Research Portfolio Manager

About the role

As Research Portfolio and Operations Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the Faculty of Engineering’s research and knowledge exchange (RKE) activity. Based in the Faculty’s APM Hub, you will manage a diverse portfolio of live research projects and proposals, providing expert advice to academic colleagues from bid development through to project delivery and close‑out.

You will oversee project finances and resources, ensure compliance with University and funder requirements, support audits and reporting, and contribute to strategic decision‑making through high‑quality data and analysis. Working closely with academics, Faculty Operations, and central Research & Innovation teams, you will help deliver a professional, efficient, and forward‑thinking research support service.

About the team

You will join the Engineering Research and Knowledge Exchange (ERKE) team, a collaborative and supportive group of research professionals embedded within the Faculty of Engineering. The team works closely with Faculty Operations, academic staff, and central University functions to support the full research lifecycle and to help the Faculty deliver against its strategic RKE objectives and KPIs.

The team values professionalism, inclusivity, shared expertise, and continuous improvement, and plays a vital role in enabling world‑class research at the University.

About you

You will be an experienced research or project management professional with strong financial and organisational skills, and a proven ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment. You will be confident working with budgets, systems, and data, and comfortable advising and collaborating with academic and professional colleagues at all levels.

With excellent communication skills and a proactive, solutions‑focused approach, you will take pride in delivering high‑quality support, maintaining robust processes, and continuously improving ways of working. Experience of research management systems (such as RIS and UniCore) and working within a higher education or research environment will enable you to succeed in this role.

What we offer:

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• A hybrid working arrangement with the blended approach of home and office working each week
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (or pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.

We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities

What next:

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details.

This is a permanent, full-time role (36.25 hours per week).

Please contact Hamzah Sikander (hamzah.sikander@nottingham.ac.uk) if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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