Research Planning and Operations Manager Research and Strategy and Services 107045 Grade 8

Position Details

Research and Strategy and Services

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 47389 to 56535 with potential progression once in post to 63606

Grade: 8

Full Time Permanent

Closing date: 8th March 2026

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 University of Birmingham has an ambitious vision to build on its research excellence and secure its position as a global top 50 university as set out in the Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework. The Research Strategy & Services Division (RSSD) plays a central role in delivering this ambition by providing expert integrated support across the full research lifecycle.

Role Summary

As part of a strategic reorganisation RSSD has established a newResearch Performance & Systems Innovation Team led by the Assistant Director RSSD (Head of Research Performance & Systems Innovation). This newly created team has responsibility forresearch performance oversight REF management systems innovation and research data and provides strategic leadership of the Universitys REF2029 submission.

TheResearch Planning & Operations Manageris a key role within the Research Performance & Systems Innovation Team. The post provides senior operational leadership for REF and research planning activity translating strategic direction into robust delivery and ensuring that complex timecritical institutional processes are wellcoordinated high quality compliant and delivered to schedule. The postholder will also play a key role in embedding consistent approaches across Colleges supporting senior leaders with clear guidance high-quality data and effective operational oversight.

The Research Planning & Operations Manager will support theoperational deliveryof institutional research planning and REF activity working closely with academic leads College teams and central Professional Services colleagues.

Main Duties

• As part of the Research Performance & Systems Innovation Team operational planning and deliveryof the Universitys REF2029 submission working under the strategic direction of the Assistant Director (Head of Research Planning & Systems Strategy).
• Develop and manage detailed REF project plans timetables and risk registers ensuring alignment across Contribution to Knowledge.& Understanding Engagement & Impact and Strategy People & Research Environment (SPRE).
• Coordinate REF-related data collection validation and assurance processes working closely with College teams research systems colleagues and data specialists.
• Act as a central operational point of contact for REF activity providing clear guidance and practical support to Colleges Schools and Institutes
• Support the delivery of institutional and College-level research planning rounds ensuring alignment between REF research strategy and performance planning processes
• Produce high-quality briefings papers and reports to support decision-making by senior academic and professional committees (e.g. REF Board Senior Research Leadership Team)
• Work closely with Research Systems and Data colleagues to ensure REF and research planning requirements are effectively supported by institutional systems (e.g. Pure Worktribe Core Fusion).
• Support data quality audit readiness and compliance in relation to REF and external reporting requirements.
• Build strong trusted working relationships across the RSSD and with College-based research teams academic leads and Professional Services colleagues.
• Provide operational leadership to staff contributing to REF and planning activity including matrix-managed or project-based contributors.
• Represent RSSD on operational working groups and communities of practice relating to REF research planning and research environment activities
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency clarity and effectiveness of REF and research planning operations.
• Contribute to wider change programmes within RSSD supporting the transition to a more integrated data-driven research planning model.
• Capture and embed lessons learned from REF and planning cycles to strengthen future delivery.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade as required from time-to-time by the Assistant Director.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

Essential:

• Significant experience of delivering complex time-critical operational processes within a research-intensive or similarly complex organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) or equivalent large-scale assessment planning or compliance exercises.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams competing priorities and tight deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience of coordinating stakeholders across organisational boundaries including academic and professional services colleagues.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills with the ability to work confidently with data plans and detailed documentation.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to produce clear guidance and high-quality papers for senior audiences.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of initiative judgement and professionalism in a sensitive and high-profile environment.

Desirable

• Direct experience of REF submission processes Codes of Practice or REF-related data and systems.
• Experience of research planning performance management or research environment activity in a UK higher education context.
• Familiarity with research information systems such as Pure Worktribe or Core Fusion.
• Experience supporting or delivering change programmes or process improvement initiatives.

Informal enquiries to Carolyn Silvester email:

View our staff values and behaviours here

Use of AI in applications:We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

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.