Project Manager - ATETA

Job Purpose

The Project Manager will have the remit of managing a high value ERDF funded project in Thermal Energy and Energy Systems within Research and Innovation Services at the University of Birmingham. Within this capacity the job will provide strategic direction and management to ensure the £4M ATETA project delivers in line with European regional objectives. The Project Manager will be answerable and directly responsible to the Project Director for delivery of all aspects of this project.

As Manager for the project, the post holder will be responsible for day to day operational management of the project and the successful delivery of contracted outputs. The task will necessitate co-ordinating and managing the efforts of staff involved in all aspects of project delivery. Furthermore, the Project Manager will co-ordinate the efforts of the project partner organisation, Energy Systems Catapult, and the numerous SMEs, who are the project beneficiaries.

The Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring that all ERDF requirements for reporting and auditing are met for the duration of the project and will also be responsible to the Project Director for reporting progress on the projects, and for alerting senior management to any major potential threats to project delivery. The Project Manager will be required to ensure that all aspects of project delivery are completed in line with University policies. At times the Project Manager may also be required to advise on Project Management and ERDF regulations to other appropriate School funded projects.

The Project Manager will be responsible for identifying appropriate opportunities for new business that emerge during the delivery of the project. Such opportunities will need to be reported to the relevant College Research and Knowledge Transfer team or to Research and Innovation Services.

The ATETA project is a £4M part European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded initiative to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the GBSLEP area by linking local SMEs in the low-carbon sector with cutting edge research and global expertise to deliver innovative low-carbon products, processes and services with a focus on thermal energy, energy storage and energy systems.

Person Specification

Essential
• Degree level in a subject relevant to EPS, preferably a further degree
• Considerable project management experience in high technology or research oriented environment, particularly having evidence of successful delivery of projects
• Formal Project Management qualifications such as APMP, Prince 2 or MSP
• Experience of managing large financial budgets along with experience of budget planning and forecasting
• Ability to interpret complex guidelines, rules and regulations. Experience of working to reporting structures and producing audit trails
• Experience of running projects with significant numbers of staff and motivating staff across a wide range of disciplines to deliver to deadlines
• Excellent team-working and communication skills being able to keep the team fully appraised of key issues, and also comfortable in briefing and influencing senior management
• Proven ability to meet targets, milestones and contracted outputs and work to deadlines
• Competent IT user- Microsoft packages, email, internet, and project management tools

Desirable
• Successful delivery of projects for regional or national government and involving match funding contributions from partners
• Experience of technology transfer particularly involving development and transitioning of technology from low/mid high technology readiness levels for use by SMEs
• Significant experience of setting up and managing project record systems so that they meet the needs of the team, the customer, and any audit requirements
• Experience of working with higher education and commercial sectors
• Knowledge and understanding of business engagement and knowledge transfer in the contact of HE sector
• A broad knowledge of raw materials and their processing such that they can understand and interpret the clients’ needs
• Valid clean Driving Licence, with eligibility to qualify for University insurance (over 21)