Sarah Oakes

Experience

• 

  Coleg Glan Hafren

  Jun 2004 - Nov 2007

  Marketing Assistant

  Undertook during university vacations and resumed after a 6 month period of travelling.Responsibilities included:• Planned, organised and co-ordinated successful public relation events promoting Coleg Glan Hafren, Cardiff’s largest FE College. Events included college open days, school taster sessions, managing exhibition stalls and award presentation ceremonies;• Assisted in the development of marketing material for the college including the summer newsletter, brochures, posters, open day invitations, pop up stands;• Recruit, induct and supervise temping college students when extra support required; • Maintaining up to date knowledge of all courses and financial support available. Show less

• 

  Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd

  Nov 2007 - now

  To support the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement and the Head of the Innovation System to develop the Cardiff Innovation System, a strategic initiative developed by the Vice-Chancellor. Responsibilities and achievements include:• Managing the Innovation System Office including setting up new systems and structures, managing the non-staff budget and recruitment and line management of the Administrative Assistants;• Ensuring appropriate governance and reporting structures including acting as Secretary to the Innovation System Steering Group and Strategic Oversight Board and providing high-level project reporting to HEFCW and University Executive Board. • Development and implementation of a communication strategy including developing new digital and hard copy materials, co-ordinating successful events, exhibitions and dinners including coordination of a ‘Summer of Innovation’ campaign, delivering prestigious Home of Innovation Public Lectures and an Innovation Zone at BioWales 2016;• Specific projects included:o Project managed the tender and procurement process for production of an external Economic and Social Impact report of Cardiff University in 2015 and an updated report in 2016 acting as key contact;o Co-ordinated the production of the CUBRIC WEFO funding application- over £4million awarded;o Working in partnership with the HYPE Foundation to deliver a student hackathon and host an Sporting Innovation Events final which included 25 exhibitors and 10 companies pitching to a high panel jury. Show less Working across the broad range of Planning Division strategy. Key tasks included:• Review of Cardiff’s REF preparations including design and analysis of internal surveys, extracting key messages from focus groups and production of a report with recommendations for consideration by University Executive Board;• Institutional REF Audit contact for queries relating to Cardiff’s REF submission;• Coordination and submission of institutional returns to HEFCW including the 2015/2016 Fee Plan and annual monitoring statement;• Production of the Annual Fee Plan Report to Students; Show less To support the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and the Deputy Director of Planning in supporting the University’s preparation for, and submission to, the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. Responsibilities and achievements include:• The results published indicated that the University was ranked 5th in the UK for its submission (a rise from 37th place in the last exercise in 2008).• Provision of strategic advice, guidance and planning support to the REF Sub-Group, REF Operations Group, REF Equality and Diversity Group and senior management across the University;• Development, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of REF project plan and REF risk matrix;• Development and implementation of a communication plan to ensure senior management across the University were provided with up to date information on REF requirements- included monthly update reports, webpages, producing guidance documentation.• Organising and co-ordinating institutional level REF events such as Information meetings, Impact work-shops, Mock REF events, HEFCW REF event, training on internal and external systems;• Extensive liaison and networking with staff across schools, professional services, senior management of the university and external assessors. • Chairing weekly meetings of the Operations Task Group to ensure data flowed correctly into the submission system and providing non-technical user support for related data systems • Coordination and management of the Cardiff Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel (CEDAP), which invited over 1000 staff to disclose individual circumstances for inclusion into the REF;• Drafting the University’s REF E&D Code of Practice and supporting the development of the Equality Impact Assessment; Show less To support the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and the Deputy Director of Planning in supporting the University’s Research Strategy. Achievements included: • Provide support to and servicing the Schools’ Directors of Research Network;• Managing the University of Wales Press Fund at k£42;• Supporting Research Initiatives including the coordination of Distinguished Lecture Series and the Large Research Equipment Fund- included producing call documentation, developing selection criteria and advising selection panel.• Analysis of national and international University League Tables;• Supporting initial preparations for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 including committee servicing, development of project plan and risk matrix, development of webpages. Show less A three year graduate scheme intended to foster a general understanding of University administrtaion . Placements undertaken in Registry, Research and Commercial Division, Communication and International Relations Division, Planning Division and Governance and Compliance Division. Main duties were to run or support specific projects within each department including:• Coordination and management of the Cardiff University internal review of Research Council UK (RCUK) application success rates project;• Preparation and marketing for the University’s clinical trails inspection by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory agency (MHRA) in 2009;• Support for the 125 Cardiff University anniversary celebrations, including co-ordination of the 125 Anniversary Gala Brochure; organisation of 125 photography exhibition; supporting 125 founders day event and achieving target of 125 My Cardiff stories;• A review of the new Online Enrolment Admissions System for students and assisted the development of a new Online Admissions Application system. • Developing Standard Operating Procedures for the Human Tissue Act, production of disablity monitoring reports and organising University Council Away Day.• Coordinating the Schools Strategic Planning Process, league table analysis, secretary for two innovation and engagement committees. Show less

  • Project Manager, Data Science Acadmey

    Feb 2019 - now

  • Project Officer- Cardiff Innovation System

    Oct 2014 - Feb 2019

  • Strategic Planning Officer

    Jan 2014 - Sept 2014

  • Strategic Planning Officer- Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014

    Aug 2011 - Dec 2013

  • Assistant Planning Officer

    Nov 2010 - Aug 2011

  • Graduate Assistant/ Intern

    Nov 2007 - Nov 2010