Project Officer (Researcher Development & Training) - College of Medicine and Health - 100275 -[...]

Position Details

College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,546 to £35,116 with potential progression once in post to £39,355

Grade: 6

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to May 2028

Closing date: 2nd April 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high-quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum, and botanical gardens.

Background

The Researcher Training and Development (RT&D) team sits within the College’s Research & Knowledge Transfer Office (RKTO) in the College of Medicine and Health (CMH). The RT&D team is responsible for the delivery of career development support for clinical and non-clinical researchers within life sciences. The post holder is vital in ensuring a positive research culture and environment, in line with the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.

The post holder will support existing initiatives as well as new internal initiatives for life sciences Early Career Researchers and Mid-Career Researchers, focusing on provision at key career transition points and across the research career lifecycle. The post will ensure the smooth delivery of training and research development initiatives which are aimed at both professional and personal development opportunities.

The post holder will work alongside the Researcher Development Manager to identify training requirements and support the design and delivery of training and support packages to fill identified unmet needs. The role will also work closely with colleagues across the R&KT Office, the wider College of Medicine and Health, and the University to ensure the efficient and effective co-ordination of related activity.

Role Summary

Either to assist in the management of designated projects across a School, College or professional service area, or manage smaller projects on own.

Main Duties

• To support existing Research Culture and Researcher Development initiatives such as raising awareness of the Concordat for Researcher Development and organising related workshops.
• Support will include preparing progress reports for project boards, project planning, and delivering on sub-projects/small projects which will be defined on a continuing basis.
• Work with the Researcher Development Manager to identify training requirements, design training materials and workshops, and implement the delivery of the training.
• Assist in the evaluation and review of initiatives such as collating survey feedback.
• Assisting with stakeholder management and maintaining regular contact with stakeholders to understand requirements, and review, develop and propose solutions for any issues.
• Appropriately assess and escalate issues and risks.
• Assist in the management of project resources and/or budgets.
• Work with the Communications team to ensure the website, newsletters and any social media are updated as appropriate.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of research culture and researcher development activity.
• Determine short term priorities for work, and how to maximise quality, efficiency and continuity.
• Assist in the evaluation and review of projects.
• Promote equality and value diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Qualified to UK level 5 (e.g. Foundation degree, HND) or equivalent.
• Substantial experience of programme management, preferably in an academic setting.
• Excellent IT skills, with working knowledge of standard Microsoft Office software and using custom systems and databases, including online learning and communication platforms such as Canvas and MS Teams.
• Programme management experience.
• 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.

Role context

Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. You will either use specialist knowledge or have more of a planning/co-ordination/project role or a role which is supervisory in nature where you may manage a team doing similar kinds of work. You will have the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative which you will use to resolve queries; you will use your judgement to deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, all with limited guidance/supervision.

Core competencies/transferable skills

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

Planning and organising

• Prioritise and schedule work and resources to ensure on time and on budget delivery.
• Set priorities and quality standards for a wide range of tasks and duties.
• Manage a team of staff who are carrying out similar kinds of work.
• Contribute to written documents, for example guidelines internal to the area, taking account of audience.
• Operate with limited supervision as they will have considerable scope for initiative, within established work procedures.

Problem solving and decision making

• Anticipate and identify issues in own area based on experience.
• Make appropriate suggestions for improvements and implement these when agreed in own area.
• Facilitate change, and articulate the implications and benefits of change to others.
• Focus on determining short-term priorities of work area, and how to maximise quality, efficiency and continuity.

Organisational understanding

• Quickly develop an understanding of their working area and how it contributes to the success of the University.
• Display an interest in how the University operates beyond own working area; develop and share this knowledge with others.

Relationships and communication

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships in own area, and more widely as required for collaborative working opportunities.
• Communicate clearly and openly with others both within and external to the University, and use a range of communication skills and strategies to gain commitment to a course of action.
• Demonstrate collaborative working at all times, including with others outside the immediate work area.

Further particulars can be found here.

Informal enquiries to Tim Giles, email: t.giles@bham.ac.uk.

View our staff values and behaviours here.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.