
Experience of producing reports and publications. / x / x
Skills
Ability to develop innovative and experimental research methodologies / x
Capacity to collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data using a variety of techniques / x / x
Effective oral and written communication skills / X / X / X
Excellent interpersonal skills with capacity relate to students and staff in schools, colleges and universities. / X / X / X
Strong IT skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, email) / X / X / X
Ability to work independently, organising and prioritising their own work load. / x / x
Attributes
The ability to take initiative and be proactive / X / X
Readiness to travel as required / X / X
Commitment to widening participation and increasing progression to further and higher education / x

Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R - References

Human Resources Page 1 July 2008