Una.Resin Project, Partnership, and Communications Manager

Vacancy Ref: : 053241 Closing Date : 14-Oct-2020

Contact Person: Aine RYAN Contact Number :

Contact Email: aine.ryan@ed.ac.uk

We are looking for a Project, Partnership, and Communications Manager to lead on the delivery of all aspects of the Una Europa Alliance’s ‘Una.Resin’ project, which is funded under the EU H2020 dimension of the European Universities’ Initiative. You will liaise with project partners in each of the eight Una Europa Alliance member universities to achieve the project’s ambitious goal of creating a common research and innovation eco-system for our researchers and partners.

You are a confident and highly organized project and communications professional, with the ability to build trusted relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, and whilst thriving in a fast-paced, dynamic workplace.

Una Europa’s ambition is to create a truly European inter-university environment for collaboration in education, research, and innovation. We will create a university of the future, where our students, researchers, and staff, in collaboration with our shared partners and communities, will make the world a better place.

At Edinburgh Research Office, we offer colleagues a stimulating and rewarding working environment based on our values of integrity, expertise, community, and collaboration. The University offers an attractive benefits package including a generous annual leave allowance, a high-quality pension scheme, and a range of family-friendly policies.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) and fixed-term for 3 years.
Salary: £33,797-£40,322– Grade UoE07.
Closing date: 14.10.2020 at 5pm.

Job Details

Job Title: Una.Resin Project, Partnership, and Communications Manager
Department/School: Edinburgh Research Office
Unit (if applicable): Corporate Services Group
Line Manager: International Research Funding Manager

Job Purpose

The Una.Resin Project, Partnerships and Communications Manager will lead on the project management of all aspects of the EU Horizon 2020 funded ‘Una.Resin’ project, liaising with project partners in each of the eight Una Europa member universities. The post holder will also lead on the design and implementation of project communication, dissemination and engagement plan, and work to facilitate relevant research and innovation partnerships and collaborations across the Una Europa Alliance.

Main Responsibilities

Approx. % of time

  • Project manage the Una. Resin project, including progress tracking, risk management, meeting and event administration, committee servicing, reporting, spend monitoring, and communication with the EC, to ensure efficient, compliant, and transparent implementation of the project.

40

  • Design and implement a project communication, dissemination and engagement plan, covering events management and multiple communications channel engagement, to ensure effective and timely communication with, across and between all project stakeholders and to communicate and promote project activities and results across a wide variety of audiences.
    30
  • Work with Work Package leads, the Clusters of Expertise and the Una Europa Senior External Funding Advisor to activity seek funding to implement additional activities, pilots and initiatives arising from the Una.Resin project.
    10
  • Liaise with the 1Europe project team, Una Europa vzw. and other Una Europa bodies, to ensure Una.Resin is integrated into a broader and overarching strategic framework, to ensure both projects are fully aligned, and resources are used efficiently.
    10
  • Coordination of engagement with other ‘European Universities’ Alliances, monitoring synergies, exploiting opportunities for collaboration, and sharing best practice to ensure system level impact and alignment with the expected outcomes of the ‘European Universities’ R&I top-up initiative.
    10

Planning and Organising

  • Plan and organise meetings and dissemination events to ensure clear and effective internal and external communications
  • Facilitate the establishment of the Una.Resin Clusters of Expertise, including development of common Cluster guidelines and terms of reference, and maintain an overview of all cluster activities and membership
  • Provide specialist advice and recommendations independently within specific parameters to support informed decision making.
  • Design and deliver a communications, dissemination and engagement plan
  • Lead on the day-to-day project management to support the achievement of project objectives.
  • Develop and determine individual workflow and activity scheduling in order to meet turnaround times.

Problem Solving

  • Proactively communicate with all project stakeholders to ensure smooth running of the project
  • Resolve incoming queries and requests for assistance from project stakeholders, judging those that require referral to other specialists or stakeholders.
  • Identify and make recommendations for improvements to contribute to the continuous operational improvement of the project delivery and monitoring
  • Create and monitor a project risk register, working to mitigate risks as appropriate

Decision Making

  • Apply professional expertise and use judgement to make decisions to deliver a professional service to meet the requirements of all project stakeholders, including external partners
  • Oversee resource and budget planning within the project to ensure maximum value is delivered for resources deployed e.g. processing expense claims, coordinating meeting and event timings to ensure efficient use of travel budget
  • Set own work schedule, objectives and priorities within agreed framework.
  • Manage, monitor and maintain records to meet both internal and external funder requirements.
  • Independently resolve issues with project progress or communications whilst exercising judgement on when to appropriately escalate issues to the Project Coordinator, Deputy Project Coordinator and Project Steering Committee
  • Assess progress towards project objectives, presenting results and putting forward recommendations through the provision of briefings, presentations or written reports, to facilitate the interpretation of specific issues/problems and support decision making.
  • Identify gaps or shortfalls in information and search for sources of information to fill these.

