Research Contracts SIG Champion- Vacancy

ARMA is looking for a member to run its Research Contracts Special Interest Group. Are you passionate about research contracts, a great communicator, and willing to lead ARMA’s Research Contracts community? This opportunity might be for you…

About Special Interest Groups

The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a core component of ARMA membership and offer a means to connect with other members who have similar professional interests.   We have 14 different SIGs each of which focusses on a different area of research management. Members can join one or any number of SIGs and, using the dedicated Jiscmail mailing list, engage with their community to ask advice, share ideas, or arrange get-togethers. All discussion threads are stored in the Jiscmail website for easy access by group members and each SIG has a resources area on the ARMA website where useful documents, presentations or videos can be shared.

About the Research Contracts SIG

With over 230 members, the Research Contracts SIG is a sizeable community, and represents research professionals not only in traditional contracts management roles but those in pre-award, post award and audit/compliance roles too. For further information, check out the Research Contracts SIG specification.

About SIG Champions

We are looking for a new SIG lead – we call them Champions – to catalyse conversations. review and strengthen current provision, including adding new resources to the website, and help coordinate some information-sharing events. We also tend to involve Champions in leading responses to sector consultations. For further information, check out the SIG Champion Terms of Reference.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for a member who is passionate about research contracts,  a natural communicator committed to proactively sharing knowledge and information. Someone who  can see the value that a learning and development initiative like this can bring to our professional community. You don’t need to be an expert, but you do need to be enthusiastic, tenacious and willing to lead from the front. You will have great communication and presentation skills but you will also be inclusive, caring and supportive.

While we do not require you to be an ARMA member to apply for this role, in the event that you are successful, you will be asked to join. While you may not have much experience of ARMA per se, you will have a good working knowledge of the RMA profession.   

Please note that these criteria are indicative. If they do not quite fit with how you see yourself, but you still know you have a lot to offer, we’d still love to hear from you.

Why become a SIG Champion?

This is a fantastic development opportunity for someone passionate about Research Contracts! Becoming a Champion will allow you to:

• Contribute your professional skills to the future direction and success of your area of interest
• Apply your skills, experience and creativity to new challenges.
• Gain governance and leadership experience to support your executive and non-executive career ambitions.
• Further expand your network and engage with key stakeholders across the sector.
• Increase your visibility and raise your personal and professional profile.

What we’re asking of you

This role is very flexible. At the very least, it’s going to be a few minutes a day, checking the conversations, asking some new questions, responding to others.

On top of this, perhaps half a day per month curating the resources, adding new material, sunsetting others.

In addition, creating, promoting, setting up and delivering an online meeting every 3-6 months – perhaps a day’s work.

But this remit can be flexed easily around ‘the day job’.

SIG Champions are unpaid, but in the event that any travel or overnight accommodation is required, all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with ARMA’s Expenses policy.

Our Commitment to EDI

ARMA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.  It is a strategic priority for us to improve representation within our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from groups who are underrepresented within our community. We are committed to taking active steps within our recruitment process to reduce bias and minimise barriers to application and participation. We are also committed to offering a flexible and inclusive working environment for our employees. We offer a range of adjustments throughout the process to enable full participation. If there is anything further we can do, we encourage you to get in touch. 

We are keen to advertise this role as widely as possibly. If you know someone or are part of networks that may be interested in this role, we would love for you to share.

How to apply 

We are inviting expressions of interest for a new Champion, with the role running for 12 months in the first instance. If you’re interested, please send a short CV and a brief cover note by email outlining:

• Why you are interested in the role
• What key skills, ideas and experience you feel you could bring to the role
• The level of commitment that you are able to contribute to the role, and the SIG community more generally.

Please send your short CV and cover email to Hamish.macandrew@arma.ac.uk  by 9am on Monday 20^th June.

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Hamish at the above email address.