The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute is named in honour of the scientist Alan Turing and its mission is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better.

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, and may have the opportunity to support other programmes, both ad-hoc or more formally. The postholder will be recruited initially into the role of Programme Manager to focus on areas of emerging priority for the Institute.

Emerging Priorities

The Programme Manager, Emerging Priorities postholder will be a specialist in setting up and planning of initiation phases of new and emerging research activities, projects and programmes deemed priority for the Institute where they are outside an existing area of support provided by Programme Management or where further support is required.

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.

The post holder plans, organises and communicates the start-up of individual projects and initiatives and is responsible for set up and initiation phases, and ensuring smooth handover to team members who will then be responsible for oversight of ongoing activities within the Programme, project or activity. Some activities may remain under management by this role until pilot phases are completed. 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 manage set up and initial stages of programmes and projects in emerging priority areas for the Institute, and coordinate interactions with strategic and project partners and funders, internal colleagues as well as other project partners and academic collaborators, in collaboration with colleagues in Partnerships team and other teams such as the Office of the Director as required.

The role will work closely with:

• The scientific leads of the emerging priority areas, who may be programme directors, Deputy Directors, Theme Leads or Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators, and who rely on programme management services.
• Senior Programme Managers, Programme Managers, Research Project Managers and researchers across Turing Programmes, especially with colleagues on programmes to which the emerging priority area is aligned.
• Researchers active within the programme including Research Engineering Group colleagues.
• 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

• Plan the structure, organisation and costing of new areas of emerging priority, or short-term pilots, for the Institute alongside colleagues in the Partnerships team, providing expect advice on project management, structure and delivery of projects.
• Oversee the set up and initiation phases of new areas of emerging priority, or short-term pilots, for the Institute in 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 scientific leads in the implementation of robust programme management processes and protocols.
• Work with the scientific leads and other colleagues to shape the programme or project strategy and set, implement, and regularly review programme or project objectives and activities, in alignment with the Institute’s strategies.
• Foster, grow and develop the research community engaging with the programme or project through activities that meet the mutual needs of the programme and the research community.

Other duties

• Other duties within the scope and scale of the role, in response to business requirements and direction of the Line Manager and/or Director of Programme Management

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

• Degree or equivalent level of professional qualifications and/or experience with a demonstrated interest in data science and artificial intelligence
• Experience of managing complex projects and programmes in or with an academic environment;
• Demonstrated programme and project management and organisational skills
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary projects, involving external and internal partners
• Experience negotiating, managing and monitoring contracts;
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills at all levels
• Be aware of external factors impacting on workload and monitor resourcing requirements to continuously provide a quality service

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 3862 3546 or email [email protected].

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 £46,700 - £50,000, plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 22 March 2022 at 23:59

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.

We are committed to building a diverse community and would like our leadership teal to reflect this. We therefore welcome applications from the broadest spectrum of backgrounds.

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]

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.

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

In line with current Government guidance, most of our organisation is currently working remotely. When Government guidance changes, we will trial a Hybrid Working Model for an initial six-month trial period. During this period, staff will be expected to work at our British Library office for a number of days per month, dependent on the requirements of the role. As a guide, we anticipate this will be between 2-4 days per month, but the hiring manager will be able to confirm this during the interview.