UK DRI Research Project Manager in London

UK DRI Research Project ManagerDepartment : Basic & Clinical NeuroscienceAbout us:Neurodegenerative disorders are the greatest health challenge of our century. To date there is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it. The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap.We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 850 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, with laboratory-based research groups located at University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, Imperial College London, and King’s College London.Centre contextResearchers at the UK DRI at King’s use innovative approaches to explore the biological mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Their goal is to defeat dementia by uncovering vital new knowledge that will lead to the design of smarter diagnostics and effective treatments. The team aim to understand the fundamental biological processes involved in dementia at a molecular level – and to use that knowledge to design new ways to diagnose and treat disease more precisely.Join the forefront of dementia research at the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King’s College London, where our interdisciplinary research community is dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). As part of the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, the UK DRI at King’s undertakes innovative cellular, molecular and translational research to advance our understanding of neurodegeneration and develop new therapeutic approaches.About the role:We are seeking an ambitious and organised Research Project Manager to join the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King's College London, the UK's flagship Dementia Research institute.Working closely with Dr Sarah Marzi, you will play a central role in supporting an internationally recognised research programme focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying dementia and resilience to neurodegeneration.This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of a world-leading research environment, collaborating with scientists, clinicians, funders, people affected by dementia, professional services teams and international partners. You will help translate ambitious scientific goals into successful project delivery, enabling cutting-edge research with the potential to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.A major focus of the role will be supporting EMERALD, a collaborative programme funded through the Dementia Frontiers Fund. The postholder will also support the wider Marzi research portfolio, including existing and future grants, partnerships, public engagement activities and strategic initiatives.You will work closely with the UK DRI Institute Manager and Centre administration team, School professional services teams and King's central services, acting as a key link between researchers and operational teams to ensure projects are delivered efficiently, compliantly and on time.Key responsibilities include:Coordinate and manage all operational aspects of the projects, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives, milestones, timelines and budgets.Ensure the projects comply with all relevant funder requirements, governance frameworks, ethical approvals, regulatory standards, institutional policies and research governance procedures.Develop, implement and maintain effective project management processes, systems and documentation to support successful project delivery.Monitor project progress, risks, deliverables and deadlines, proactively identifying issues and implementing solutions to ensure successful outcomes.Prepare and coordinate progress reports, funder submissions, project documentation, financial reports, performance updates and meeting papers.Support financial management activities, including budget monitoring, expenditure tracking, resource allocation and financial reporting.Organise and support meetings, steering groups, governance committees, PPI groups and activities, workshops and project events, including preparing papers, agendas, minutes and action logs.Maintain effective communication and collaboration between investigators, researchers, funders, industry partners, patient representatives, public contributors and external stakeholders.Coordinate project communications, dissemination activities, websites, online content, publicity and stakeholder engagement activities where required.Support Patient and Public Involvement activities including participant recruitment, data collection activities, research operations, and meeting coordination ensuring activities are conducted in accordance with approved protocols and procedures.Monitor data quality, data management processes and compliance requirements, ensuring that sensitive information is managed appropriately and securely.Support recruitment, onboarding, and HR processes relating to project staff where required.Coordinate research-related travel, meetings, workshops, conferences and engagement activities.Develop and maintain productive relationships with the UK DRI administrative and operational team along with the School of Neuroscience professional services teams, research management, finance, procurement, contracts, HR and governance teams.Provide administrative, operational and project-management support to Dr Sarah Marzi and her research teams to ensure the smooth and efficient running of research projects.Support the establishment, coordination and ongoing management of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities and groups, ensuring the meaningful involvement of people affected by dementia in research.This is a full -time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31/03/2028 with scope to extend the role based on future funding.About you:You are a highly organised and proactive project professional who enjoys bringing people together, solving problems and turning ambitious plans into reality. You have experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and changing deadlines and you will be equally comfortable working with researchers, professional services colleagues, funders, patient representatives and external partners, building effective relationships and ensuring projects move forward. You will be confident managing budgets, monitoring risks, coordinating governance processes and producing high-quality reports and documentation. Most importantly, you will be someone who takes initiative, spots issues before they become problems, and enjoys finding practical solutions.You may already work in a research, higher education, healthcare, charity or innovation environment, or you may bring transferable project management experience from another sector.This role would particularly suit someone who is motivated by supporting world-class research and wants to be part of a collaborative and mission-driven environment.Qualifications and KnowledgeDegree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline, or substantial equivalent experience. Experience in project management, research administration or programme management. Knowledge of research governance, regulatory, ethical and compliance requirements. ExperienceProven experience coordinating high value complex research projects, programmes, grants, or research activities. Experience managing multiple priorities, deadlines, deliverables and stakeholders simultaneously. Experience preparing reports, project documentation, meeting papers and presentations. Experience of budget monitoring, expenditure management and financial reporting. SkillsExcellent organisational, planning and project-management skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex information effectively to a wide range of audiences. Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately under pressure. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently using initiative and sound judgment. Competence in data management, quality assurance and handling confidential or sensitive information. Highly proficient IT skills, including Microsoft 365 and other digital systems used to support project delivery. Ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with academic, clinical, professional services and external stakeholders. Personal AttributesFlexible, proactive and collaborative approach to work. Commitment to high standards of professional conduct, integrity and confidentiality.Essential criteriaDegree or equivalent qualification, or substantial equivalent professional experience. Demonstrable experience managing or coordinating complex projects, programmes, grants or research activities. Excellent organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to develop and maintain effective systems and processes. Experience managing multiple priorities, deadlines, risks and stakeholder relationships simultaneously. Experience preparing reports, financial summaries, presentations, meeting papers and project documentation. Experience of budget monitoring, expenditure tracking and financial reporting. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. Demonstrable ability to work proactively, use initiative and sound judgement, and identify and resolve issues with minimal supervision. Desirable criteriaExperience coordinating multi-partner research programmes, grants or projects in higher education, industry or a research-intensive environment. Experience working with external funders, research charities or research councils. Experience supporting Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities, including establishing or coordinating PPI groups. Experience producing research communications, web content or stakeholder engagement materials. Knowledge of research and finance management systems such as Worktribe, Business World, KFIN or equivalent systems. Downloading a copy of our Job DescriptionFull details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.Further information:We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.Interviews are due to be held on week commencing 12 October tbc The essential criteria will be assessed in the application, assessment and interview. The interview will include an assessment activity.To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.Grade and Salary : £45,031 - £52,514 per annum, inclusive of London WeightingJob ID : 157345Post Date : 03-Sep-2026Close Date : 17-Sep-2026Contact Person : Dr Sarah MarziContact Details : Sarah.marzi@kcl.ac.uk