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

Data Connect, a Centre of Excellence within The University of Sheffield, is seeking a talented Senior Research Project Manager to lead the creation and delivery of complex, impactful data products. We facilitate researcher access to vital health and social care data, directly contributing to research that enhances and saves lives across our region.

This pivotal role ensures the delivery of data products and research across the Yorkshire and Humber Secure Data Environment (YHSDE) programme, specifically supporting the South Yorkshire Delivery Team. You will be the key liaison, working across organisational boundaries to simplify complex data access and delivery processes for researchers.

You will oversee and coordinate every aspect of the data product pipeline, ensuring that both technical engineering and information governance requirements are clearly defined and broken down into actionable tasks. Working within a team that utilises Agile project methodologies, you will collaborate closely with the Data Connect Service Lead and Senior Research Project Manager. You will act as the primary "enabler" for the team, translating researcher needs into actionable development plans and high-quality data products.

Main duties and responsibilities

The Research Project Manager is responsible for the current active project activity including:

• Project Scoping & Stakeholder Alignment: Collaborate with researchers and regional stakeholders to define precise project workflows, technical scopes, and delivery timelines for bespoke data products, maintaining consistent alignment with institutional and regional strategic objectives.

• Technical & Governance Coordination: Translate complex Information Governance (IG) frameworks and technical infrastructure requirements into actionable development tasks.  . 

• Technical Translation: Act as the primary interface between academic researchers and the data science team. You will ensure that research objectives are clearly understood and translated into technical requirements, while effectively communicating technical or governance constraints back to stakeholders to manage expectations.

• Pipeline Management: Oversee the end-to-end data product lifecycle. You will proactively identify project risks and resolve bottlenecks by convening technical, clinical, and governance experts at critical intervention points.

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Lead the design and implementation of SOPs to standardise the data request process, creating a scalable and repeatable framework for researcher access across the region ensuring alignment with central SDE team. 

• Agile Implementation: Embed agile practices within the team to coordinate complex research tasks effectively. Through regular sprint planning and retrospectives, you will refine internal processes to optimise output and ensure the South Yorkshire team meets its delivery milestones.

• Task & Workflow Management: Breaking down defined research requirements into manageable tasks and maintaining/optimising JIRA board workflows to ensure efficient and transparent project tracking.

• Regional Integration: Serve as the primary liaison for the Yorkshire & Humber Secure Data Environment (YHSDE) programme, ensuring the South Yorkshire delivery team is fully integrated with central regional functions through regular in-person engagement in Leeds and York.

• Resource Management: Working closely with the other Project Managers in data Connect to manage team capacity and resource allocation across all active data products.

• Service Design & Strategic Improvement: Contribute to the long-term evolution of Data Connect by providing data-driven insights on user experience and operational efficiency. You will champion the sharing of best practice across the Faculty of Health, identifying opportunities to refine our service model and align our delivery with the University’s wider strategic goals.

• Communication & Documentation: Facilitating clear and consistent information flow among team members and creating comprehensive project documentation, including project plans, reports, and meeting minutes.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

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The role will also require engagement with activities within the faculty of Health to share skills, knowledge and experience more widely to improve how we work together to meet the strategic objective of the University as a whole.

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 in mid May. This will consist of an interview, with a test to be sent out beforehand to present at the interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage approximately 2 weeks 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 dph-staffing-contracts@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

  • access to menopause support in the workplace

  • 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 Leader (opens in a new window). 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.

Criminal record 

A basic DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

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.