BDFI’s mission is “to transform digital innovation for more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous futures”. Inclusivity is central to our ethos, purpose and approach, and all staff are deeply committed to this mission. However, we want to set out an explicit, ambitious, and evidence-based ED&I strategy, to proactively advance our progress towards a clearly articulated vision and set of targets/outcomes. This must include but extend beyond securing representation, and articulate a clear and comprehensive plan with action across several areas of BDFI’s operations and research to ensure meaningful progress. 

To help us develop this strategy, we’d like to work with a qualified or experienced ED&I Advisor/ Consultant/ Facilitator. ED&I is a specific field of research and expertise, and BDFI’s strategy will be stronger and more effective if we engage professionals to support the process. 

 

We’d love to work with people who are able to inspire us, challenge us, but ultimately guide and support us to ensure our approach to ED&I is as strong as it can be. 

 

As ED&I Advisor, we imagine you would: 

• help us refine the strategy development process 
• advise on what analysis should be undertaken to inform action, and offer expert advice upon reviewing the outcomes of analysis  
• Chair an ED&I taskforce – comprised of individuals willing to help construct the strategy
• co-author the first ED&I strategy for the Institute with taskforce (we imagine this will include specific actions around: recruitment; training and development; research; facilities; partnerships; governance; funding). 
• help review outcomes of the strategy consultation 
• help dissolve the taskforce, and establish a longer-term ED&I working group – comprised of individuals able to help deliver the strategy, who you will then represent on the on the External Steering Board  

However, we welcome approaches from individuals who might use their experience to challenge or reshape our proposed approach. 

£4,500 has been allocated to this initiative, for activities conducted between mid-February and July 2022.  We anticipate at least £3,800 would be allocated to time, with the remainder to cover expenses or other costs. You are welcome to use the full budget for time if you do not anticipate other costs. 

 

To help you estimate costs, it may be helpful to know that: 

• BDFI and the established taskforce will conduct any required analysis, and minute meetings. 
• While you will be expected to write and oversee the strategy with the Institute Manager, we anticipate delegating some of the drafting to individuals in the BDFI team/ taskforce for your review (e.g. asking our comms officer or facilities manager to consider how they can help meet the vision and targets in their respective remits).

Our ambition is to develop a first-draft strategy by mid April 2023 (potentially in time for discussion at our next External Board, scheduled April 2023), with a final published latest July 2023. The strategy will be iterative, and so our preference is to launch as soon as possible, but build in mechanisms to respond to new learnings, risks or opportunities. 

1. Contact Hayley.shaw@bristol.ac.uk to ask any questions about the brief/ arrange a call – we would be delighted to talk more about the Institute, how we work, and how we might work together.  

 

2. Submit a 1-page (maximum) proposal and additional CV (or similar resource that demonstrates your experience – this could be a short video, a link to a web portfolio, or something else) by 5pm on Friday 11 February (extended from 3 Feb) to hayley.shaw@bristol.ac.uk, outlining: 

• How you would approach (or challenge!) the brief, and the questions you might seek to answer to help define the strategy
• A proposed workplan
• A brief budget breakdown

We will assess applications based on the following criteria:

• The applicant(s) have strong experience in supporting/ developing/ implementing ED&I strategy
• There is a clear and credible workplan 
• The approach will challenge and support the Institute to improve 
• The use of allocated budget is reasonable for the workplan proposed

 

Each of the of the above assessment criteria will be scored on a scale of 1-5.