Join us – Science Engagement Manager (Schools), Wellcome Connecting Science

• Full time
• Salary in the region of £40,000 to £48,000
• Closing date: 8 October

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We are looking for a creative and dynamic Science Engagement Manager to lead our schools engagement programme to join our team.

Do you want to inspire the next generation of genomic scientists?

Do you have a passion for engaging young people with science and enabling them to explore future careers? If so, this could be the role for you.

About the Role:

You will be responsible for the development and delivery of a creative and engaging education programme (on and off campus) which enables students from under-represented communities to engage with campus staff to learn about genomics, the research taking place on campus and genomics related careers.

You will work collaboratively with the Science Engagement Manager – Public and Communities to create learning opportunities that support Campus staff to develop their public engagement skills, through the delivery of the accredited Science Engagement in Action programme which ensures “campus ambassadors” are trained and equipped to engage with a range of different learning audiences.

You will also be responsible for the co-development and delivery of a new DNA ambassadors programme in association with STEM Learning, enabling STEM ambassadors both on and off campus to deliver genomics-related activities to schools and community groups across the UK.

A key objective of the role is to make accessible the often complex scientific outputs from Sanger Institute science through the development of curriculum linked activities aligned to the science taking place at the Wellcome Genome Campus.

Reporting the success and impact of the schools programme in line with the strategic outcomes for the Science Engagement and Enrichment programme and wider Engagement and Society programme is another key element of this role.

About You:

The schools engagement programme engages with thousands of students every year through a variety of different activities on and offsite and online. We are looking for someone who has experience of working with schools in a science engagement capacity and understands the education landscape and challenges associated with schools engagement.

We pride ourselves on providing innovative programmes that enable students and teachers to experience genomics and its associated careers.  As our Science Engagement Manager you will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity in developing a programme that enables students from all backgrounds to engage with genomics and genomics related science and technology.

Collaboration with external partners is critical to the success of our programme so we require someone who is good at networking and identifying potential partnership opportunities.

As a programme we are exploring how we can offer students more authentic and practical experiences of genomics and bioinformatics so the role would suit someone who has experience developing accessible and affordable protocols.

The position is responsible for a direct report so some experience of team management is necessary.

Essential Skills:

• Degree in a subject related to the work of  the Wellcome Sanger Institute, for instance Biological Sciences or other related discipline
• Qualification or certification in science communication or equivalent experience
• Experience of informal learning settings such as science centres or other learning settings
• Track record of communication of complex concepts with varied public audiences
• High-level interpersonal skills and ability to work within small and large teams
• Flexibility in working style and practice including working for short periods away, sometimes overseas.
• Experience of line managing staff
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Ability to communicate with internal stakeholders, from senior academics to support staff, with tact and diplomacy
• Experience with basic computer software such as Word/Excel/Powerpoint
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise workloads
• Ability to solve problems and resolve day-to-day conflicts with respect to delivery of activity
• Good attention to detail and ability to develop risk assessments and contingency plans
• Experience of evaluating activities

About Us:

Wellcome Connecting Science’s mission is to enable everyone to explore genomic science and its impact on research, health and society. Drawing on the ground-breaking research taking place on the Wellcome Genome Campus, Connecting Science inspires new thinking, sparks conversation, supports learning, and understands global attitudes and perspectives. We connect researchers, health professionals and the wider public, creating opportunities and spaces to explore genomic science and its relationship with people, and the world around us.

Our work across Engagement and Society uses research and engagement approaches to investigate the impact of science, ethics, and genomic technologies on people, on both a local and a global scale. We listen, gather, and share insights on public attitudes and experiences; and we create equitable programmes, projects and resources that facilitate accessible engagement and dynamic learning. We use our insights and understanding to support a diverse range of intersecting communities, including young people, learners, educators, researchers, patients, and the public, to discover how genomic science is relevant to all our lives.

Wellcome Connecting Science and the Wellcome Sanger Institute are part of the same Wellcome-funded organisation.

Visit our programme website: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/

Visit our Engagement website: https://publicengagement.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/

Other Information:

• Salary in the region of £40,000 to £48,000 – skills and experience dependent
• Interviews are expected to take place on 17/18/19 October

Application Process:

As part of your application please include a cover letter that describes how you meet the essential skills listed.

Closing date: 8 October 2023

Apply here: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/news_item/join-us-science-engagement-manager-schools/

Working at Wellcome Sanger:

Our flexible-hybrid working environment is designed to support a healthy work-life balance. This means you can work flexibly with a combination of working from home, and working from our Campus to allow you to focus on being productive and part of the team while enjoying the benefits of working flexibly.

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.