Summary
We are seeking to appoint the Institutional-Level Strategy, People and Research Environment (IL SPRE) Panel Chair for REF 2029. The role and responsibilities of the IL SPRE Panel Chair can be found below, alongside the Person specification for applicants. The full Terms of Reference will be provided on appointment.
The role of the IL SPRE Panel Chair
In addition to the responsibilities of the panel, the IL SPRE Panel Chair will:
- lead and chair the REF 2029 IL SPRE panel, ensuring the panel delivers its responsibilities
- advise the REF team and UK higher education funding bodies in the Steering Group, and liaise with the main panel chairs, on the delivery of the exercise
- advise on additional membership of the IL SPRE panel which will be recruited once the Chair is in place
IL SPRE panel’s responsibilities
The IL SPRE panel provides leadership on the assessment of SPRE at institution level and will deliver the IL SPRE assessment of all institutions making submissions to REF 2029.
The IL SPRE panel will hold responsibility for:
- finalising the panel working methods for the assessment of SPRE at institution level
- ensuring adherence to the criteria and working methods
- working with the REF 2029 advisory panels throughout the exercise
- liaising as appropriate with the sub-panels to moderate scoring at institution and unit level and ensure the consistent application across the framework of the overall assessment standards
- evaluating submissions rigorously and fairly against the established criteria, providing confidential feedback on submissions
- signing off recommended assessment outcomes for all IL SPRE statements submitted to REF 2029. The main panels and the IL SPRE Panel will each be responsible for assuring the quality, consistency and robustness of the assessments within their respective remits. The chairs of the main panels and the IL SPRE Panel will then meet collectively near the conclusion of the assessment phase to review the overall outcomes of the exercise. Proposed assessment outcomes will be confirmed through the REF 2029 governance mechanisms
- acting as ambassadors for REF 2029, championing the exercise with the research community
- providing advice as requested by the REF team and the four UK higher education funding bodies on aspects of the assessment process
- producing a final report on the state of research environments in the institutions covered by the REF, and making recommendations for future UK research assessment exercises
Ways of working
It is anticipated that meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and virtual. Face-to-face meetings will be utilised where necessary (for example to establish relationships, or to conclude the assessment activity). Virtual meetings will be used where possible, to improve accessibility, provide flexibility to the process and panel working practices and to reduce costs and burden.
Decision-making
Decisions on matters that fall within the panel’s responsibilities will be arrived at by the panel as a whole. The chair will ensure these decisions are based on the balanced view of the panel and incorporating the aims of REF 2029.
The panel’s decision making should be informed by encouraging open and diverse perspectives from the REF advisory panels and chairs of the REF main panels.
Payment
The IL SPRE Panel Chair will be paid a fee for the role. We estimate that IL SPRE panel members will need to commit to approximately 40 to 60 days of time over the assessment phase of the REF exercise. Full payment for the IL SPRE Chair will be £16,333.
Term of appointment
The IL SPRE Panel Chair will be appointed on the basis that their work will finish in March 2030.
Apply for IL SPRE Panel Chair role
Person specification
Candidates for the role of IL SPRE Panel Chair will be shortlisted for interview based on the evidence provided in their application forms. All candidates meeting the criteria outlined below are eligible to apply for the role. This includes existing REF panel members. In particular, we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. We expect applicants to meet the specified criteria (listed underneath each heading) or be able to demonstrate comparable skills and experiences. We recognise that markers of esteem do not accrue evenly across groups, and we welcome diverse demonstration of how these criteria are met. We would consider current heads of institution to have a significant conflict of interest and therefore these individuals are not eligible to apply.
You will need to complete the application form in one sitting. We’ve provided a summary of the questions and criteria below and you can download this template so you can prepare your answers. Each bullet point is a criterion that will be scored in the selection process. In the application form you will be asked to outline the following areas with a maximum of 2,000 characters for each section.
Leadership
- A track record of leading diverse stakeholders to deliver high profile cross-sector or international initiatives or projects.
- A visible leader with the ability to inspire confidence in the fairness and integrity of the assessment process.
- Proven ability to lead and motivate a diverse group of senior experts to reach consensus, in a complex and challenging environment.
Knowledge and understanding
- Strong understanding of the aims of the REF assessment, criteria setting process, framework, and procedures.
- Knowledge and strategic understanding of the UK higher education sector and the REF in the funding landscape, including the importance of research strategy, the research environment, and the people delivering research.
- Understanding of the diverse range of research represented within REF, including diversity of type of institution, institutional strategy and mission
- Understanding of the diversity of roles, careers and career stages which contribute to research within REF, including a broad knowledge of equality and diversity issues.
Experience
- Previous experience of a REF or RAE panel leadership or membership position. Or equivalent senior experience in other forms of peer review, research assessment, or international equivalents.
- Experience working in a research leadership position at a national or international level.
- Experience in leading large complex national or international projects and delivering high-quality outcomes under pressure.
Skills and abilities
- Chairing prominent groups of a comparable nature, to negotiate and balance perspectives to deliver outcomes through inclusive and collaborative panel meetings.
- Making high profile decisions through balancing options and impacts for multiple stakeholders.
- Providing advice on assessment issues.
Motivation
- Committed to the aims of the panel and the successful delivery of REF 2029.
- Committed to fair and rigorous research assessment.
- A commitment to the health of the research sector and its diversity of people, research, and institutional missions.
- Able and willing to commit the necessary time required to successfully deliver the role and the REF 2029 exercise.
Application form
The application form must be completed in one sitting, so you can download this template to prepare your answers.
Applications will close at 11:59pm on Friday 18 September 2026.
If you have any questions, including any need for reasonable adjustments, please contact info@ref.ac.uk using the subject ‘REF 2029 IL SPRE Panel Chair recruitment’
Selection process
Shortlisting will take place between 5 and 16 October 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to be interviewed by a panel of senior individuals from the UK HE sector. Invitations to interview will be shared with shortlisted candidates between the 19 October and 13 November 2026. Interviews are expected to take place between 23 and 27 November 2026. The interview panel will make recommendations to the Chief Executives (or equivalent) of the four funding bodies, who will appoint the IL chair. Please note that these dates are estimates and may vary.
The four UK higher education funding bodies will make the final decision on all appointments. All panel appointments will be required to conduct themselves in line with the Seven Principles of Public Life.