Research Delivery Project Officer (Drug Discovery) - Academic ServicesGrade 6
Research Delivery Project Officer (Drug Discovery) - Academic ServicesGrade 6
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£ 32546 - 35116
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Position Details
Academic Services
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 32546 to 35116 with potential progression once in post to 39355
Grade: 6
Full Time Fixed Term contract up to September 2026
Closing date: 8th July 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 andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global 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 todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer 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 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 areand how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya 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 campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Background
The Research Delivery team part of the College of Medicine & Healths 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.
Role Summary
The University hosts a number of Drug Discovery projects which bring together research excellence within and between key themes and disciplines spanning the Colleges of Medicine and Health Life & Environmental Sciences and Engineering & Physical Sciences with links to external partners. Academic leadership is provided by Professor Ruth Roberts Chair in Drug Discovery.
The post holder requires a strong sense of initiative the ability to multi-task and effective communication skills. They will be involved in providing dedicated support for drug discovery initiatives. The role is varied and includes maintaining diaries databases and spreadsheets arranging and hosting meetings filing and document management and acting as a key point of contact. The Project Officer will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the research projects by working with the Drug Discovery Programme Manager and the Academic Lead in Drug Discovery.
Main Duties
Project Officers will manage smaller projects in their entirety or manage elements of larger projects or assist in themanagement of one or more larger projects through the provision of well-developed and timely project management will be expected to work proactively and use your initiative and planning skills to set your own priorities to ensure progress is maintained as expected identify any issue and propose solutions.
- To support Research Project delivery Project Boards workstreams and working groups within an overall project or manage elements of larger projects or smaller projects on your own.
- Support may include some or all of the following:
- carrying out project planning activities;
- identifying milestones which will need to be adhered to;
- data collection and analysis;
- milestone tracking/key performance indicator tracking;
- developing and proposing solutions for any issues;
- recommending improvements to project management;
- preparing progress reports for project boards or other meetings;
- assisting in budgetary monitoring and management including reporting;
- assisting with stakeholder management developing and maintaining regular contact with internal and external stakeholders to understand requirements;
- assessing and escalating issues and risks as appropriate.
- Contribute to developing communications plans presentations and promoting the projects and outcomes of projects/workstreams.
- Maintain an up to date knowledge of project management methodologies.
- Determine short term priorities for own work ensuring you maximise quality efficiency and continuity.
- Assist in the evaluation and review of projects.
- You may be asked to manage other colleagues working on the project/s and this will include allocating work.
- Supports the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
- Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) preferably in a STEM no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
- Significant practical experience in a similar role experience of using project management tools.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy with the ability to write clearly and to analyse information and data.
- Highly proficient IT skills including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and PowerPoint.
- Ability to understand policy processes and procedures but also to recommend improvements and implement changes.
- Excellent analytical skills used to produce reports identify issues and resolve them decisively.
- Excellent interpersonal skills. The post holder must inspire confidence and command authority with a range of colleagues and provide excellent customer service at all times.
- A high degree of professionalism tact and diplomacy and the ability to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information/issues.
- A high degree of initiative personal judgement resourcefulness flexibility and a self-motivating approach.
- Ability to work effectively in a large complex organisation and to develop a good understanding of howthe Universityand higher education institutions work.
- 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 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 appropriate for the level our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things 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 (where applicable) on budget delivery;
- set priorities and quality standards for a wide range of tasks and duties;
- 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 ondetermining 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
Informal enquiries to Angela Murray email:
View our staff values and behaviourshere
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 everyoneon our website.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
