Technical Project Co-ordinator

Location : Ballymena
- Job Ref: UDF/2024/362
- Employment : Part-Time Temporary
- Closing Date : 03 January 2025 05:00 pm

Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.

At Dale Farm virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.

**Culture**

Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working to-wards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team.

**Equal Opportunities**

The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship based workspace.

**Benefits**

In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast moving and results oriented environment.

Technical Project Co-ordinator

Job Purpose: Exploit funding opportunities and other schemes to support R&D, training, capital and sustainability projects

Reports to: NPD Manager/ Head of Innovation

Location: Based in Group Technical Centre, Pennybridge, with travel to other sites and national travel as necessary

This role is a temporary position for 3 days per week on a 9-12 month contract. Days of work can be flexible and can be discussed at interview stage.

Key Responsibilities:

- Collection, collation and submission of expenditure, ensuring that claims are submitted on time and accurately, maximising the grant specified in the letter of offer for Invest NI R&D and training grants, Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) and any other agreed funding streams
- Maintain, monitor and provide permissible evidence for annual return of Research & Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC)
- Work with all internal teams to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities, for example, honouring the time committed, timesheets are completed etc. and thereby ensuring the project remains a priority for all involved
- Work closely with any external bodies involved in a project, ensuring all parties are fully briefed at all times
- Working to ensure confidentiality and intellectual property issues have been agreed before the beginning of any research projects, and adhering to Dale Farm confidentiality and GDPR policies and procedures while dealing with personal information
- Liaise with project managers to define clear project goals and objectives to ensure all funding and grant opportunities for projects are maximised, and pinpoint new opportunities for funding
- Liaising with funding bodies to optimise funding and ensure that the business is aware of any current or future funding opportunities in line with strategy
- Building relationships and understanding the capabilities within Universities and Research Institutes which could aid business development
- Representing the company and attending networking events to build a wide variation of contacts within the Agri-food industry, undertaking occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings with external bodies
- Develop an understanding throughout the business of the breadth of funding opportunities available and create a central hub of knowledge within the Dale Farm group

Education & Experience:

- Degree or equivalent in a related discipline and ideally will have gained at least two years’ experience in a funding related role
- Creative, self-motivated, results orientated, and have the drive and flexibility to succeed in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent recording skills to capture, codify and disseminate knowledge gained from funding opportunities
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively address external and internal stakeholders and possess the desire to work with the team to drive forward success
- Possess a high level of competency in Microsoft Office

We promote an open and supportive culture which is based on our core values

**Teamwork | Positivity | Resolve | Ambition | Curiosity | Accountability**
- We are an Equal Opportunities Employer_