Trust Manager – The Daphne Jackson Trust

Post: Trust Manager

Location: Daphne Jackson Trust Office, Physics Department, University of Surrey (with occasional work required outside of normal office hours)

Hours: 3 days per week (initially, with potential to increase hours) and flexible working hours as appropriate

Remuneration:pro rata of £30,000 per annum

Closing Date:Monday 7th July 2014 - interviews to be held w/c 14thJuly 2014

Background Information

The Daphne Jackson Trust offers fellowships for returners to science, technology, engineering and mathematics(STEM) after a career break of two years or more. It can be almost impossible for many STEMresearchers to return to their careers at the right level without the help of a Daphne Jackson Fellowship, as it offers the opportunity to re-establish scientific credentials and obtain a recent research record whilst retraining and renewing skills that are essential for a future career. The fellowships offered by the Trust really do make a difference to the careers of many talented, well qualified and very experienced STEMresearchers.

The tremendous success rate of the fellowships is attributed to the service that is offered to these individuals from the moment they contact the Trust. The fellowships offer an unrivalled amount of flexibility and support to each candidate to allow them to reach their full potential to return successfully. Each individual has their own challenges, both personal and professional, to overcome in order to return at the right level to their career.

The Trust has become a trusted source of experience and knowledge about returners, the barriers they face, the business case for employing them and the benefits of engaging with this untapped pool of talent. Fellowships are individually sponsored by organisations with an interest in both the research being undertaken and in helping return a valuable scientist to the workplace. The list of sponsors spans the public and private sector and includes research councils, universities, charities and companies.

There have been a number of changes to the organisation since the current Chief Executive took over in 2011 across all areas, from governance and Trustees to staffing, the fellowships and the application process. Although a small organisation the Trust is a very successful and influential organisation which has an excellent track record of interacting at senior levels in academia, with policy makers and charities. There is now a requirement for a Trust Manager to support the Chief Executive, develop positive relationships with external stakeholders and manage the application process.

The Trust Manager

In this exciting and challenging role, the Trust Manager will work collaboratively with both the exisiting Trust team and the ever increasing number of external stakeholders with whom the Trust is working. The Trust has an excellent reputation as the expert in all matters relating to returners to STEM careers and the role will include maintaining exisiting relationships and developing new ones with host organisations, supervisors and sponsors.

This post requires the ability to effectively communicate with a research audience as well as having excellent relationship management skills to engage with a wide variety of people. Attention to detail and the ability to work to deadlines are essential to the role. The Trust Manager will support the Chief Executive in progressing new arrangements with external stakeholders, in preparation of reports and with strategic developments for the Trust. The Trust Manager will manage the processes relating to the award of fellowships, working effectively with a small team.

Person Specification
Candidates for this rolewould ideally have a STEM background and knowledge of, or experience in, the Higher Education or Charity Sector. A knowledge of some of the stakeholders with whom the Trust works, such as the Research Councils, Learned Societies or the Scientific Community in general would be an advantage.

The Trust is comprised of a small, very dedicated team of staff and candidates must beefficient and methodical with a highly organised approach and ability to work on their own initiative. This is a demanding post that will suit someone with excellent interpersonal skills, a high degree of commitment and the ability to multi-task and work under pressure. The Trust Manager will be required to supportand work effectively with the Chief Executive, who is often remote from the office.

Candidates must be computer literate with a fully operational knowledge of MS Office, including word, excel and outlook . A knowledge of and experience in using MS Access and accounting software such as Sage would be a great advantage. The role of Trust Manager is based in the Daphne Jackson Trust Office in the Physics Department at the University of Surrey with the occasional requirement for travel to meetings and events outside of normal office hours.

Essential / Desirable
Education, training and Qualifications / A degree or equivalent in a STEM related discipline / A PhD or similar qualification or equivalent experience
Skills and abilities / Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate with a wide variety of people at all levels
People Management skills
Relationship Management skills, with both the research community and other stakeholders
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Excellent organisational, planning and project management skills
Ability to prioritise a busy workload and to multi-task
Excellent numeracy/literacy skills
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to think strategically
Knowledge and Experience / Computer literate
Good operational knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Access
Good operational knowledge of Sage
An understanding or knowledge of higher education and research
Experience of working with committees / A knowledge of the charity sector
A knowledge of learned societies and professional institutions
A knowledge of the research councils or the scientific community
Several years experience working in an office environment at a senior or management level.
Experience of working with university researchers and other research stakeholders

We acknowledge, embrace and understand diversity.

For further general information on the Daphne Jackson Trust please see the website on

June 2014