Programme Manager

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 be involved in developing and delivering NERC and UKRI investments. 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 across a range of aspects including research 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.

What we offer

This role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own projects and activities. 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 be varied, building relationships with universities, government partners and industry; managing and delivering NERC processes to ensure we fund research, innovation and training of the highest quality; and, planning and implementing community events to foster new, innovative, research and innovation programmes.

Key Activities include:

• Supporting the development and management of a portfolio of investment in research, innovation and postgraduate training within NERC’s priorities. This includes: supporting design and implementation of funding calls and competitions, including potential activities aimed at community building.
• Take responsibility for assessment of proposals for funding, selecting appropriate reviewers and panels members. Ensure appropriate and timely communications at all times with those involved. Promoting good decision making through equality, diversity and fairness in funding opportunities.
• Carry out active management of funded research, through specific programme activities, e.g. monitoring programme budgets; organising programme meetings and communications; preparing papers, reports and briefings, maintaining webpages.
• Engagement with communities and stakeholders in the UK and internationally. Act as an interface with researchers (universities, other environmental agencies, and research centres) and research users (business, government and policy makers) for agreed areas of NERC activity.
• Provide high quality expertise and advice in areas of responsibility informed by the latest developments in the area, evidence and engagement with relevant external stakeholders.
• Promoting and contributing to cross-council projects and projects funded jointly with external funders.

Essential Skills

• Degree, preferably in environmental sciences, or equivalent relevant qualifications or expertise.
• Working knowledge and experience of the research and/or innovation landscape in the UK and the science areas and/or communities supported by NERC.
• Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information in language appropriate to the audience.
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task, and work to deadlines
• Ability to work flexibly on own initiative, as well as contribute well to team working.
• 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.

You will have access to a range of benefits including a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to shopping/travel discounts plus more!

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