Job description
Named in honour of Alan Turing, the Institute is a place for inspiring, exciting work and we need passionate, sharp, and innovative people who want to use their skills to contribute to our mission to make great leaps in data science and AI research to change the world for the better.
Please find more information about us here
Position:
Programme Management
The Alan Turing Institute has ten Programmes of scientific research in key areas of AI and data science, each led by a Programme Director. There are also a small number of significant programmes of activity which sit across several research Programmes.
This role sits within the Institute’s Programme Management directorate, which is responsible for the management and delivery of these programmes in support of the senior academic Programme Directors and Principal Investigators. The team oversees millions of pounds of data science and AI research, training and knowledge exchange programme initiatives in these programmes, ensuring they are managed to business requirements, specification, time and budget.
There are a number of Programme and Research Project Managers within the team, usually focussed on one research Programme or programme of activity, but who may provide programme and project management capabilities and support to other projects or activities from time to time as required. Programme managers and Research project managers are not permanently attached to programmes and may be moved to other research programmes in-line with business needs, and may have the opportunity to support other programmes, both ad-hoc or more formally.
Health and Medical Sciences Programme
The Health and Medical Sciences programme, under the Scientific Leadership of Director Professor Chris Holmes and Deputy Director Professor Ben Macarthur, is a major programme of research into the theory and methods of AI, statistics, and data analytics underpinning medical and health applications that will enable scientists to do better science, without compromising respect for privacy and patient trust. Using data-driven innovation in AI and statistical science, the programme aims to accelerate the scientific understanding of human disease and improve human health.
The programme has a number of partnerships, working across the NHS and government, charities and foundations,
and industry. Health has been announced as one of the main strategic priority areas for the Turing for the coming years, and we are expecting an exciting period of growth for the programme.
ROLE PURPOSE
A Research Project Manager at the Turing coordinates the implementation and delivery of advanced data science, AI and modelling research projects, and research engineering innovations in data, software and collaborative practices. We anticipate that the postholder will need to embody values of initiative, reliability and collaboration in addition to the core values of Turing and their commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as described in the Turing’s EDI Principles (below).
This role is to co-ordinate and support work within the Health and Medical Science programme. It will include administering a portfolio of high impact research projects, as well as overseeing, planning, organising and communicating the activities generated by those projects.
The post holder will work with the Programme Director, theme leads, and academic researchers to coordinate each research project from concept to implementation; this will involve understanding the resource requirements for each project, drawing up detailed financial plans, coordinating funding applications, negotiating funding or collaboration contracts, agreeing on clear milestones for each project, ensuring that the deliverables are completed on schedule, as well as providing regular updates to the Institute’s leadership on the progress of each project.
The post holder will also coordinate the programme’s interactions with the science research community; this will involve organising meetings and workshops that bring together academic and industry researchers and policy makers. The post holder will be instrumental in ensuring that the programme runs smoothly and delivers on its ambitious aim to ensure that science research makes effective use of state of the art methods in artificial intelligence and data science.
The Research Project Manager will need to liaise closely with Institute research and operations staff, in London, at university and research centre partners, to perform their duties. Management of small projects in other areas may also be required, subject to business needs.
DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Research project management and delivery
- Coordinate and oversee the high-quality delivery of ground-breaking, multi-disciplinary research projects as part of several research workstreams. This will involve:
- Working with the research teams to outline the resource requirements for each project, to support them in applying for funding and resource, to agree on clear milestones for each project, and to ensure that the deliverables are completed on schedule;
- Working with the Turing’s finance team to draw up detailed financial plans and reports for each project and to manage POs and invoicing.
- Working with the Turing’s legal and governance teams to ensure that relevant contractual and legal agreements and processes are in place and followed, including for data sharing and ethical considerations.
- Providing regular updates to the Institute’s leadership on the progress of each project / workstream.
- Working alongside the communications team to disseminate the outcomes or findings of each project/ workstream;
- Coordinate some of the programme’s events, training, and knowledge exchange initiatives. This will involve:
- Working alongside researchers and the programme’s leadership to identify a suitable venue for each initiative, to shape the agenda, to create the guest list, to publicise the initiative, and to ensure that meeting minutes are taken and distributed;
- Maintain up-to-date records that enable effective monitoring, control and evaluation of the programme’s research initiatives;
- Produce regular reports on activity to external partners and funders.
Programme Operations and Resources Management
- Perform resources planning and financial analysis for the programme. This will involve assisting in the preparation of the programme’s budget, anticipating future staffing and operational needs, identifying potential funding sources, as well as managing the programme’s office space and payment of expenses;
- Coordinate the delivery of strong programme governance. This will involve developing, writing, and editing reports and presentations for the Institute’s senior leaders, Board of Trustees, and funders, which outline the programme’s progress and initiatives;
- Coordinate proposals for funding across the programme as required and provide letters of support.
- Working with the HR team, organise the recruitment of additional programme researchers or administrative staff. This will involve writing job advertisements, organising interview panels, and overseeing the onboarding process for new hires;
- Provide day-to-day support to the Programme Director and programme research leadership
Requirements:
- Degree or equivalent level of professional qualifications and/or experience.
- Formal training in one or more project management processes (Scrum, Lean, Agile, Prince II, etc.) as well as familiarity with project management tools and software (desirable)
- Excellent project management and organisational skills: the ability to plan, execute, and keep on schedule numerous projects in an organised
- Experience of Budget management and knowledge of financial processes.
- Experience of Research Project Management in an academic environment.
- Experience of facilitating research using sensitive data, including an understanding of information governance requirements.
- Accurate and up to date knowledge of Research Project Management in an Academic environment with internal and external stakeholders.
- Proactive approach to managing stakeholders and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Other information:
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us 020 3862 3546 or email [email protected].
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 1 May 2023 at 23:59
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early or to interview suitable candidates before the closing date if enough applications are received.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This full time post is offered on a fixed-term basis until June 2026. The annual salary is £40,950 - £44,100 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits
If you are applying for more than one role at the Turing, please note that only one Cover Letter can be visible on your profile at one time. If you wish to apply for multiple roles and do not want to overwrite your existing Cover Letter, please apply for the role using the button below and forward your additional cover letter directly to [email protected] quoting the job title.
If you are an internal applicant and wish to apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter directly to [email protected] and your application will be considered. Please include the following wording as a new paragraph in the application procedure section after you copy and paste the wording from the JD.
We are committed to making sure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive.
This includes making reasonable adjustments for candidates who have a disability or long-term condition. Please contact us at [email protected] to find out how we can assist you.
The Alan Turing Institute is based at the British Library, in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter. We expect staff to come to our office at least 4 days per month. Some roles may require more days in the office; the hiring manager will be able to confirm this during the interview.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Reasonable adjustments to the interview process will be made for any candidates with a disability.
Please note all offers of employment are subject to obtaining and retaining the right to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.
Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from [email protected].