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Job Scope: The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science across the wide breadth of research areas.
Public engagement is one of the Royal Society’s strategic priorities. Our wish is to engage with all to make scientific knowledge and the scientific approach part of the fabric of society. This includes listening to the views of the public, involving the public in our work and inspiring the public to explore new discoveries, the rich history of science and the scientists that shape our world.
The Public Engagement Officer - Events will support the delivery and development of a variety of projects to ensure they effectively meet the aims of the Public Engagement Strategy, as defined by the Public Engagement Committee.
The Public Engagement team deliver activities including the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition, an annual and regional programme of public events, lectures and debates and science book prizes for adults and young people, as well as running activities and programmes to support researchers and Fellows to engage the public.
This post will have responsibility for delivering and supporting some of the following activities:

• Public events, lectures and debates, Lates events, including online events
• Supporting prize awards events such as the Science Book Prize or the Young People Book Prize
• Summer Science Exhibition additional events programme
• Cultural strand of work including partnerships and collaborations with other organisations
• Marketing and online communication
• Other events or activities that may arise from time to time

The role will work across a range of projects, including physical and digital events, and with a variety of stakeholders and partners including researchers, cultural institutions, festivals, universities and the public. The post holder will work as part of a team to maximise the effectiveness of the public engagement programme and will be expected to share best practice, ideas and learning.
The Public Engagement Officer will be supported by the Senior Public Engagement Officer who will provide guidance and a management overview for the events.
The Public Engagement Officer - Events will also be expected to contribute to other projects outside their remit and collaborate effectively across the Society.
The post holder will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Reports to: Senior Public Engagement Officer - Events Line manages: None Pay band: C, £37,100 per annum Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working Contract: Permanent Hours: 35 hours per week (including some evening and weekend working) Closing date for applications: Midnight 30 March 2025 Interviews will be held: 24 April 2025 Responsibilities: The work of the Public Engagement Officer - Events will include:

• Taking responsibility for the delivery of allocated parts of the public engagement programme, maximising their success and ensuring they are delivered to time and to budget. This may include all aspects of events management, from conception to completion.

• Working with the Senior Public Engagement Officer - Events to design and deliver an events programme for the Summer Science Exhibition.

• Managing project budgets within their remit, ensuring they are kept within the agreed limit and that expenditure is documented clearly, and feeding information into the team budget processes.

• Developing and implementing communications, marketing and stewardship strategies that meet the needs of their audiences and maximise the effectiveness of their associated projects.

• Writing a variety of materials for use in digital marketing, printed advertising and internal documentation and reporting.

• Drafting a range of written materials for speakers and for internal reporting.

• Using appropriate evaluation methods to produce accurate, clear reports for key stakeholders.

• Liaising with a variety of service providers, internal and external, for example digital marketing, design services, event venues and freelancers.

• Administering some selection processes, including procurement activities and call for proposals for specific events or activities.

• Sharing experience and ideas with others in the section and the Society and contributing broadly to the Royal Society’s mission and priorities.

• Planning and developing additional projects, as agreed with the Senior Public Engagement Officer – Events and the Public Engagement Manager.

Key Knowledge and Skills Required:

Education / qualifications / knowledge / interests

¨ Knowledge of office systems and procedures

Essential

¨ Knowledge and experience in event and project management

Essential

¨ Knowledge of communication and marketing practices

Essential

¨ Understanding of the role of public engagement in science and research, and its importance in connecting science with society

Essential

Experience

¨ Experience of working in a team environment

Essential

¨ Experience of project management

Essential

¨ Experience of event management

Essential

¨ Experience of identifying and targeting a variety of audiences

Essential

¨ Experience of implementing communication and marketing strategies

Highly Desirable

¨ Experience of managing a budget

Highly Desirable

¨ Experience of establishing and maintaining a network of contacts

Desirable

¨ Experience of producing promotional material for a variety of media

Desirable

¨ Experience of writing for a variety of audiences

Desirable

¨ Experience of project evaluation

Desirable

¨ Experience of administering selection processes, for example for grants or awards

Desirable

Circumstances

¨ Able to be flexible about working hours, including working evenings and weekends on occasion, and travel across the UK

The successful candidate would be expected to work from the Royal Society offices on Carlton House Terrace a minimum of 2 to 3 days per week.

Essential
Competencies: At Band C you will hold a specialist role. Pay Band C roles are described in the following dimensions:
Decision-making – Your work is varied, and you have a range of administrative or technical tasks. You take decisions in line with specific routines, guidelines or procedures. You plan your own work and coordinate with others on how their work fits into the broader plan of activities. Supervision is available for issues that fall outside of existing operating guidelines or your realm of knowledge
Thinking challenges - The solutions to issues or problems are not always obvious and investigation is needed before choosing a way forward. Your initiative is required to help find ways to improve working practices and procedures in your area of work, in sorting out problems that occur in day-to-day work or improvements to work processes.
Communicating – You maintain relationships which involve liaison or coordinating with a range of internal and/or external contacts on mainly transactional issues.
Developing people – You may be responsible for allocating work to, or checking the work of less experienced colleagues
Managing Resources – You may perform activities such as reconciling information/data or analyses of expenditure or income, adhering to agreed procedures

Applying knowledge & expertise - You require proficiency in, and keeping up to date with, skills required for your area of work or technical skills acquired through relevant work experience and/or vocational qualification.
The competency levels for a pay Band C role are described below.
Self-management

• 
  Works unsupervised and can motivate self

• Produces results under pressure

• Can manage in stressful situations

• Pushes for the best results

Working with others

• 
  Contributes ideas and identifies opportunities to work with others both within the team and across the organisation

• Willing to provide feedback to sectional colleagues when requested

• Produces succinct presentations and papers for senior colleagues

• Understands when to seek senior advice on potentially delicate negotiations

Resource management

• 
  Makes the best of internal/external resources and coordinates well with external partners to best meet the needs of the Society

• Builds contingency into projects taking into account possible outside factors

• Sets and monitors performance against quality and results orientated targets.

• Focuses on both short and long-term goals

Critical thinking

• 
  Determines and clarifies the exact requirements of any situation

• Checks information for accuracy and raises concerns if information is inaccurate

• Extracts the key points succinctly, clearly and accurately

• Puts forward suggestions for improvement concerning current processes or systems

• Tries different ways of doing things to get the best results

Adaptability

• 
  Overcomes obstacles and is not deterred by setbacks; checks assumptions and first principles and works out alternative approaches

• Reacts proactively to new challenges and works in a flexible manner to produce solutions

• Provides feedback and participates in discussions surrounding new ideas approaches or projects

Managing people and relationships

• 
  Delegates effectively, setting clear expectations and authority

• Monitors results and feedbacks to team on a regular basis

• Recognises others’ contributions and acknowledges their limits

• Helps others to identify ways to improve their performance

• Prioritises supervisory responsibilities and carries them out in a timely fashion

• Understands and can identify client/stakeholder/staff needs and looks for opportunities to improve their experiences