Programme Manager (Research Delivery – Cancer Genomics) – Research and Knowledge Transfer – 107598 – Grade 8 Part-time NEW

Job Description

The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University's resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence. Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University's objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work.

The Research Delivery team, part of the College of Medicine & Health's Research Office, is a vibrant hub for Professional Service staff (~100 individuals) supporting high-value, strategically important projects and programmes. We work closely with both Professional Services colleagues and Academics across the University and partner organisations, particularly NHS colleagues, to maximise the impact of funded research, much of which has direct patient relevance. The portfolio of research supported is wide ranging, including a large portfolio of large-scale research programmes and infrastructure awards funded by charities, government and other major health research funders.

This role will be embedded within the Research Delivery team and benefit from established relationships with programme partners and key stakeholders including NHS Trusts, collaborating research institutions both locally, nationally and globally, patient and public contributors, charities and funders.

To manage large programme or multiple projects across a School, College or professional service area, or make a significant contribution to larger University-wide programmes as part of a project team.

Specifically, this role will provide programme management for the research portfolio of Professor Andrew Beggs, Professor of Cancer Genomics and Surgery. The Beggs lab is funded through the MRC, BBSRC, Sarcoma UK and Cancer Research UK as well as a range of industry partners. Research encompasses organoid models of cancer, cancer biology and omics technologies in medicine. Professor Beggs is scientific translational lead on the delivery of a number of high-profile clinical trials including the Cancer Research UK funded, DETERMINE trial (a pioneering multi-drug, precision medicine trial for adults, teenagers and children with rare cancers). The lab also runs the human next generation sequencing facility within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences within the University of Birmingham.

Responsible for managing large or multiple projects that may have contributors from multiple areas.

• Leading on the management of the project, including influencing and developing complex project plans
• Creating and maintaining an overall project management plan for the whole project or projects using project management principles and using appropriate software
• Identifying objectives and indicators of success
• Planning, organising and maintaining a regular schedule of project meetings and ensuring sufficient engagement by all relevant parties to the project
• Establish effective networking relationships with all stakeholders
• Managing the budget for the project as required
• Delivering project outputs agreed with senior management, on time, to budget and to the agreed quality standard

Develop and implement a comprehensive evaluation strategy for the project.

• Establish and implement reporting procedures which meet requirements, and ensure all necessary data is gathered in a timely and efficient manner.
• Analyse data to determine if it is fit for purpose, and take appropriate action to ensure data quality where necessary.
• Develop reporting mechanisms for the project then report on project progress to the project board or equivalent and highlight any risks.
• Maintain a risk register as appropriate, and communicate risks in a timely manner, proactively proposing solutions.
• Engage and communicate with a variety of stakeholders to ensure progress but also to disseminate outputs of the project as appropriate.

Manage diverse groups of staff ensuring relevant targets and goals are achieved within resource constraints.

• Create a motivating environment where staff are challenged, developed, encouraged and supported to achieve outstanding results.
• Responsible for ensuring all annual review processes, including Performance and Development Reviews are conducted in the service area.
• Identify appropriate opportunities for development and change and encourage other team members to do the same.
• Guide staff through periods of change, communicating a clear and positive vision.

Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Supports the University's sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.

Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Significant project management experience (ideally in large and/or complex projects), as well as wider relevant experience (which may include a degree or relevant equivalent professional qualification – although these are not essential). Relevant formal Project Management qualifications such as APMP, Prince2 or MSP are also useful, but not essential.

Authoritative knowledge of the work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the role, including broader sector/commercial awareness.

Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly for a variety of audiences, and to produce and analyse source material, information and data.

Proven ability to meet targets, with minimal supervision to deadlines

Substantial experience of engaging, and collaborating, with internal and external stakeholders.

Proven analytical and problem-solving skills that will help to identify and implement improvements and efficiencies across the project or projects you work on

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including orally and in writing, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders

Experience of managing large financial budgets along with experience of budget planning and forecasting

Highly proficient IT skills, including the MS Office suite. You should be confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required

Excellent people management skills, with some experience of leading, motivating and managing teams

High level of self-motivation and personal accountability with ability to plan and deliver goals to deadlines under pressure

Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.

Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.

Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.

Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice across a range of activities and/or will lead and manage diverse team(s) and resources. You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent. Significant evaluation and independent thought is therefore required to resolve ambiguity. You will have wide discretion to decide on direction whilst ensuring activities are broadly consistent with operational policies. You will be able to influence policy through advising on the impact of policy change and implementation in your area of work. You will need to assess the impact of your activities across your area, with related areas and to ensure they fit with the broader objectives of the University.

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below. You will be expected to take ownership for getting things done, including calling on or joining others to assist. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

Planning and Organising

• Provide professional expertise, and manage resources and/or a diverse team;
• Integrate and co-ordinate work across different parts of the department/university;
• Lead and manage staff who are likely to be carrying out diverse duties, and ensure collaborative working to deliver a successful service;
• Project manage activities to facilitate major changes;
• Develop policy within functional guidelines, and contribute to strategic development within own area;
• Be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery, with an appreciation of longer term issues.

Problem Solving and decision making

• Anticipate, interpret and assess customer needs, identifying trends, generating original ideas and testing innovative solutions;
• Deal with significant people management issues such as change programmes;
• Resolve issues which may not have arisen before through use of experience and judgement.

Organisational understanding

• Has an excellent understanding of their own working area and a broad understanding of the contribution other areas make to the success of the University;
• Has an excellent understanding of how the University operates, together with an understanding of how academia operates in the UK;