Research impact roles

[whatdididooooo]

Hi all,

NCed because this is quite outing.

I've just taken up a new post in impact and engagement - I'm the only person in the institution in the role (or one anything like it), and took it on the understanding that I'd have a strong and supportive line manager behind me while I learned the ropes (with plenty of time to go for the REF!).

Said line manager is now leaving in a few months, so won't even be here to sign off my probation. It's a new post, so I don't have any direction from a previous incumbent's activities, and although I worked in a research-allied position before, this is a steep learning curve for me, not least in terms of expectations around assisting with impact capture and collation.

Does anyone work in an impact/engagement role? If anyone does impact generation, how does your institution's impact person or team support you? I'm very concerned that I'm going to be left with very little direction until my line manager's post is filled, which could take some time, and only have a few more months with them to help me bed in.

I've looked at similar jobs elsewhere, but they all seem to be part of teams, rather than lone wolves, which also leads me to be concerned about potential workload issues (although we are a small institution).

Any advice is appreciated!

Hopeful bump!

Hi OP

I didn't want to read and run but I'm not sure how helpful I'll be.

When you say you've taken up a role in impact and engagement, is that a full-time support staff role? Or are you an academic with time bought out for impact and engagement management?

We have both at my institution.

Firstly, what are the terms of your probation?

If you're institution only has one impact based role, it sounds as if they don't place much value on impact. Are there other people who bear responsibility for impact that don't necessarily have it within their job title? Who was responsible for selecting/supporting the case studies submitted at the last REF? Who coordinates the REF submission in general? Which academics lead on impact in their depts? Might be worth sussing out the landscape through asking these qs ..good luck!

I do ref from the policy side and am staggered at the idea that you're the only impact and engagement role in a whole university? Is it a very small teaching only institution?