Research Impact Officer 

The team

At Walcott Communications, we’re a small, friendly team that values open communication, mutual support, and continuous learning. We hold ourselves to high standards and take pride in delivering high-quality work, while also recognising that mistakes are part of learning and help us grow. Everyone pitches in—whether it’s within or beyond their formal role—reflecting the collaborative spirit and flexibility that comes with working in a small business.  

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The role

Reporting directly to Saskia Walcott, Founder & CEO of Walcott Communications, this role demands a thorough understanding of research impact and prior experience working in higher education. The ideal candidate will be solutions-oriented, confident in sharing and developing ideas, and will thrive in a collaborative working environment.  

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Areas of Responsibility 

• Liaising with existing clients to maintain excellent service standards 

• Collaborating with colleagues to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget 

• Supporting clients throughout all stages of REF impact case study development, from inception to final refinement 

• Delivering WCL impact literacy training sessions both in person and online, ensuring materials are current, suitable for various formats, and aligned with the WCL ethos and brand guidelines 

• Managing personal workload to meet team and client deadlines 

• Contributing to WCL’s product development and business growth 

• Supporting marketing activities by providing content for social media and the website 

• Representing Walcott Communications professionally at conferences and networking events 

• Performing other tasks as required by the role ​

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Person Specification 

Essential Experience 

• Experience in identifying, planning, and realising research impact, engagement, and knowledge exchange within a UK higher education institution 

• Knowledge of the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) 

• Experience supporting researchers in developing REF impact case studies 

• Experience facilitating training workshops 

 

Essential Education, Skills, and Behaviours 

• Degree-level qualification 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the confidence to engage with individuals at all levels of seniority 

• Strong communication skills, both in-person and in writing 

• Good organisational skills and the ability to follow processes 

• Adaptability and the ability to work collaboratively 

• A commitment to ongoing learning and personal development 

• Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft 365 

• Ability to travel in the UK (and very occasionally Europe) to deliver training

 

Desired Experience 

• Experience and/or knowledge of social research and evaluation methods, including an understanding of qualitative and quantitative data analysis

 

Success Criteria 

• Delivery of training and advisory services to a high standard, on time, and within budget 

• Timely and professional engagement with clients and colleagues 

• Active contribution to business growth and product development ​​​

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Key information 

Office location: HERE in South Bristol (BS4 3AP)

Remote working: We offer a flexible approach to hybrid working, with the expectation that staff will work from the office at least two days a week. 

Hours: Full time based on 37.5hrs working week. Part time hours of 0.8 would be considered 

 

Benefits: 

• 23 days of annual leave (plus English bank holidays, totalling 31 days) 

• Up to 3 days of paid community service leave per year 

• Budget available for role related training opportunities 

• Monthly wellbeing allowance 

• Progressive policies such as menstruation leave 

• Family friendly culture  

 

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 7th November. However, we may close the application process earlier if we find the right candidate, so we encourage early submissions. 

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