Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy (ITSS) Specialist Consultancy

Description

The UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy was established in August 2023, building on existing programmes of work to champion the roles of technicians in higher education and research. The ITSS has four core areas of activity to support technical staff and their institutions across the sector: - Research and Policy Group - Learning and Development Academy - Community & Practice Hub - Technician Commitment A fifth area of activity, ITSS Consulting - a not for profit, paid for consultancy arm, has been developed in response to requests for bespoke support from institutions. As part of the continued commitment to the HE and research sector, ITSS Consulting supports organisations to overcome barriers and future-proof technical teams. ITSS Consulting design tailored workforce and organisational development solutions that align to strategic plans and work with a network of technical, leadership and organisational development specialists to help navigate the changing HE landscape, and to develop and grow skilled technical teams across multiple departments and disciplines. Successful tenderers will become Consultants who will partner with ITSS Consulting to support provision which falls under four broad categories: • Learning and Development • Organisational Change • EDI and Wellbeing • Technical Working Environments Informed by the latest research and best practices within the HE sector and beyond, Consultants must demonstrate a clear understanding of the technical and research communities, as well as organisations within the rapidly evolving HE and research landscape, particularly as the UK acknowledges the critical importance of growth in the science, technology, engineering, medicine, and creative industries. Lot 1: Learning and Development The University of Nottingham (the University) requires specialists with learning and development experience of working with and supporting technicians and research professionals in Higher Education. The specialists will have experience working with technicians and research staff across a diverse range of subject disciplines including science, technology, engineering, medicine and the creative industries. Specialists with experience of working with Technicians and/or research staff outside of Higher Education and/or research facilities will be expected to evidence clearly how their experience can be translated into the complex Higher Education environments. Lot 2: Organisational Change The University of Nottingham (the University) requires specialists with suitable experience to work across disciplines such as project management, knowledge exchange and research culture supporting technicians, technical leaders and research staff within Higher Education and/or research facilities. Suitable for specialists who can demonstrate experience in these fields while advocating for the inclusion and recognition of technical staff. Specialists shall have experience in Human Resources and Organisational Change working across a variety of disciplines including workforce planning, staff reorganisation, restructuring and implementing successful initiatives centred around recruitment and/or retention of technical staff. Lot 3: Diversity, People and Wellbeing The University of Nottingham (the University) requires specialists with experience of working across a range of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and wellbeing projects, supporting technicians, technical leaders and research staff within Higher Education and/or research facilities. Suitable for specialists who can demonstrate experience across these areas while advocating for the inclusion, and recognition of technical staff. Lot 4: Technical Working Environments The University of Nottingham (the University) requires suitable technical research specialists who have experience with one specialism noted below: - specialist health and safety expertise in laboratories, workshops, or studios, including all aspects of equipment safety. - experience and expertise in the design of laboratories, workshops, or studios, encompassing project initiation, project management, grant funding applications, and a strong understanding of emerging technologies and equipment relevant to these spaces. - recent experience of technical design input to new building designs at any of the RIBA stages. This includes experience of project initiation, project management, project completion, knowledge transfer and project closedown. - led research projects within their technical specialism and have successfully disseminated findings both through research publications and within organisations as part of strategic research and knowledge exchange initiatives.