Recruitment

Recruitment Role Profile Form (Template)Version 1.0Last amended: February 2011

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAMRecruitment Role Profile Form

Job Title: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Education Coordinator, Midlands (Maternity Cover)

School/Department: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham

Salary: £28,132 - £31,644 per annum, depending on skills and experience

Job Family and Level: R&T4

Contract Status: Fixed term

Hours of Work: Full time, 36.25h per week

Reporting to: Dr June McCombie (School of Chemistry)

Purpose of the New Role:

As part of a team of RSC Education Coordinators around the country the post-holder will coordinate and promote, at a regional level, the activities of the RSC Education Department and develop strong and effective networks of contacts across the Midlands education system and chemistry outreach community. The role holder will increase engagement with those teaching chemistry, studying chemical sciences and involved in employing chemical scientists at all levels.

The responsibilities of the post will include:

1) Increase engagement with and the confidence of those teaching chemistry at all levels.

a) Initiate contacts with clusters of teachers, to inform and equip them with up-to-date learning resources to enable them to increase their confidence of teaching chemistry through interactive demonstrations of RSC resources.

b) Work to ensure uptake and engagement with RSC curriculum enhancement and enrichment materials.

c) Work towards gaining one Learn Chemistry Partnership member teacher in every school. d) Support students in Initial Teacher Training in the Midlands, providing them with

information and access to RSC resources.e) Provide information and support for the continued learning needs of all teachers through

provision of information about RSC Continuing Professional Development courses.

2) Increase interest of under 19 year olds in studying chemistry:

a) Support and increase the number of RSC ChemNet members in the Midlands, b) Facilitate the organisation and coordination of local ChemNet events, to provide study

and career information to ChemNet members and other young people. c) Promote and increase the number of Chemistry at Work events held in the region to

provide school students with the opportunity to appreciate the place of chemistry in everyday life and the world of work, with particular emphasis on what is happening in their local area.

d) Coordinate with higher education projects run and developed by the RSC to promote enthusiasm and engagement for the study of chemistry at HE level (for example, supporting Spectroscopy in a Suitcase in the region)

e) Delivering outreach activities and workshops

3) Keep all parties interested in the study and/or teaching of chemistry at all levels well-informed and ensure access to RSC resources:

a) Establish and maintain contact with relevant education providers, organisations and authorities.

b) Establish networks of local contacts in schools, universities and industry. c) Broker relationships between education stakeholders to enable contacts to be made and

excellent provision for chemistry to be made available to all students.d) Utilise the expertise and contacts of key partners

4) Engage, enthuse and inform the general public to increase understanding of the importance and impact of the chemical sciences:

a) Organise or support others in the organisation of public lectures on engaging and informative topics of interest to non-specialist audiences

b) Attend and deliver high impact activities at festivals and events, sharing feedback and experiences to benefit all.

c) Support chemistry-based activities in science centres and museums.d) Seek opportunities to proactively engage with news and other media to develop

chemistry-focussed features, in local media channels. e) Engage with major pan-STEM initiatives, e.g. the National Science & Engineering Week

and STEM Ambassadors, to optimise the impact of our activities

5) Support RSC advocates in their promotion of the chemical sciences in the Midlands:

a) Promote the Outreach Fund to RSC members looking to hold activities which will support the aims of the RSC.

b) Support RSC Outreach Programmes in the Midlands

6) Planning and organising:

a) Prioritise own workload within a general schedule and assist senior staff in planning for future work so that resources are available to meet specific objectives.

7) Resource management responsibilities (eg people, finance, equipment etc):

a) Operate as an individual responsible for organising one’s own specialist or professional work and advice, to meet school/department/work unit objectives.

b) Assume delegated responsibilities as appropriate.

8) Internal and external relationships

a) Regular contact with University line manager, RSC Programme Manager for North of England & Midlands, other RSC Education Coordinator and work colleagues (including both RSC and University staff).

b) Liaison with other University offices, students and external bodies, including schools, colleges, other HEIs, science centres, STEM education providers, RSC local sections and industry.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential Desirable

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Qualifications/ Education

Educated to degree level in a science subject with at least A-level (or equivalent) in Chemistry

Degree in Chemistry or a related subject

Skills/Training A good understanding of Government requirements within the school and higher education system

An understanding of the requirements of customers working in or with the chemical sciences including school teachers, school students, HE academics and support staff, HE students, careers advisors, employers, government and its agencies and non-government bodies.

Ability to communicate with, influence and relate well to people at all levels both internally and externally.

Good communication skills (oral and written), team working skills, organisational skills and the ability to work independently and be able to adapt to new circumstances.

Experience of teaching chemistry or delivering chemistry outreach activities.

Experience of working with volunteers

Experience of developing and coordinating stakeholder networks, partnerships and/or multi-agency projects

Experience Evidence of working with schools on science-related activities or communicating science to the general public

Experience of event and/or project management

Other A full driving license and willingness to travel and work outside normal business hours

Please quote ref. SCI206614

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