Job description
 
The School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences has attracted multi-million pound research funding and collaborates with other universities and Faculties within KCL, the NHS, charitable trusts and foundations, international Universities and industry. The post holder will work most closely with the School’s Specialist Technical Operations Manager to support academic and research staff and their academic collaborators in other institutions, hospitals and industry conducting this funded research and delivering outcomes that have real-world, life-improving impacts. 
 
This post will support an EPSRC Programme Grant with 15 co-investigators in a range of disciplines related to development of radiopharmaceutical chemistry for molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy and its clinical translational to benefit patients. The Programme is mainly hosted by the Imaging Chemistry and Biology Department within the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, with major additional contributions from colleagues at Imperial College London and University of Southampton, as well as other Departments within King’s College London. The post holder may also support other research programmes as part of a mutually supportive team of managers. 
 
The role will provide strategically informed project management support, working closely with, within and across teams responsible for research, translation, healthcare and industry both internal and external to KCL. The postholder will provide specific support for the School’s research operations and governance activities working closely with professional services, academic and research staff.  
 
The post holder will report to the School Specialist Technical Operations Manager. 
 
This post will be offered on an indefinite contract  
This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities
 

• Support senior managers within the School in working with PI’s to drive the business of research funded projects. 
• Liaise with project stakeholders and to develop and maintain appropriate levels of KCL engagement with internal and external partners involved in projects. 
• Manage and disseminate as necessary project-related information. 
• Provide administrative leadership and accountability, being actively involved in setting targets and objectives for the research team and reviewing performance against the targets.  
• Service the management, Executive, Advisory Board meetings and stakeholder meetings.  
• In tandem with other staff in the team develop a programme, and ensure the smooth running, of project seminars, workshops, and conferences. 
• Ensure progress within and assist with the implementation of systems and procedures both for specific activities and broad organisational issues as relevant to the management of research funded projects and partnerships, providing advice and support to PI’s and other academic staff as appropriate. 
• Ensure appropriate meetings are held frequently to assess progress of projects and strategy against the project plan, milestones, and budget. Help the PI keep the team focussed on delivery.  
• Support senior managers and PIs in assessing project risks and mitigation strategies.  
• Act as point of contact for monitoring officers from the funders.  
• Work with the senior managers, PI and team to set milestones and funding amounts as appropriate, and to redirect finances where needed in accordance with funding regulations. 
• Liaise with the team to draft reports required by funders (for example: interim, milestone, annual reports, and surveys). Be responsible for ensuring funder reports are completed and satisfactory to ensure the release of further funding. 
• Liaise with central research services to effect a drawdown notice once a milestone has been passed. 
• Liaise with KCL contracts to draft consultancy and research agreements with independent advisors and subcontracts with private industry, other universities, and NHS partners. 
• Assist with clinical study set-up, including governance and sponsorship matters, ethics committee submissions as required. 
• Oversee audits by external bodies on projects to include financial, clinical, data and instrumental management.   
• Provide support for staff recruitment and preparation of job descriptions etc. in liaison with School and College professional services staff 
• Support PIs, research staff and PhD students in tandem with other professional services staff in the unit by advising on future grant applications, creating costings, and overseeing the full application process from beginning to award. 
• Represent the unit to a range of stakeholders (e.g., the media, other HEIs, publishers, societies) if required. 
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff within the School as well as in the College and across KHP.
• Support research operations by monitoring space allocation, writing policies and procedures, assisting with facility management etc.
• Working with other staff as appropriate to develop and maintain internal and external communications and public relations, including supporting regular reporting and the appropriate use of web and print media.
• Regularly communicate complex information in a clear and precise way.
• Take both collaborative and independent decisions that have implications for their own and others work.
• Resolve problems where the optimal solution may not be immediately apparent and where there is a need to use judgement to resolve problems that are predictable but occur infrequently.
• Plan in advance for heavy workload.
• Use own initiative and creativity to solve problems.
• Interact with internal and external contacts that require a service or need information, interpret customer requirements, and support junior staff in dealing with queries.
• Forecasting the impact of new legislation or ethical standards on the School and its research members.
• Monitor resource usage.
• Provide documentation and produce reports as required.
• Oversee tasks of the work team.
• Assist colleagues with difficult problems when they arise and generally offering advice, guidance, and support to team.
• Proactively pursue Continuous Personal Development opportunities.
• Handle situations that require sensitivity, a high level of awareness of confidentiality, and general tact and diplomacy.
• Offer advice or guidance on complex issues relating to research management, research translation, clinical studies and other relevant topics.

 
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  
 
Skills, knowledge, and experience 
 
Essential criteria 
 
1.       PhD in science / health-related subject or substantial relevant experience 
2.       Experience of managing multi-stakeholder projects 
3.       An understanding of the research policy and funding environment 
4.       Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills 
5.       Excellent IT skills in email, spreadsheets, word processing, databases, and the Internet 
6.       A methodical and accurate approach to work with attention to detail 
7.       Ability to collaborate with colleagues at all levels across the university and external organisations 
8.       Ability to make and carry out decisions and know when to confer with colleagues or refer matters onwards 
9.       Ability to work without direct supervision; to manage own workload through and display good organisational ability 
10.   Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities 
11.   Ability to negotiate with multiple parties and achieve desired outcomes 
12.   Ability to be discrete and maintain confidentiality in accordance with current Data Protection legislation 
 
Desirable criteria 
 
1.       Professional project management qualification (e.g., Prince2) 
2.       Experience of industry/capital/research funding schemes 
3.       Experience of grant writing and scientific writing 
4.       Knowledge of regulations surrounding clinical research 
5.       Understanding and experience of clinical research ethics and applications 
 
 
Further information
 
Selection process to include a Panel Interview  
 
This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.