Centre Manager

To oversee the overall operation of the Centre for Responsible Electronics and CirculAr Technologies (CREATE), a significant investment aimed at accelerating a green economy for electronics.

CREATE will enable a shift to a fully sustainable electronic manufacturing model using a multidisciplinary strategy, with a focus on supporting the 'Electech' industry in Scotland.

The Centre allows the region to address current sustainability problems and provides an opportunity to scale across the UK to achieve a greater market share of this global industry.

You will engage with potential users of the research and facilitate a dialogue with industry about technological challenges and translational opportunities.

You will also be responsible for managing the work packages and aims of the grant, identifying and helping lead changes needed for the delivery of this cross-college and university strategic grant.

You will provide regular financial, administrative, and management reports, with recommendations as appropriate to the Strategic Advisory Board.

The position offers extensive industry-facing networking opportunities and an opportunity to support cross-disciplinary research and commercialisation activities.

The post holder will report to the PI, Professor Jeff Kettle, and will ensure that the project stays on track and that objectives, milestones, and deliverables, as well as any changes in the research, are documented.

• To manage and coordinate the Centre and communicate decisions to key stakeholders, as appropriate.
• To develop and implement a consistent and robust project management methodology, including the delivery of the overarching project and its work packages (WPs) within agreed timescales, budgets, and scope.
• To provide comprehensive project management support to the PI and co-PIs, including planning and monitoring, financial management, change management, reporting, and coordination of funds allocated to WPs.
• To provide specialist advice and guidance to academics, central, and college research support staff, including knowledge of funders' rules, regulations, systems, and terms and conditions to ensure successful project delivery within allocated budget.
• To communicate to key stakeholders, including communities, any updates to changes to the Terms and Conditions and FAQs of UKRI funding rules and/or partnership agreements.
• To communicate with all relevant partners and stakeholder communities, including consultation and management of expectations; engaging and managing stakeholders from senior management to operational staff to ensure clarity in the delivery of key programme messages (verbal and written).
• To be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the project risk register, coordination of regular reviews to identify and manage project risks, identify and implement mitigating actions and solutions, and highlight issues to the PI and co-PIs, as appropriate.
• To manage project milestones and deliverables to ensure successful completion of the overall programme and WPs.
• To effectively coordinate with the programme team.
• To manage effective liaison and communications across the programme stakeholders throughout the programme lifecycle.
• To proactively manage the overall programme budget to maximise recovery within the rules of the funder and advising the Strategic Board on appropriate courses of action.
• To liaise with the central and college research support teams to provide accurate information for claims and reporting to the funder.
• To proactively identify opportunities to improve administrative systems, processes, and procedures in order to improve the management of project delivery and participate in relevant working groups and liaising with staff from across the University to enhance its research performance and reputation.
• To liaise with external partners where necessary to negotiate budget information and to balance priorities on the 'flexible' budget within the funding.
• To act as the key contact coordinating any requests from funders for periodic updates on the grant progress, visits, and requests for information, audits, or to attend events or activities organised by funders concerning the programme.
• To assist in the delivery of workshops, sandpits, and annual events in collaboration with external stakeholders.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the PI.

Essential:

• A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles.
• A2 Knowledge of project management techniques and tools.
• A3 Knowledge of the Higher Education organisations, and their purpose, infrastructure, policies, and contractual legislation.
• A4 A thorough understanding of grant management processes.
• A5 Good knowledge of financial management, processes, and systems.
• A6 Knowledge and understanding of interrogating and maintaining databases.
• A7 Knowledge and understanding of data integrity and its importance.

Desirable:

• B1 Experience working in the electronics industry.
• B2 Detailed knowledge of UKRI funding schemes, their rules, and their processes.

Skills:

• C1 Project management - both short-term deadline-driven and longer-term involving multiple conflicting deadlines and coordination across multiple organisational units.
• C2 Excellent time management skills with an ability to prioritise competing demands and multiple projects.
• C3 Excellent attention to detail.
• C4 Proven exceptional verbal and written communication and organisational skills to produce clear project management documents and stakeholder-focused content, presented in an engaging and constructive manner.
• C5 A strong understanding of risk management.
• C6 Financial management and planning skills.
• C7 Ability to provide advice and guidance in relation to funder requirements.
• C8 Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• C9 Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing environments.
• C10 Ability to build and manage business relationships bridging between higher education and partners from industry and charity organisations.

Experience:

• E1 Experience of working in a fast-changing and fast-paced environment.
• E2 Experience of managing a portfolio of projects across the full lifecycle with a successful track record of delivery.
• E3 Experience of proficiently using relevant IT systems.
• E4 Experience of financial management, budgeting, and forecasting.
• E5 Experience in delivering a customer-focused service.

Terms and Conditions:

Salary will be Grade 8, £49,250 - £56,921 per annum.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), and has funding available until 30 September 2028 in the first instance.

As part of Team UofG, you will be a member of a world-changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity, and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions, including 41 days of leave for full-time staff, pension, benefits, and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of our values.

Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver, and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too.