The four UK Higher Education Funding bodies are seeking applicants for the Chair of the Institution-Level Strategy, People and Research Environment (IL SPRE) Panel. The panel is being established to lead assessment of institutional-level Strategy, People and Research Environment statements for REF 2029.
Once in post, the Chair will advise on additional membership of the panel. The panel will then finalise its working methods for this part of the assessment, and hold overall responsibility for evaluating institutional-level submissions from all participating higher education institutions with rigour and fairness.
The successful candidate will provide visible leadership for the panel, act as an ambassador for REF 2029, and hold overall responsibility for the panel’s deliverables, including the production of a final report on the state of research environments across submitting institutions.
Helena Mills, REF Director, said: “This senior appointment reflects the importance the funding bodies place on SPRE in REF 2029, and we’re looking for a candidate with the experience and standing to lead this panel with rigour and credibility across the sector.”
Applications are invited from senior research leaders with relevant sector experience.
Applications close at 11:59pm on 18 September 2026.
Full details of the role, including the complete list of responsibilities, are available here.