Senior Project Manager (Research Professional Futures) – Durham in North East

The Senior Project Manager (Research Professional Futures) will lead and coordinate the delivery of the Research Professional Futures (RPF) project, funded by the Research England Development Fund (£4.5m). The postholder will manage all aspects of the project from inception to completion, ensuring delivery of strategic objectives. This includes oversight of resources, budget, people, and partnerships.

Responsibilities will include:

• Lead the operational delivery of the RPF project, including development and implementation of the project initiation document and delivery plan, ensuring alignment with the project outcomes, delivery of milestones, risks and mitigations and funder expectations.
• Manage project governance, including coordination of the Commission, governance bodies, and reporting structures.
• Manage delivery of work packages including research, pilot interventions, competency framework development, and digital platform implementation.
• Provide robust financial management, procuring services and goods in line with financial regulations, liaising with post award finance to manage any budget variance and reporting to the project board and funding body.
• Monitor project progress against KPIs and milestones, prepare reports for funders and senior stakeholders, and manage risk and compliance.
• Coordinate the onboarding of project staff and contributors.
• Lead management of the commissioning of pilot projects, including application processes, evaluation, and reporting.
• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies, working closely with the Community Engagement Manager and Commission members to ensure inclusive participation across RP and academic communities.
• Support the integration of AI tools and approaches across project activities, liaising with consultants and technical partners to ensure ethical and effective use.
• Provide day to day line management for the assistant administrator, setting clear objectives and reviewing performance, supporting development through the Personal Development and Performance Review (PDPR) process.
• Represent the project internally and externally, acting as a key point of contact for partners, funders, and sector bodies.
• Manage internal and external communications, working closely with the collective leadership team, Commission membership, and external communications and marketing agencies.
• Support event logistics and delivery, with content led by the Community Engagement Manager.
• Represent the project at sector events and conferences and participate in relevant external professional networks and sector bodies.

The post will support the wider RPF team, across different institutions, and will be based in Research and Innovation Services at Durham University. Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands‑on support for all aspects of research and research‑related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.

The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. There will be requirements at times to travel within the UK to attend meetings with the project leadership and delivery teams, and for wider sessions such as National Commission meetings.