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

As Research Project Manager, you will lead a wide range of operational support activities which are crucial to the efficient and effective running of Public Involvement and Engagement (PIE) for the WISHES (Workplace Intervention for Sustainable Health and Employment Support) project, ensuring compliance with University regulations and legislation where relevant.. WISHES is an exciting new 3 year project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). WISHES is an internationally leading randomised controlled trial of the potential of workplace job crafting to improve the health and work outcomes of workers with disabilities, health conditions and other allied workplace support needs.

You will lead on the management and reporting of all WISHES public involvement (PIE) income and expenditure, and will work closely with the Principal Investigator, and co-applicants who lead on PIE to monitor budget and resource planning. You will provide specialist advice on strategy, policy and operational procedures, monitor progress of the public involvement elements of the project, maintain databases and liaise with external parties.

It is essential that the post-holder has strong communication skills, has excellent organisational and problem solving skills and is able to closely work with an academic team.

WISHES is being delivered in partnership with a range of disabled people’s organisations

including Speak Up Self-Advocacy, Breakthrough UK, Disability Rights UK, Disability Business Forum and Inclusion Scotland and will involve direct involvement of disabled people in all aspects of research co-production. The project is led by the University of Strathclyde and includes the universities of Sheffield, UEA, Leicester, Oxford, King’s and Westminster.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Oversee and provide operational and project management support to the Public Involvement and Engagement work of the WISHES, supporting the PI and Co-applicants with the day-to-day running of the PIE in the project.
• Provide input to the strategic planning and execution of the PIE elements of the project in order to ensure that the objectives of the project are met.
• Prioritise accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of the project delivery, including proactively inquiring about and implementing accessibility requirements to ensure full participation of all stakeholders.
• Liaise with the WISHES academic group on a regular basis and disseminate accessible information to the project teams.
• Act as the main point of contact for specialist enquiries relating to the work of PIE to provide detailed information and advice.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and liaising with colleagues across the partner universities and policy and practice partners to support collaboration.
• Lead the management and supporting optimisation and effective utilisation of the project budget, working closely with the PI, academic leads, and School Operations and Faculty Finance teams and ensuring compliance with University Financial regulations. This work includes:
  • Resource planning
  • Budget forecasting
  • Monitoring and reporting of income and expenditure of staffing and non-staffing budget
  • Ensuring project budgets are spent appropriately and in accordance with project award guidelines
• Work closely with the School Operations team to plan and coordinate itineraries, travel bookings, and hospitality.
• Maintain document filing systems (electronic and hard copy) for critical project documents and logs, ensuring they are kept up to date and maintained in line with NIHR guidelines and information security requirements.
• Coordinate and manage internal and external events, ensuring accessibility and appropriate marketing.
• Service project meetings as required. Request agenda items, prepare and circulate the agenda and papers, prepare and circulate minutes and provide follow up on actions.
• Oversee the development and content of the WISHES web pages and social media accounts.
• 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.

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience). (Assessed at: Application)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to communicate productively with staff at all levels and explain complex information clearly (Assessed at: Application/Interview)
• Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities within required deadlines (Assessed at: Application/Interview/Task)
• Experience of high quality administrative and business support within a complex organisation including evidence of implementing service improvements. (Assessed at: Application/Interview/Task)
• A creative and flexible approach to problem-solving, with an appreciation of longer term implications (Assessed at: Application/Interview)
• Proven ability to work both within a team as well as independently to meet tight deadlines. (Assessed at: Application/Interview/Task).
• Experience of developing and delivering operational and strategic plans (Assessed at: Application).
• Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to enquiries (Assessed at: Application/Interview)
• Experience of working flexibly and collegiately to achieve strategic aims (Assessed at: Application/Interview)
•  

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Assessed at: Application/Interview/Task).

Further Information

Grade: 7

Salary: £38,249 - £46,735, per annum, pro-rata.

Work arrangement: 0.5 FTE

Duration: 1 April 2025, or as soon after, until 31 March 2028.

Line manager: Joint Lead for PIE

Direct reports: n/a

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/education

For informal enquiries about this job contact Professor Katherine-Runswick-Cole
on k.runswick-cole@sheffield.ac.uk.

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in late April. This will consist of an interview & a task. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage in early April. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact edc-ops@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.

Closing Date : 14/05/2025 

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.