Research Project Manager in Leprosy

Background:

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research programme and/or specific research project.

Summary of Role:
To provide effective project management for research projects within a recently awarded research programme on transforming the treatment and prevention of leprosy and Buruli ulcers in low and middle income countries.

Main Duties / Responsibilities:

• Work with members of the research team to identify, plan and implement funded research projects in line with funder requirements.
• Support the Senior Manager to develop and implement project management strategies to manage the activities of the research program including monitoring and recording of progress against targets for delivery of outputs and outcomes, whilst enabling high quality research to be undertaken.
• Escalate issues as appropriate to the Senior Manager to ensure the project targets are achieved to agreed timescales and budget.
• Develop and maintain effective communications and working relationships with existing and any new collaborators and staff on the project team and relevant international stakeholders.
• Ensure effective operational management and administrative support for the project, liaising with the project team, relevant WMS staff and central services in the University as required. This will also include regular review and reporting of project risks and liaison with risk owners to mitigate risks as required. Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Support the Senior Manager to develop and maintain systems for financial monitoring of the project including the creation of financial records and reporting on these to the Funder, Management and Financial Committee and the Executive Steering Committee in terms of spend, commitment and income against agreed financial targets.
• Provide administrative support to the project team and relevant project governance groups, collating information on project activities and providing progress reports as required.
• Organise and manage project events (e.g. project meetings, conferences, seminars and the final project conference) including scheduling, making practical arrangements, producing agendas, papers and minutes, attending as required and following up on action points.
• Support the Senior Manager by playing a key role in the preparation and completion of final reports to funding bodies.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of appropriate communications tools to support the project, including a project web site and social media tools.
• Coordinate any ethics and information governance activities required for the project (e.g. ethical approvals, data handling policies).
• Support the research team in strategy development and research grant applications.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification:

• Educated to degree level with a 2:1 (or equivalent experience)
• Project management qualification or equivalent professional experience
• Experience of working in a research environment in either Higher Education, research funding agency, industry or government body
• Experience of interpreting and adhering to detailed and precise requirements
• Meticulous ability to manage and organise workloads from a diverse client and project portfolio over a range of timeframes.
• High level of accuracy with excellent attention to detail and a thorough, methodical and flexible approach
• Ability to develop and maintain appropriate systems for financial control monitoring of the project budget
• Ability to understand, interpret and advise on complex guidelines and terms and conditions associated with external funding and be able to communicate these to the project team
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate authoritatively and well at all levels, both internally and externally
• Ability to successfully negotiate, influence and persuade at a senior level
• Excellent standard of written and spoken English including a demonstrate ability to prepare written reports and application documents
• Competent in using a broad range of computerised systems, databases and data sources to support project management, improved communications, information and data dissemination
• Ability to prioritise workload and plan work to meet tight deadlines
• Willingness to travel abroad
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

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We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community'