The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Manager to join the rapidly expanding lab of Professor Johnathan Cooper-Knock at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). Our mission is to uncover the genetic drivers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by integrating cutting-edge technologies, including single-cell epigenetic profiling and machine learning, with large-scale whole-genome sequencing. This approach has led to significant recent success in journals such as Neuron and Cell.

The Cooper-Knock lab is growing at a remarkable pace, having expanded by over 50% in the last year and secured more than £1.2M in new grant funding. We currently lead four major international networks involving prestigious partners like Stanford, Yale, and the Weizmann Institute. We are seeking a highly motivated coordinator to act as the central hub for these activities.

This role is ideal for someone with a background in project management. You will oversee a diverse portfolio, managing specific teams and project milestones while handling administrative and financial reporting. Beyond operations, you will support the drafting of scientific papers and grants, and coordinate with international media to showcase our research. Due to our global reach across three continents, some flexibility is required for unsociable hours; however, we offer hybrid working to accommodate these demands.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Scoping, planning and delivery of a variety of projects and programmes.
• Ownership and support / preparation of project and programme budgets, in collaboration with Researchers to ensure they are not exceeded and spent on relevant project items.
• Detailed management, control and reporting throughout the project lifecycle for relevant individuals to be updated on project progress.
• Inputting, ordering and interrogating finance data in order to deliver projects and programmes to budget.
• Responsible for monthly invoicing and deeper financial review of projects and programmes, working directly with Finance team representatives.
• Management and support of others within your team including offering support/guidance where necessary.
•  Makes presentations to stakeholders on project updates, project cycle, and expected results.
• Support and participate in project teams to deliver projects in time and on budget.
• Present results to internal and external stakeholders at all levels in a professional and concise manner.
• Be responsible for short, medium and long-term projects and programmes or contribute to the planning of the group.
• Liaise with partners and suppliers when and where required to form good relationships. 
•  As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework.
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on during April 2026, This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible after the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact smph-west-staffing@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.