Description
School of Metallurgy and Materials, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham
Position Details
Location: High Temperature Research Centre, Coventry, UK
Contract: Fixed‑term, Part‑time (18.75 hours per week), up to May 2028
Grade: 8 – Full time starting salary normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression to £63,606
Closing date: 4th January 2026
Due to ITAR restrictions, this position is only open to individuals holding citizenship of nations that do not appear on the ITAR 126.1 list of proscribed countries.
Background
The High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) is a research partnership between the University of Birmingham and Rolls‑Royce, operational since 2016. The centre focuses on manufacturing nickel superalloy single crystals and related technologies. The HTRC is jointly managed by a School of Metallurgy and Materials laboratory at the Edgbaston campus and a large‑scale research facility at Ansty Park, Coventry.
The HTRC recently secured an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership grant on Advanced Research in Crystal Anisotropy and Nucleation effects in Nickel Superalloys (ARCANE). This 5‑year, £11 M project involves the University of Birmingham, Rolls‑Royce, University of Oxford and University of Greenwich. The project has five work packages and a data‑science strand.
Role Summary
The Senior Project Manager will support the Principal Investigator and deliver the ARCANE project. The post involves strategic direction, day‑to‑day operational management, financial oversight, stakeholder engagement and reporting to the EPSRC funder.
Main Duties
* Lead project management activities, including the development of complex project plans.
* Create and maintain an overall project management plan and schedule.
* Identify objectives, success indicators and deliver contractual obligations.
* Plan and manage regular project meetings and stakeholder engagement.
* Establish effective networking relationships with all stakeholders.
* Set up, manage and monitor the project budget and cash flow.
* Co‑ordinate output evidence and ensure timely delivery of outputs to budget and quality standards.
Budget Management, Monitoring and Reporting
* Maintain accurate expenditure records and cash‑flow forecasts to maximise funder recovery.
* Ensure all allowable costs are recorded in accordance with University policy.
* Lead colleagues in accurate cost recording and audit controls.
* Delegate budgets to key task managers and monitor control and audit of project expenditure.
* Approve expenditure within delegation limits and escalated decisions to the Project Director when required.
* Ensure all grant reimbursement to beneficiaries is processed in line with policy.
* Provide quarterly financial reports to the project funder and the Project Management Board.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication
* Develop and implement a comprehensive evaluation strategy.
* Establish reporting procedures that meet requirements and gather data efficiently.
* Analyse data to ensure quality and take action when necessary.
* Report progress to the ARCANE Management Group and highlight risks.
* Maintain a risk register and communicate risks proactively.
* Engage with stakeholders to disseminate project outputs.
* Coordinate and organise strategic governance meetings (Steering Board, Advisory Board).
* Support PI in short‑term, medium‑term and long‑term reporting and planning activities.
People Management and Research Culture
* Line‑manage staff, ensuring targets and goals are achieved within resource constraints.
* Create a motivating and collaborative project environment to achieve outstanding research outputs.
* Identify development opportunities and encourage team growth.
* Maintain the ARCANE website as an external communication portal.
* Support day‑to‑day needs of ARCANE research students.
General
* Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring, evaluation and challenge of unacceptable behaviour.
* Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource‑efficient working.
* Perform any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
* Relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification and substantial programme/project management experience.
* Formal Project Management qualifications (APMP, Prince2, MSP) preferred.
* Extensive experience managing large financial budgets and forecasting.
* Experience in technical reporting and financial policies/processes.
* Knowledge of relevant work practices, processes and procedures with sector/commercial awareness.
* Literacy and numeracy to produce clear written material and data analysis.
* Ability to meet targets with minimal supervision and deliver under pressure.
* Experience in engaging and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
* Analytical and problem‑solving skills to identify and implement improvements.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate.
* Highly proficient IT skills (MS Office); ability to learn new software quickly.
* Excellent people‑management skills with proven experience of leading and motivating teams.
* High self‑motivation, personal accountability and deadline orientated.
* Knowledge of equality and diversity legislation and ability to apply policies.
* Experience championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
DBS Required
All successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.
BPSS Required
All successful applicants will be subject to a BPSS check prior to appointment.
Contact
Informal enquiries to Gareth Pugh – email: g.pugh@bham.ac.uk.
Advertising
Open to all qualified candidates. EEO statement: The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunity employer and commits to providing a fair and inclusive workplace.
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