Published 05/01/2023

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) is seeking to second an academic or professional services colleague to the role of EDI Lead.

Context 

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) is looking to second an academic or professional services colleague to the role of EDI Lead (0.5FTE) from one of the 10 DTP2 member HEIs. The role will be a 24-month secondment, at 0.5FTE, Grade 7 or above. The EDI-lead will be responsible for delivering the planned activity around EDI, including via the AHRC DTP2 EDI grant, working with the SGSAH Directorate, staff team, and governance structures. This work will also provide formative development for the AHRC DTP recommissioning late 2023-24.

SGSAH is the world’s first national graduate school for the Arts and Humanities. At the heart of our organisation is a commitment to collaboration across and beyond the HEI sector for the benefit of all of our doctoral researchers. Our aim is to provide an unsurpassed training and our unique partnership model to be attractive to potential, future doctoral researchers. Our partnership extends to our relationships with key funders, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). SGSAH manages the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Scotland. To date we have awarded more than 400 studentships across our 10 DTP HEI members, investing over £18M in PhD funding. National co-ordination enabled by SGSAH allows us to be visible and informed advocates for the value of arts and humanities research and of our doctoral researchers’ diverse skills and expertise.

Eligibility 

To be considered for the role of EDI Lead you must:

• Be able to commit 0.5 FTE to the role from 1 April 23 (or as soon as possible thereafter) until 31 March 2025
• Hold an academic or professional services appointment at Grade 7 or above at one of SGSAH’s DTP2 member HEIs: (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art, RCS, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde, UHI).

Role 

The EDI Lead will be line managed by the SGSAH Director, and report to the SGSAH EDIC (EDI Committee).  Overall, the EDI Lead’s responsibilities are in planning activities as detailed in the SGSAH AHRC DTP2 EDI Grant (including wider activities relating to SGSAH’s 17 member HEIs), including to:

• Conduct a pipeline evidence collection and review, including data collection and analysis and implications for demographics beyond the Equality Act (e.g., socioeconomic status; International applicants).
• Establish benchmarks and conduct review of impact of cross-UK and cross-Scotland working, including review of impact of extending other UKRI DTP collaborations and partnership pipeline activities to improve representation.
• Develop and coordinate pipeline activities and findings from development and implementation activity, including 2023 pilot summer school.
• Review of web and documentation (particularly studentship pages) to review accessibility and inclusive language; creation of supporting materials for studentship competitions.
• Develop training materials and workshops for supervisors and others working on PhD admissions processes, particularly in terms of assessing previous experience alongside academic qualifications.
• Evaluate impact of ringfencing and other recruitment practices to ensure that they actively support and improve diversification of successful applications.
• Establish, monitor and evaluate mentoring schemes for under-represented potential applicants; and for under-represented SGSAH-funded PhD researchers.
• Develop and manage a cross-Scotland network in partnership with the Scottish Graduate School for Social Sciences (SGSSS) and the Scottish Cultural Heritage Consortium (SCHC), with external partners including SGSAH’s Knowledge Exchange Hubs.
• Collaborate on a cross-UK AHRC DTP2 network including a series of cross-UK EDI initiatives which will enable activities beyond those outlined in the 10 DTP2s’ individual EDI Action Plans.
• Support funder and other reporting requirements, ensuring adequate records are maintained.
• Contribute to EDI thinking for future AHRC DTP recommissioning.

Experience

Essential 

• A good understanding of doctoral level study (PGR) in the arts and humanities
• A good understanding of UK equality legislation and an up to date understanding of EDI good practice
• Track record of related PGR and EDI experience as appropriate to the applicant’s current appointment level
• Experience of building relationships with key stakeholders and decision makers

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentations
• Excellent project and time management skills
• Negotiation and collaboration skills
• Highly effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as a team member, be self-motivated, flexible and think strategically

Remuneration

The EDI Lead’s employing HEI will receive a £30,000 p.a. secondment fee. Travel costs related to SGSAH activity will be met by SGSAH.

Terms

The appointment will be for two years in the first instance from 1 April 2023 (or as soon as possible thereafter)-31 March 2025, with a probationary period of six months.

Location

The EDI Lead will work remotely but will have access to a hot desk in SGSAH’s offices at the University of Glasgow. Formal meetings with the Director are likely to be held fortnightly (these could be via phone or video link), with quarterly meetings with the EDI Committee. SGSAH events and meetings can be held across Scotland and so travel may be required.

Application process

If you are interested in the role please submit to applications@sgsah.ac.uk by 6 February 2023:

• A covering letter outlining your interest in the role, the experience you will bring to it and demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria. You should also note in the letter that you have confirmation from your line manager that they support your release on a secondment basis to this role (2 pages max.)
• CV which should include related experience (4 pages max.)
• Contact details for two referees, one of whom must include: your HEI line manager, and one colleague (from your own HEI or elsewhere) who is able to comment on your suitability for this role. Please ensure that these referees are aware you are making this application.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interview on the afternoon of Tuesday 7 March 2023 (please note the date has been revised from 23 Feb due to the impact of UCU strike action).

The Director, Professor Claire Squires, is available to discuss the role with potential applicants (director@sgsah.ac.uk).

First published: 4 January 2023