AI Fellowships Manager

Alan Turing Institute London United Kingdom Partnerships and Innovation
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Company Description

There has never been a more significant time to work in data science and AI. There is recognition of the importance of these technologies to our economic and social future: the so-called fourth industrial revolution. The technical challenge of keeping our data secure and private has grown in its urgency and importance. At the same time, voices from academia, industry, and government are coming together to debate how these technologies should be governed and managed.

The Alan Turing Institute, as the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence, plays an important part in driving forward advances in these technologies in order to change the world for the better.

The Institute is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing is considered to have laid the foundations for modern-day data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute’s goals are to undertake world-class research, apply its research to real-world problems, driving economic impact and societal good, lead the training of a new generation of scientists, and shape the public conversation around data and algorithms.

After launching in 2015 with government funding from EPSRC and five founding universities, the Institute has grown an extensive network of university partners from across the UK and launched a number of major partnerships with industry, public and third sector. Today it is home to more than 400 researchers and a talented business team.

The Alan Turing Institute working in partnership with UKRI and BEIS and recently launched the UK’s first Turing AI Fellowships call. We are now looking to appoint a Turing AI Fellowships Manager to support this scheme. Based at the Alan Turing Institute the successful candidate will coordinate and manage the AI Fellowship scheme and its cohort of researchers. Duties will include administering a portfolio of high impact research projects, as well as overseeing, planning, organising and communicating the activities generated by those projects.

The AI Fellowships Manager will coordinate and support the appointed Turing AI Fellows in the delivery of their research. They will develop a sense of community and ensure the appointed Fellows are connected and empowered to deliver collaborations across the AI network in the UK and specifically the Turing.

Position

The AI Fellowships Manager will coordinate and oversee the cohort of AI Fellows who will be located at institutions around the UK and the Turing offices in London. The post holder will work with academic researchers to establish their research projects. This will involve understanding the resource requirements for each project, drawing up detailed financial plans, coordinating grant contracts, agreeing on clear milestones for each project, ensuring that the deliverables are completed on schedule, as well as providing regular reporting on the progress of the scheme. As the Fellows will be employed at a UK institution other than the Turing, it will require working with teams across the Fellow’s host institution. It will also involve building a strong community of AI researchers.

The AI Fellowships Manager will also need to liaise closely with Institute research and operations staff, in London, at university and research centre partners, to perform their duties.

Requirements

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Establish a strong community of AI researchers centred on the grantees of the AI Fellowship Scheme.
  • Coordinate and oversee the delivery of the AI Fellowship Scheme’s research projects and awards. This will involve:
  • Working with the researchers to outline the resource requirements for each project, to agree on clear milestones for each project, and to ensure that the deliverables are completed on schedule.
  • Working with the Turing’s finance team to draw up detailed financial plans for each project and with the Institute’s legal counsel to put the right contracts in place.
  • Providing regular updates to the Institute’s leadership and external stakeholders on the progress of each award.
  • Working alongside the communications team to disseminate the findings of each project.
  • Coordinate the scheme’s events and knowledge exchange initiatives. This will involve:
  • Designing events and initiatives to build communities and disseminate outputs, to shape agendas, define audiences, publicise the initiative, and to ensure that meeting minutes are taken and distributed.
  • Maintain up-to-date records that enable effective monitoring, control and evaluation of the scheme’s research initiatives.

This job description is written at a specific time and is subject to change as the demands of the Institute and the role develop. For example, there may be scope to develop events/activity for AI Fellows appointed through further Fellowship calls. The role requires flexibility and adaptability and the post holder needs to be aware that they may be asked to perform tasks and be given responsibilities not detailed in this job description.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will have:

Essential

  • Degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline, or equivalent level of professional qualifications and/or experience;
  • Relevant experience in project management, preferably in an academic environment.

Skills

  • Strong project management and organisational skills: the ability to plan, execute, and keep on schedule numerous projects in an organised fashion.
  • Strong multi-tasking skills: the ability to balance competing priorities with minimal direction while maintaining a high standard of accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Strong problem-solving skills: the ability to pinpoint problem areas and to identify creative solutions.
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills: the ability to communicate effectively and clearly with stakeholders in academia, the public sector, and industry.
  • Strong interpersonal skills: the ability to form and maintain relationships with a wide range of people at all levels.
  • Strong analytical skills: the ability to define, measure, and track key metrics for each project.
  • Strong community building skills: the ability to bring together people from different backgrounds and disciplines to work on successful collaborations.

Desirable

  • Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject.
  • Experience in managing complex research projects involving internal and external partners.
  • Formal training in one or more project management processes (Scrum, Lean, Agile, Prince II, etc.) as well as familiarity with project management tools and software.
  • An interest in data-driven research.

Other information

Terms & Conditions

The annual salary is between £35,000 and £38,000 per annum (pro-rata) dependent on skills and experience. This is a part-time(0.5), 2 year fixed term post to be held at the Institute’s site at the British Library, Euston Rd, London. Occasional travel nationally and internationally may be required to deliver the role. Occasional working evening and weekend hours may also be required. A competitive benefits package is also available, please ask if you would like further details.

Application Procedure

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant’s portal and complete the application form including your CV, covering letter and contact details for your referees. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact them on 0203 862 3394 or email [email protected].

Closing date for applications: 28 June 2019

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, marital and civil partnership status, pregnancy, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability.Please note all offers of employment are subject to continuous eligibility to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.

Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from [email protected].