Key Contacts/Relationships

The post holder will be required to work closely with a large network of stakeholders:

  • Una.Resin Project Coordinator and Deputy Project Coordinator
  • Una.Resin work package leads and co-leads.
  • Una Europa vzw. General Secretary and team.
  • 1Europe Project Management Team
  • Various Una.Resin, Una Europa, and 1Europe bodies e.g. Project Executive and Steering Committees, Board of Directors, General Assembly, External Advisory Board.
  • Academics, researchers, senior management and professional service colleagues in the eight Una Europa Universities
  • Key contacts in the European Commission and other policy and decision makers
  • Colleagues in Edinburgh Research Office, Edinburgh Global and other relevant UoE departments
  • Non-academic stakeholders e.g. citizens and representatives from public, private and third sector organisations

Essential

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent formal training, plus demonstrable experience in a similar or related role involving significant formal project management activity
  • Demonstrable experience of managing complex projects and deliverables within general guidelines, independently using own initiative and judgement.
  • Proven experience of the development and implementation of communication and dissemination plans, including awareness of latest developments in the field.
  • Demonstrable experience of coordinating and producing high impact content for a wide range of communications channels and stakeholders.
  • Proven analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to contribute innovative ideas, and to continuously improve ways of working.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to consult, negotiate, influence and liaise effectively with a diverse range of international stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to develop and maintain a diverse network of stakeholders.
  • Highly organised with the ability to independently organise and prioritise own workload in response to changing needs, exercising a high degree of initiative whilst demonstrating a pro-active and flexible approach to work.
  • Excellent IT, numeracy and written and verbal skills.
  • Financial training sufficient for budget monitoring, expense claims processing and reporting.
  • Proven ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Desirable

  • A PhD or other relevant postgraduate research experience.
  • Experience of project managing a H2020 funded project.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of current and emerging EU research, innovation and education policy issues.
  • A formal project management and / or communications qualification.
  • Experience of working in Higher Education, preferably in a research-intensive university or research funder in one or more of the eight Una Europa countries.
  • Knowledge of national and international research and innovation related funding opportunities available to Una Europa universities.
  • Existing network of relevant contacts across Europe.
  • Experience of event design, planning and delivery.
  • Experience of University of Edinburgh finance systems.
  • Experience of web management and content management systems.

Dimensions

At Edinburgh Research Office we work alongside researchers to grow ideas into fundable proposals. We provide expertise to researchers at all stages, from idea development to identifying funding and crafting applications through to award management. We work with research leaders to develop research strategies based on sound funder insights and intelligence. We offer expertise across UK, European and international funders. We are enablers and connectors, networked across the University, able to provide the best advice to researchers and research leaders in all disciplines.

You will be part of the Research Funding Team. We work with researchers, and the local professional services colleagues who support them, at all stages of research grant proposal preparation. We are connected across the University which enables us to provide advice to researchers in all disciplines and to support interdisciplinary research projects.

Una Europa brings together eight leading research universities with global reputation and reach. Our collective mission is to create a truly European inter-university environment, where outstanding research is continuously linked to transnational learning and innovative, critical thinking. Una Europa is a strong alliance based on shared values of openness, exchange and intercultural dialogue. Together we aim to shape Europe’s future. Diversity is a strength of our alliance; that diversity is underpinned by common principles: Interdisciplinarity, internationalisation, innovation, interaction, inclusivity and impact. Una Europa is a continent-wide living laboratory, where best practices and new approaches are tested and taken up, to grapple with new and enduring challenges. We will draw on our collective strength and that of our partners and our communities, to create technological, cultural and social innovation impact on the local, regional, national, European and international levels.

Job Context And Any Other Relevant Information

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities. Our researchers continuously challenge the boundaries of knowledge. We have a continuing track record of the highest levels of research excellence. Edinburgh is a global university, consistently ranked one of the best 25 universities in the world. We are 4th in the UK for research power in both main league tables based on REF2014. Our REF performance was strong across the board, with all three of our Colleges having disciplines placed first for power in both league tables, and more than half of subjects submitted in the UK top five for power in both tables. The University is on an upward trajectory with research income of almost £300m. The University aims to continue on this trajectory and the Edinburgh Research Office plays a key role in supporting academics to do this.

Application Procedure

All applicants should apply online by clicking the apply link at the bottom of this and submitting an up to date CV. The application process is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application. The online system allows you to submit a CV and other attachments.

We anticipate interviews will be notified by email whether you have been shortlisted for interview or not.
The closing date is 5pm on 14.10.2020

Eligibility to Work

In accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 and Immigration Act 2016 the University of Edinburgh, as an employer, has a legal responsibility to prevent illegal working and therefore must check that all employees are entitled to work in the United Kingdom (UK).
To do so, the University requires to see original documents evidencing right to work in the UK before commencement of employment and this is normally carried out at interview. Details will be provided in any letter of invitation to interview.

For further information on eligibility to work please visit our eligibility to work webpage

If You Are From Outside The EEA And Not Currently Eligible To Work In The UK, There Are Visa Routes That May Be Available To You, For Example

  • Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent): If you are an academic in the field of sciences; humanities; engineering; medicine; digital technology; or the arts, it may be possible for you to apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa. This route requires you to apply to be endorsed as an internationally recognised leader or emerging leader in your particular field by a designated competent body (Arts Council England, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Tech City UK). However, if you are applying for a senior academic role, e.g. Professor/Reader there is an accelerated route to endorsement. Further information can be found on the UKVI website
  • Tier 2: The University is a UKVI licensed sponsor and is able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to successful candidates who are offered highly skilled roles and meet the eligibility criteria. The CoS enables candidates to apply for a Tier 2 (general visa).

Further information about whether you require a visa and other visa routes can be found at: www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Conditions of Employment

Pension Scheme

This role is grade UE07 and therefore the post holder is automatically included in membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subject to the USS membership criteria, unless they indicate that they choose not to join the Scheme.

For further information please visit our Pensions website .

Salary

The role is grade UE07 and attracts an annual salary of £33,797 to £40,322 for 35 hours each week. Salary is paid monthly by direct transfer to your Bank or Building Society account, normally on the 28th of the month. Salaries for part-time staff are calculated on the full-time scales, pro-rata to the Standard Working Week.

The University reserves the right to vary the candidate information or make no appointment at all. Neither in part, nor in whole does this information form part of any contract between the University and any individual.

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