Senior Programme Manager

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Senior Programme Manager (Talent and Skills)
Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC)
Salary: £43,116
Band: UKRI E
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid Working
Division/Section: Research and Skills - Talent and Skills team
Closing Date: 05/05/24

For any employees applying for a fixed-term assignment (level transfer or temporary promotion), we recommend you discuss the implications on your current role with your line manager. Fixed-term assignments of twelve months or less will normally only be backfilled temporarily, after which time the employee should expect to revert to their substantive role. For assignments longer than this, or where it is assessed as business critical to backfill the releasing role, entering a fixed-term assignment may result in you not returning to your current role or Council. Instead, you would move into the UKRI Redeployment Pool (on your substantive band if temporarily promoted) towards the end of the assignment, where you will be supported in finding a suitable alternative role within the organisation.

About you

As a NERC Senior Programme Manager (PM) you will join the Talent and Skills team within the NERC Research and Skills Directorate and you will engage with the academic community, business and policy makers to invest in and maintain the UK's position at the forefront of environmental research and innovation both nationally and internationally. You will lead on the development and delivery of NERC and UKRI investments focused on responsive studentships. You will be working with the NERC community and other stakeholders from the public and private sectors and helping to maintain strong partnerships.

You will have an aptitude for programme delivery and management across a range of aspects including specifically for this role in studentship and fellowship funding competition management and post-award monitoring and engagement. You will have strong organisational, team-working and time-management skills, and excellent attention to detail. You will be self-motivated, quick to learn and flexible enough to manage a diverse and rapidly changing portfolio of activities, and work to deadlines.

It is essential that you have a demonstrable ability to resolve issues and work independently, whilst being part of a team. You will bring good influencing and communication skills with an ability to build effective working relationships with representatives within and external to NERC, across all levels of seniority.

What we offer

This role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own projects and activities within the wider scope of the Talent and Skills team, and in the future this may expand to other areas of NERC Head Office acivity. You will help to develop and structure ideas for future activities in a strongly team-based organisation as well as working with other Government Departments, other Councils within UKRI and international agencies.

Your role will focus on building relationships with research organisations, government partners and industry, and managing and delivering NERC processes to ensure we invest in postgraduate training of the highest quality. The exact activities undertaken by the post-holder will vary as PM portfolios change to accommodate team working, and as operational and strategic needs change in NERC Head Office. PMs may report to more than one activity manager for different aspects of their own portfolio.

There may be the opportunity to travel within the UK and overseas depending on the role and business need.

Key Activities of this immediate appointment base include but are not limited to:

• Leadership and management of Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP1 and DTP2) including the financial management, Cross Council interactions, post-award relationship management and reporting and evaluation.
• Development and delivery of the new NERC-BBSRC landscape competition including strategic development of the scheme, cross-Council interactions, designing and implementing the assessment of proposals for funding and promoting good decision making through equality, diversity and fairness in funding opportunities.
• Strategic input to and development of the landscapeawards as part of UKRI Collective talent working.
• Influence and oversight to maximise NERC opportunity through studentship funding working with cross-UKRI colleagues to ensure interest and engagement of the environmental science community;
• Management and delivery of other NERC studentship activities (Research Experience Placements, Associated studentships).
• Providing high quality expertise and advice in areas of responsibility informed by the latest developments in the area, evidence and engagement with relevant external stakeholders
• Activity manage Programme Manager(s), Assistant Programme Manager(s) and administrative support staff in order to achieve NERC's delivery goals.

You will also contribute to strategic direction of the Talent & Skills activity and, where required, deputise for the Head of Talent & Skills.

Other secondary tasks may include:

• Maintain awareness of developments in higher education funding policy.
• Strengthen NERC's dialogue between and within the NERC training community (NERC, students, training providers and stakeholders).
• Respond to policy queries from the community.
• Although advertised as full time, NERC is open to considering job sharing for those seeking a part time appointment.

Essential Skills

• Graduate-level understanding of environmental science and the breadth of the remit.
• Functional working knowledge and experience of the research and innovation landscape in the UK and particularly the postgraduate training environment and/or communities supported by NERC.
• Demonstrable experience and evidence of managing complex, multi-partner grants.
• Demonstrable experience and evidence of strategic level thinking and ability to resolve complex problems, balancing a number of factors.
• Good understanding of policy and its development.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with experience of building effective working relationships.
• Effective team worker with the ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team and across organisations with people of all levels.
• Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information in language appropriate to the audience.
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task, work to deadlines, and work flexibly on own initiative.
• Demonstrable track record in influencing effectively (both verbal and written media) across teams, wider organisation and external stakeholder communities.
• Effective use of Microsoft Office applications, e-mail and internet.

Desirable Skills

• Experience and exposure to investment case construction, writing and development in a public and/or private sector context.
• Experience of working on a research, innovation or training programme or international funding schemes.
• Experience of working with senior academics and policy makers, other public sector bodies and businesses.
• Experience of managing projects and budgets.
• Experience of partnership working.
• Understanding of Grants management systems.

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

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

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

About Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

NERC is the UK's leading funder of environmental science. Our scientists study and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes on which our planet and life itself depends - from pole to pole, to the deep Earth and oceans, to the atmosphere and space. The science we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a safe, healthy, productive nation. Many programmes involve collaborations with national and international partners to tackle large-scale environmental science challenges, including those faced by developing countries.

As well as research, innovation and training are supported from the NERC core budget. There are exciting emerging opportunities from cross-UKRI funds to develop interdisciplinary programmes enabling environmental researchers to lead and collaborate in major projects. This advances knowledge and has significant potential for delivering economic impact.

For more information about NERC, see:

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 .

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 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.