Senior Science Project Manager

Salary: £43,116 per annum

Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)

Contract Type: Open Ended.

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available (in the office based on business requirements)

Closing date: 13/10/24

Senior Science Project Managers provide essential project management to a portfolio of infrastructure projects across the MRC remit. The roles support projects in different science areas ranging from multi-million-pound national infrastructure such as UK Biobank and the new Adolescent Health Study, to smaller internally-focussed projects. In overseeing the development of green book business cases, Senior Science Project Managers work extensively across MRC and UKRI, with central government and other research funders, and across the UK research and innovation community.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Infrastructure, this role will suit an experienced project manager with an interest in science, or scientifically trained individuals with project management experience. You will get the opportunity to manage several high-profile projects and will lead the development of proposals for cutting-edge new infrastructure investments that support the medical sciences. You will also be involved in the overseeing the effective peer review of applications, gathering strategic advice from a range of stakeholders, and providing advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Senior Science Project Managers are responsible for:

Management of the business case process for several MRC-led infrastructure bids
Working with the wider research and industry communities to develop strategic cases for future bids
Providing support and advice to internal and external audiences
Project management of the different workstreams to simultaneously support a number of high profile projects
Assist senior colleagues in the review of research fields and the development and implementation of scientific initiatives and policy
Developing and managing funding schemes and initiatives
Developing an effective communication and evaluation strategy and managing internal and external communications, announcements, updates, and reporting
Identifying and mitigating risks to the projects
Supporting budget management and forecasting

The role also includes:

Visiting institutes, units, centres, and other significant MRC investments
Acting as MRC representative or observer (e.g., for external scientific committees, working parties, government departments, research charities, regulatory agencies, patient groups)
Assisting senior colleagues with the preparation of briefing documents and other material on matters for committees, and advising on replies to parliamentary questions or other external queries
Carrying out any other duties that may be required of the post as delegated by the line manager

Person Specification

Essential

Relevant degree or demonstrable equivalent experience
Experience of planning, managing, and delivering projects or programmes
Understand the importance of managing and mitigating risks and issues and raising where required
Ability to effectively negotiate and influence with stakeholders at all levels
Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to independently plan, prioritise and progress multiple workstreams
Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of handling budgets.
Effective collaborator and team member

Desirable

Experience of working in the research and innovation sector, or demonstrable understanding of the sector
Project management qualification
PhD or equivalent experience in a scientific organisation
Good understanding of the peer review process

Please submit an application including your CV and a Cover Letter that showcases how your skills and experience align to the requirements of the role.

A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package! We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

About the Medical Research Council (MRC)

Within UKRI, the MRC seeks to improve human health through world-class research. With an annual budget of over £800 m, MRC provides support both to individuals, through fellowships and grants, and to institutions, such as the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology and the Francis Crick Institute. The outcomes of our research span discovery science, improvements in public health and the development of new treatments for common diseases.

For more information about MRC, please visit https://mrc.ukri.org

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Medical Research Council

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Senior Science Project Manager