Job Title: Research Administration Manager

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM

School/Department: School of Computer Science

Salary:£28,695 - £37,394 per annum depending on skills

& experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance

Job family & level:Administrative, Professional and Managerial, level 4

Contract status:Permanent

Hours of work:36.25 hours

Location:Jubilee

Reporting to:Director of Operations

Purpose of the Role:

To manage the delivery of key research administrative processes within the School and head a team of four administrators. To assist the School Management team with key monitoring processes and be responsible for areas of management reporting relating to research grants. To be responsible for the design and improvement of processes in relation to research admin support and PhD student activities.

Main Responsibilities:

Main Responsibilities / % time per year
1 / Manage research project administration within the School; providing support for research grant applications e.g. by providing Pfact costings. Be responsible for the monitoring of research project finances and their administration, liaising with PIs and RGS on problems/issues as appropriate. Produce, analyse and interpret reports on research activity as required, drawing attention to areas of overspend and advising the PI and Director of Operations. Provide specialist advice to PIs on best use of grant income.Ensure that external research income is utilised efficiently and are drawn upon to maximum effect in line with the Terms and Conditions of grants.Generate research income and expenditure projections for both individual researchers and research groups to help promote strategic planning.
Research projects within the School are usually large and complex, involving different Schools within the University and often split between other UK and WU HEIs. / 20
2 / In liaison with the School Finance Officer advise on the affordability of the School’s matched funding commitments ensuring the School’s research income portfolio is balanced. Manage and implement policies in relation to the School’s research strategy.Co-ordinate support for large scale research initiatives including a review of project justification of resources to ensure maximum income and marginfor the School. / 20
3 / Participating in the induction of new research staff into the School, writing and maintaining a School Induction pack (reviewing and amending as appropriate). / 5
4 / Manage the School’s Peer Review process for grant applications / 10
5 / Support interdisciplinary work within the School by liaising with other Schools and research institutes as appropriate, including at the Campuses in Asia, including management of joint studentships, joint training programmes and support for the exchange of best practice. / 10
6 / In consultation with the School’s research community oversee and contribute to the maintenance of the School’s research web pages with up to date, relevant and accurate information. Ensure the efficient organisation and professional delivery of various research and PGR related events and activities run by the School within budgetary demands. / 5
7 / Provide line management to 3 Research Support Officersand the Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator by administering work-loads, conducting performance reviews and general line management activities. / 10
8 / Provide support to Director of Research, managing or supporting one off projects, sometimes in collaboration with others. This will include producing analyses of research income, research spend and KPIs and presenting findings to the School at events such as the annual research away day.
Act as Secretary to the School’s Research Committee.
Any other duties appropriate to the role and level / 20

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/
Education /

Good first degree

OR
Proven track record of extensive relevant work experience, demonstrating practical and theoretical knowledge of a specific/specialised field of work.
Knowledge/Skills/Training /

Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills
Ability to work on one’s own initiative or as part of a team

Ability to work with minimal supervision, prioritising and planning own workload to deliver to targets.

Ability to motivate, negotiate and influence both individuals and teams
Financial awareness and budgetary experience.
Excellent IT skills and database management
Understanding of HR processes and an ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues and manage conflict effectively

An understanding of external research policy and funding.
An understanding of broader research governance issues.
Knowledge of University systems, including Agresso, pFACT, JeS, BPM Metastorm etc.

Experience /

Experience of working to tight deadlines
Management of research budgets
Experience of managing a team of staff

Previous experience of research and financial support within a HE environment

Other /

Attention to detail and high levels of accuracy

Decision Making

i)taken independently by the role holder;

Allocation of workloads to administration staff relating to research andPGR

Purchasing of research resources and equipment.

ii)taken in collaboration with others;

Large research purchases for School including major equipmentin line withUniversity procurement policies and procedures.
Process for appointment of staff.
Major research reviews.
Research strategy for School Plan.
Review and changing content and structure of the School’s research website.

iii)referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder.

Authorisation of purchases over delegated limit.

Changes to School policies and procedures.

Disciplinary issues.

Scope of the Role

This is a key administrative role within the School covering Research and PGR

The role holder will produce periodic reports for the Head of School, Director of Research, School Manager and PIs. The role is a key part of the School’s commitment to expand and support research and PGR students within the School across all of its research groups and to assist in the management of the School’s resources.

Due to the requirements of the UK Border and Immigration Agency, applicants who are not UK or EEA nationals and whose immigration status entitles them to work without restriction in the UK will be considered on an equal basis with UK and EEA nationals. Other non-UK or non-EEA nationals whose employment will require permission to work subject to a resident labour market test may only be considered if there are no suitable UK or EEA national candidates for the post. Please visit for more information.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to tel: 0115 951 4327. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.