View Vacancy -- Project Manager - NATA 2163

Open Date
31/05/2023, 13:00
Close Date
21/06/2023, 23:55
NATA
NATA (https://www.natahub.org/) focuses on building internal chemistry, biology and operational capabilities while catalysing collaborative R&D activity to tackle significant barriers facing oligonucleotide therapy manufacturing and delivery. This investment will support capacity building in terms of equipment, upskilling and domain expertise that will be essential in developing critical mass to catalyse and de-risk the development of next-generation nucleic acid therapeutics.
UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 4
Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
£32,005 - £35,143 per annum
Permanent
Administration & Management
Full Time

Purpose


To manage the operational activities of NATA Projects including: 

  • Facilitating the delivery of research projects ‘on time & on budget’
  • Organisation and delivery of project team, portfolio review and governance meetings
  • Providing reports and outcomes to a range of stakeholders involved (academic investigators, industrial partners and other collaborators).

Responsibilities

Project Management

  • Oversee and maintain an overarching project plan, to ensure that progress is monitored and reported in a timely manner, and that issues regarding delivery are escalated to Senior Leadership (or equivalent) for resolution.
  • Assist the Head of Operations in preparation of reports and other materials on project related matters.
  • Develop an infrastructure (with tools) for the effective management of projects that can be viewed by key stakeholders and that has the ability to report and answer portfolio-based questions.
  • Support a range of stakeholders involved in NATA Research Collaborations.
  • Work with MRC finance staff on the financial management of the projects including managing the profile of costs and ensuring the planned budget profile reflects the practical delivery plans.

Governance

  • Supporting the management of governance bodies, as above
  • Provide updates across MRC/UKRI as well as to relevant funding partners as required.

Communication

  • Act as a key knowledge holder, ensuring progress is communicated internally and to project partners and stakeholders.
  • Support delivery of the communications activities, including disseminating key messages about NATA projects and identify opportunities to promote achievements.
  • Supporting workshops and other networking activities.

Other key information

Working Relationships:

  • Reports to: NATA Head of Operations
  • Works with the relevant academic, industrial and other NATA collaborators
  • Works closely with colleagues across the MRC Head Office, including Translational Team & Finance

Staff Management:  No line-management responsibility.

Additional information:

  • Post holder will be required to work from the Harwell office.
  • Need to be flexible and willing to travel, occasional overnight stays may be required.

Education/Qualification/Training required:

Essential:  First degree (or equivalent) in a scientific discipline.
Desirable: Training/experience in project management.

Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

  • Good analytical ability, encompassing critical thinking, evaluation, decision making and problem-solving skills
  • Able to identify strategic objectives and their implications and make adaptations to ensure project delivery and impact
  • Experience of working directly and achieving results with a wide range of stakeholders
  • Understanding and application of appropriate project management tools
  • Ability to communicate clearly – both orally and written, across a range of issues
  • Able to use IT software packages to manage projects, maintain document libraries and keep accurate records.

Desirable:

  • Experience of planning, managing and delivering strategic projects within a public sector or academic environment.
  • Experience of acting as an organisation representative to external stakeholders. 

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities:

Essential:

  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships.
  • Highly organised, with good time management skills and a flexible approach, able to juggle priorities.
  • Ability to motivate and inspire others.
  • Well-developed negotiating skills, demonstrating a commitment to the interests of all stakeholders, and ability to seek resolution to emerging challenges.
  • Ability to put across difficult concepts or different points of view while retaining the confidence of senior staff.
  • Personal resilience, in the face of challenging situations or people.
  • Positive advocate for NATA, MRC and UKRI.
  • Has integrity and takes personal responsibility.
  • Committed to self and organisational improvement.
UKRI is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we welcome applications from talented people from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage individuals who identify as being from an ethnic minority group and those with disabilities or long-term conditions to apply, as they are under-represented at this level in MRC.
The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.  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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.