International Relations Manager (Maternity Cover)

Are you interested in working in the International Team?

If so an outline of an International Relations Manager vacancy is outlined below…

We are looking for an International Relations Manager to support us in our mission to transform the physics landscape for the UK and Ireland, and internationally, ensuring a thriving physics ecosystem that contributes to innovation, discovery, research, growth and debate in the UK, Ireland and beyond.

This role is to cover a period of Matenrity Leave from May 2023 until approximatley February 2024. 

In this role, you will be:

• Managing a wide variety of interesting, complex programmes, ranging from capacity strengthening to building international relations globally.
• Overseeing a varied portfolio of work including events, project monitoring and evaluation and content development for teacher training, through line managing two members of staff.
• Working towards a collective ambition to influence science policy internationally, ensuring the IOP and the impact physics can have is recognised globally.
• Line managing the International Relations Officer and IOP coach.

Projects you work on may include:

• Africa-UK Physics Partnerships (AUPP) programme, delivered in partnership with stakeholders across the UK and five African countries – Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa. The programme aims to build and sustain a skilled and talented cohort of early career physicists to meet the future science, technology, and policy challenges of weather, climate change, and sustainable energy.

• Maintain IOP relationships with the European Physical Society, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, the International Commission for Optics, and the European Optical Society, as well as other national physical societies. This includes but is not limited to, representing the IOP at meetings, leading nomination processes and briefing members of the executive team at high level meetings e.g., general assembly’s / council meetings.
• Raising Enjoyment and Aspirations in Physics (REAP) project, delivered in partnership with the Tanzanian Physical Society and the University of Dar es Salaam. The project focuses on physics teaching at the secondary level and involves leaning on planning and budget setting. The next stage of the project is to support with the writing of a policy brief, seeking approval from the Ministry of Education in Tanzania and implementing recommendations.

Who will I work with?

• Internally, the role works across departments e.g., Science and Innovation, Membership, Policy and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Within capacity strengthening projects, the role will work with delivery partners in country, largely in Africa, research councils in the UK and government departments, in both the UK and partner countries.
• For international relations work, colleagues include those in other national physical societies and regional and global bodies such as the European Physical Society and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.

Ideally, we hope you’ll apply if your skills include:

Essential Criteria

• Experience in managing complex programmes in the international context, including budget management and reporting.
• Knowledge and experience of designing and embedding monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment frameworks, ideally in an international context.
• Experienced in developing and maintaining relationships with partners and funders.

Nice to have

• Degree or equivalent qualification in international studies or equivalent experience in an international capacity strengthening focused job / organisation.
• Experience of managing projects / pieces of work that influence / create change, as well as project delivery.

• Fluency or a good standard of proficiency in at least one language other than English.

For Internal Candidates: If you are interested in this role, please ensure your line manager is aware of your application before applying.

Should you have any queries about this role please do not hesitate to contact Dominic Hurley, Head of International Relations

Best of Luck!