SPARK Project Manager

Location: Aston University Main Campus

Contract Type: Fixed Term (31/03/2025)

Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Friday 09 June 2023

Interview Date: Monday 19 June 2023

SPARK is a unique partnership between university and industry founded by Professor Daria Mochly-Rosen in 2006 at Stanford University in USA. The purpose is to provide the education and mentorship necessary to advance research discoveries from the bench to the bedside. SPARK provides access to specialized knowledge and technical expertise regarding drug and diagnostic development and sources of funding to support translational efforts. 

As the SPARK Project Manager you will support the development and operations of running a SPARK programme for the West Midlands. SPARK being the Stanford model for pre-clinical acceleration.

You will support the on-boarding a portfolio of projects that are at pre-clinical stage of development led by academics, clinicians and industry onto the SPARK programme. You will work closely with a broader consortium aiming to boost the sector in the region and alongside staff at Aston University who will direct the programme.

Where possible you will work alongside the teams that successfully applied to be part of the SPARK Programme. You will help these teams build industry standard Research & Development project timelines that will drive their projects towards clinical trials or market authorisation.

You will have experience in developing on of the following products: Diagnostics, Medical Devices or Therapeutics in a project manager role, with a particular focus on managing the research and developing process of these projects.

Your day to day running of the SPARK programme will include a mixture of grant management, events management, contract support, and related administrative duties. It will also include working with individual SPARK cohort members to get them to a point they understand their journey to clinical trials and how finance can be raised to support this.

This is a hugely exciting opportunity to drive forward the sector for the region and be part of a globally recognised acceleration programme for pre-clinical work. 

Please visit the SPARK Global website https://sparkglobal.io/about/ for further information on SPARK

Interview Date: 19/06/2023

If you wish to further discuss this role please contact Luke Southan (L.Southan@Aston.ac.uk).

Anonymous shortlisting will be carried out for this role as part of Aston University’s commitment to equality and diversity and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to recruitment. Personal details that are included on application forms, including the candidate’s name and address will not be disclosed to the shortlisting panel. CVs will not be considered as part of the shortlisting process.

Further details:   

Job Details     University Information     

Aston University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. It promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We strive to have robust inclusivity strategies in place, including race and sexual orientation, to encourage colleagues to have the confidence and freedom to be themselves in the workplace. For more information, visit: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/about/inclusive-aston.

If you require the job details document or an application form in an alternative format please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@aston.ac.uk.

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