Programme Manager, Urban Analytics

Alan Turing Institute London United Kingdom Programme Management Unit
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Company Description

Named in honour of Alan Turing, the Institute is a place for inspiring, exciting work and we need passionate, sharp, and innovative people who want to use their skills to contribute to our mission to make great leaps in data science and AI research to change the world for the better.

Please find more information about us here

Position

Programme Management

The Alan Turing Institute has ten Programmes of scientific research in key areas of AI and data science, each led by a Programme Director. There are also a small number of significant programmes of activity which sit across several research Programmes.

This role sits within the Institute’s Programme Management Directorate, which is responsible for the management and delivery of these programmes in support of the senior academic Programme Directors. The team oversees millions of pounds of data science and AI research, training and knowledge exchange programme initiatives in these programmes, ensuring they are managed to business requirements, specification, time and budget.

There are a number of Programme Managers within the team, usually focussed on one research Programme or programme of activity, but who may provide programme management capabilities and support to other projects or activities from time to time as required. Programme managers are not permanently attached to programmes and may be moved to other research programmes in-line with business needs. Programme Managers may also have the opportunity to support other programmes ad-hoc or more formally, where there is a business need.

Urban Analytics

The Urban Analytics Programme, under the Scientific Leadership of Professor Mark Birkin and Deputy Director Dr Dani Arribas-Bel, is a major programme of research into the process, structure, interactions and evolution of agents, technology and infrastructure within and between cities across spatial and temporal scales. Data science and AI will be developed and exploited alongside spatial analysis, geostatistics and a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives.

The programme has a number of partnerships, working across government bodies and industry. Due to an exciting period of growth, the programme is recruiting a Programme Manager to support the Programme Director, Senior Programme Manager and programme research community in delivering collaborative research partnerships and creating impact.

The successful candidate will join the Digital Twins and Engineering delivery team working with the Senior Programme Manager, who will line manage this role.

ROLE PURPOSE

Programme Managers oversee and manage delivery of research projects within the designated programme/s, within funding parameters and to meet agreed delivery milestones and impact objectives. We anticipate that the postholder will need to demonstrate initiative, balance and accountability in addition to the core values of Turing and their commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as described in the Turing’s EDI Principles and Our Values (below).

The post holder plans, organises and communicates the start-up of individual projects and initiatives and is responsible for oversight of ongoing activities within the Programme. Funding may originate from Research Councils, external partners and sponsors, or Turing core funding.

Programme Managers report either to a Senior Programme Manager or the Director of Programme Management, and may have line management responsibility for one or more Research Project Managers. Their relationships are broad and varied, spanning a diverse team of academic research and business staff within the Institute, together with researchers and operational and senior stakeholders within partner organisations (both university partners and funding partners).

This post holder will support the Institute’s Urban Analytics programme. The Programme Manager is responsible for facilitating smooth operational links between the partner universities and research institutes as well as close working within The Alan Turing Institute to deliver high-quality research projects, research programmes, and knowledge exchange in data science and AI.

The role will work closely with:

  • The Programme Director and Programme leadership team who provide scientific leadership and direction for the programme.
  • Senior Programme Manager and Research Project Managers on the Urban Analytics programme to deliver the partnerships and projects under the programme.
  • Other Senior Programme Managers, Programme Managers, Research Project Managers and researchers across Turing Programmes.
  • Researchers active within the Urban Analytics programme, along with Research Application Managers and Community Managers within the programme.
  • The functions in the COO’s office, including Finance, HR and Recruitment, Legal, Training, Academic Engagement, Events, Communications.
  • Partnerships team, who initiate and nurture non-academic partnerships, shape research projects with partners, negotiate collaborative research contracts, funding and data sharing arrangements.
  • Strategic and Project Partners/Funders, who are important stakeholders in post-award delivery and where the effective relationship management and timely reporting provided by Programme Management maximise the opportunity to grow and further build partnerships.
  • Universities & other research employers, to formalise how researchers will be engaged and funded, working with local Research Offices or HR teams.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

  • Oversee the delivery of millions of pounds of data science and AI research, training and knowledge exchange programme initiatives, ensuring they are managed to business requirements, specification, time and budget
  • Provide support, advice, and challenge to the Programme Director and Senior Programme Manager in the implementation of robust programme management processes and protocols. Ensure the programme complies with Institute policies and governance.
  • With the PI and Industry lead and other colleagues, shape the programme strategy and set, implement, and regularly review programme objectives and activities, in alignment with the Institute’s strategies
  • Foster, grow and develop the research community engaging with the programme through activities that meet the mutual needs of the programme and the research community
  • Manage the budget for some aspects of the programme, which includes estimating proposal/project costs, forecasting, tracking actuals, and reconciliations.
  • Highlight impact, outcomes, outputs of the programme and promote its successes with stakeholders.
  • Monitor all activities, review risks, issues and progress, taking actions or escalating as necessary to ensure minimum impact on programme.
  • Deliver regular updates and communications of programme information, highlighting risks and opportunities to stakeholders, internally and externally. Cultivate strong relationships with programme stakeholders.
  • Responsible for performance management and professional development of one or more Research Project Managers (where applicable).
  • Cultivate strong relationships with programme stakeholders, including strong open working relationship with funders, strategic partners and delivery partners across the programme.

Requirements

  • Degree or equivalent level of professional qualifications and/or experience with a demonstrated interest in data science and artificial intelligence;
  • Demonstrated programme and project management and organisational skills;
  • Experience managing multi-disciplinary projects, involving external and internal partners;
  • Budget management and financial processes; experience working with Finance on budget planning, reporting, reconciliations;
  • Experience negotiating, managing and monitoring contracts;
  • Experience facilitating research using sensitive data, including an understanding of information governance requirements;
  • Ability to work in uncertainty, and to map out risks/benefits of potential solutions to problems arising;
  • Structured and proactive approach to work, comfortable multi-tasking and able to re-prioritise as required;


Please see the job description for a full breakdown of the duties, responsibilities and person specification.

Other information

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us on 020 3970 2148 or 0203 862 3340, or email [email protected].

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 5 February 2023 at 23:59

If you are applying for more than one role at the Turing, please note that only one Cover Letter can be visible on your profile at one time. If you wish to apply for multiple roles and do not want to overwrite your existing Cover Letter, please apply for the role using the button below and forward your additional cover letter directly to [email protected] quoting the job title.

If you are an internal applicant and wish to apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter directly to [email protected] and your application will be considered.

We are committed to making sure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive. This includes making reasonable adjustments for candidates who have a disability or long-term condition. Please contact us at [email protected] to find out how we can assist you.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This full-time post is offered on a fixed-term basis for 24-months initially. The annual salary for full-time hours is £49,025 - £52,025 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits

The Alan Turing Institute is based at the British Library, in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter.

We are currently assessing the results of our hybrid working trial, which ran for six months. We will soon publish a long-term workplace policy: as a guide, we anticipate this will be between 2-4 days per month. Some roles may require the jobholder to spend a greater number of days in the office, but the hiring manager will be able to confirm this during the interview.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

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 reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Reasonable adjustments to the interview process will be made for any candidates with a disability.

Please note all offers of employment are subject to obtaining and retaining the right 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].