Research Delivery Project Officer (Drug Discovery)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,546 to £35,116 with potential progression once in post to £39,355

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to September 2026

Department Overview

The Research Delivery team, part of the College of Medicine & Health’s Research Office, is a vibrant hub for Professional Service staff (~100 individuals) supporting high-value, strategically important projects and programmes. We work closely with both Professional Services colleagues and Academics across the University and partner organisations, particularly NHS colleagues, to maximise the impact of funded research, much of which has direct patient relevance.

Job Summary

The University hosts a number of Drug Discovery projects which bring together research excellence within and between key themes and disciplines, spanning the Colleges of Medicine and Health, Life & Environmental Sciences, and Engineering & Physical Sciences, with links to external partners. Academic leadership is provided by Professor Ruth Roberts, Chair in Drug Discovery.

The post holder requires a strong sense of initiative, the ability to ‘multi-task’ and effective communication skills. They will be involved in providing dedicated support for drug discovery initiatives. The role is varied and includes maintaining diaries, databases and spreadsheets, arranging and hosting meetings, filing and document management, and acting as a key point of contact. The Project Officer will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the research projects by working with the Drug Discovery Programme Manager and the Academic Lead in Drug Discovery.

Main Duties

Project Officers will manage smaller projects in their entirety or manage elements of larger projects or assist in the management of one or more larger projects through the provision of well-developed and timely project management support. You will be expected to work proactively, and use your initiative and planning skills to set your own priorities to ensure progress is maintained as expected, identify any issue and propose solutions.

• To support Research Project delivery, Project Boards, workstreams and working groups within an overall project or manage elements of larger projects or smaller projects on your own. 
• Contribute to developing communications plans, presentations, and promoting the projects and outcomes of projects/workstreams.
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of project management methodologies. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications), preferably in a STEM subject. Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Significant practical experience in a similar role, experience of using project management tools.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to analyse information and data.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and powerpoint.
• Ability to understand policy, processes and procedures, but also to recommend improvements and implement changes.

Informal enquires can be made to Angie Murray a.j.murray@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Advert information