At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead grants operations for a major digitisation programme and support grant holders.
- Company: Join the innovative DiSSCo UK team at UKRI, based in Swindon.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and a great pension scheme.
- Other info: Opportunities for travel and professional development in a collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on natural science collections while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Project management skills and experience in risk management are essential.
The predicted salary is between 46743 - 46743 £ per year.
Salary: £46,743
Band: UKRI Band E
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: 3 years Fixed Term
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
About the Role
The Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK (DiSSCo UK) is a £155.6 million investment for a national infrastructure programme to digitise 37 million natural science specimens. To deliver this exciting new programme, AHRC, alongside their delivery partner the Natural History Museum (NHM), are developing a DiSSCo UK delivery team to manage the programme on a day-to-day basis. This new team will be based at Swindon (with strong links to London) and will be responsible for managing the contract with the external evaluation supplier, leading on benefits management, engaging with relevant communities, measuring the impacts of the programme, and ensuring that impacts, outputs and outcomes are reflected upon, reported and communicated in a timely and effective manner. Some of the key activities for the team will be supporting grant holders, designing, and delivering future funding opportunities, and capturing programme and project level impacts.
Purpose
The role will oversee the direct awards to the Natural History Museum for delivering the programme and for the digitisation grants awarded to the wider consortium. The role will report into the DiSSCo UK Team Head and will liaise with all members of the team. The role offers opportunities for travel, professional development, and the chance to build knowledge of stakeholder engagement and programme level communications. As this role will involve interaction with grant holders and stakeholders, as well as attendance at events and conferences, the role will involve regular travel, including overnight and international travel.
Your Responsibilities
- Oversee the grants funded through the DiSSCo UK funding calls, being the strategic lead for all funding opportunities.
- Support the team head with finance.
- Support the Impact and Engagement Manager with complex grant holder queries.
- Work collaboratively and effectively with DiSSCo UK colleagues at NHM, adapting and communicating to ensure shared goals are met and staff feel supported.
- Manage the DiSSCo UK project risk register, including reporting on risk to the DiSSCo UK Programme Board.
- Develop and maintain close working and strategic relationships with colleagues across AHRC and UKRI to align activities and priorities, and to ensure UKRI financial, grant management and recruitment processes are followed.
- Be involved in cross-team working with delivery partners NHM, and the Research and Innovation Infrastructure Team on related portfolios.
- Work collaboratively with NHM colleagues to support the work of the DiSSCo EU European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
- Support on the delivery of future programme approvals including Gate Reviews.
- Line management of the Investment Manager, providing line and task management, and supporting their professional development.
- Develop and maintain an overview of developments in the digital research infrastructure and natural science collections landscape, strategic partners, and other funders, relevant to the remit of the role.
Person Specification
- Project management skills, including budget and/or financial management.
- Good understanding and experience of risk management; identifying, communicating, and mitigating risk in projects.
- Experience of using data and evidence to make decisions.
- Business Process: Ability to problem solve and find answers to difficult questions, and manage complex workloads with multiple deadlines and priorities.
- Experience of leading or managing activities with multiple internal/external partners. Some understanding of commercialisation within research projects and research areas would be helpful.
- Strong, collaborative team working skills, including collaborating with colleagues to prioritise tasks and maximise resources.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Experience of managing or supervising staff and supporting staff development.
To apply you must attach your CV (2 pages max.) and a covering letter (2 pages max.), ensuring that your cover letter addresses the essential shortlisting and interview criteria.
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:
- An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
- 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
- Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
- Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
- Flexible working options.
- Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!
For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager in Swindon employer: UKRI
At DiSSCo UK, based in the vibrant location of Swindon, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values employee development and well-being. With a commitment to continuous learning, flexible working options, and a generous benefits package including a defined benefit pension scheme and 30 days of annual leave, we foster a collaborative work culture that empowers our team to make meaningful contributions to the digitisation of natural science collections. Join us to be part of a groundbreaking programme while enjoying a supportive environment that prioritises work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager in Swindon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at DiSSCo UK on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the team culture and what they really value in candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching recent projects and initiatives at DiSSCo UK. We want to show that we’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their mission of digitising natural science specimens.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice our answers to common interview questions, especially around project management and risk management. We need to demonstrate our skills clearly and confidently, so let’s get those responses polished!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email can keep us fresh in their minds and shows our enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s just good manners!
We think you need these skills to ace DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager role. Highlight relevant project management skills and experience with financial management, as these are key for us.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should directly address the essential criteria listed in the job description. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you meet these requirements, making it clear why you're the perfect fit for us.
Showcase Your Teamwork Skills:Since collaboration is crucial for this role, emphasise your ability to work effectively with diverse teams. Share examples of how you've successfully managed relationships with internal and external partners in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. This way, you can ensure all your documents are submitted correctly and you won't miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at UKRI
✨Know Your Grants Inside Out
Make sure you understand the specifics of the DiSSCo UK funding calls and the overall programme. Familiarise yourself with the key objectives, stakeholders, and how your role will contribute to the success of the grants. This knowledge will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences that highlight your project management abilities, especially in budget and financial management. Be ready to discuss how you've identified and mitigated risks in previous projects, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since the role involves liaising with various stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Think about how you can adapt your communication style to different audiences, whether they are grant holders or team members, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Spirit
Be prepared to discuss your experience working in teams and how you've successfully collaborated with internal and external partners. Highlight specific instances where your teamwork led to positive outcomes, as this will show that you can thrive in a collaborative environment.
