SUM4Products Grant Manager School of Mathematics 106407 Grade 7

Position Details

School of Mathematics

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36636 to 46049 with potential progression once in post to 48822

Grade: 7

Part Time (30 hours per week)

Fixed Term contract up to November 2028

Closing date: 11th November 2025

Background

Scale-Up Mathematics for Formulated Products (SUM4Products) is a 2.8M NetworkPlus funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council linking Mathematical Scientists with the UK Formulation Industry (including food and drink fast moving consumer good speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals). Hosted by the Schools of Mathematics and Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham this cross UK initiative will hold networking events and fund pump priming research projects jointly with our industry partners.

The School of Mathematics is a vibrant and thriving academic community within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences with over 80 Academic Staff 15 Postdoctoral Researchers and 90 Postgraduate Research Students.

The School is a supportive and people-focused friendly environment committed to equality diversity and inclusivity which aims to allow colleagues to develop as researchers and educators. We encourage applications from the widest community and provide equal opportunities in our recruitment processes.

The School of Mathematics holds an Athena SWAN Silver award supports the London Mathematical Society Good Practice Scheme and is a member of the Piscopia.

The University of Birmingham holds the Advance HEs Race Equality Charter Bronze award a framework through which we are working to self-reflect identify and remove barriers standing in the way of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunity and a Disability Confident employer.

Role Summary

To manage the SUM4Products grant and order to flexibly use resource you may be offered the opportunity to work elsewhere in the department or wider University.

Main Duties

• Responsible for the delivery of SUM4Products or for contributing to larger University projects through the provision of significant and high level project management support. This may include some or all of the following:
  • developing project plans identifying (as appropriate) key performance indicators and milestones
  • reviewing and auditing progress on projects to identify and act on improvements to effectiveness efficiency and delivery
  • reporting on progress including the development of reporting mechanisms writing reports (eg on project budgetary management) and presenting to appropriate meetings such as Project Board or to other key stakeholders
  • providing executive support to Project Boards work streams and working groups as required; setting agendas collating and distributing papers and minutes and ensuring follow up action is taken
  • assessing and escalating as you deem appropriate issues and risks including monitoring risk registers
  • Stakeholder management ensuring effective liaison with project partners funders Project Boards as appropriate
  • managing project resources efficiently and effectively including budgets and ensure project documentation is maintained
• Coordinate the organisation of conferences/ meetings/ workshops/ dissemination events if required.
• Develop and deliver communication strategy for the project(s) which may include developing for example newsletters briefings for stakeholders and/or websites or other social media.
• Ensure that priorities are balanced taking action to deliver agreed deliverables against timelines.
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of project management methodologies.
• Source analyse and develop insights from the data to inform evaluation and review of projects.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Supports the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

• Qualified to Degree level or equivalent plus practical managerial experience or significant relevant experience demonstrated through increasingly more demanding roles evidencing the experience necessary for this role.
• Proven track record of successful project management preferably using one or more project management tools such as Prince2.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy with the ability to write clearly and to produce and analyse information and data.
• Excellent people-management skills.
• Excellent budgetary management skills and experience.
• Highly proficient IT skills including the MS Office and website editing software. You should be confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required.
• Excellent interpersonal communication relationship building and influencing skills with the ability to deal confidently with a range of internal and external stakeholders/contacts.
• Excellent organisational and multi-tasking skills with a methodical approach to work and the ability to prioritise workloads in order to meet deadlines.
• 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.

Dimensions

Roles at this level will require a broad understanding and practical experience of an administrative or professional field which will be used to plan the running and development of services and/or lead shorter term projects or contribute to larger will work with information which needs interpretation and analysis; you will use your judgement to identify the best solution to differing problems and issues offering recommendations for managing more complex are likely to be responsible for managing a team of staff being accountable for recruiting and developing them and for managing may also need to liaise and/or co-ordinate activities across a number of different sections within the department or possibly with wider department or external bodies as appropriate.

Planning and organising

• plan the running and development of service(s) overseeing resources and inputting into resource planning as appropriate;
• develop agree and implement standards for delivery for own area;
• manage a team of staff and review develop and motivate them;
• plan relevant training and development;
• provide professional advice guidance and support to others within and outside their immediate work area;
• oversee resources and make recommendations about future resource requirements.

Problem solving and decision making

• review develop and propose solutions for problems with (for example) staff budgets services and/or systems;
• deal effectively with unexpected issues such as changing priorities;
• deal with sensitive people matters/issues;
• provide specialist advice and recommendations to support decisionmaking of others.

Internal and external relationships

• understand their own and closely-related working areas and how they contribute to the success of the University.
• has an understanding of how the University operates; actively seeks to share this knowledge with others.
• developing empathy with the academic endeavour.
• influence decision makers and win support for proposals.
• develop excellent working relationships within and outside of own area and potentially with external stakeholders.
• co-ordinate activities across a number of areas.

Informal enquiries to Rosemary Dyson 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.