SINAPSE Operations Manager in Glasgow

A key member of the Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE) is a collaboration between 6 universities (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling and Strathclyde) of which 3 have imaging research centres and are all active participants in imaging research. The SINAPSE Project is funded by the partner universities. It includes over 600 researchers and students from around Scotland. The post-holder will be employed by Glasgow University but is expected to work impartially across the whole SINAPSE collaboration.

The post-holder will be accountable to the Executive Committee and the Director and responsible for the general management of SINAPSE through innovation, the effective coordination of activity, and optimisation of the use of resources. The post-holder will ensure the effective control of budgets including staffing and finance; maintain the Project’s national and international profile through effective marketing and publicity; manage relationships and communication with multiple stakeholders; ensure the effective project management of multicentre initiatives and identify projects that might attract funding.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the management, co-ordination and delivery of project outcomes on behalf of the whole consortium to help SINAPSE meet its overall strategic goals.
• Responsible for the development and delivery of a communications, networking and marketing strategy that enhances the national and international profile of SINAPSE and increases the visibility and reputation world-wide.
• Represent SINAPSE at formal and informal meetings on local, national and international levels, including at the six participating Universities, the Scottish Funding Council, UK Research Councils and charitable funding organisations, Scottish Innovation Centres, Clinical Research Networks, and with industry.
• Build and manage relationships with SINAPSE partner institutions and with external organisations.
• Encourage, facilitate and support research collaborations with colleagues across SINAPSE and the wider community (e.g. NHS and Industrial Partners).
• Provide research and policy advice to the Director, leads of key subgroups and other key organisational individuals within SINAPSE on all aspects of operation, including identification of key opportunities and difficulties that may affect SINAPSE so that appropriate timely action may be taken.
• Make a leading contribution to a long-term financial strategy for the sustainability of SINAPSE.
• Responsible for the management of resources to ensure SINAPSE delivers against its targets effectively, including monitoring resource allocation against budgetary commitments and planning redirection of any unused funds to other parts of the collaboration to optimise resource use.
• Take a leading role in identifying potential funding sources and in co-ordinating the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.
• Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of SINAPSE.
• Make a leading contribution to the training, outreach and recruitment activities of SINAPSE.
• Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.
• Responsible for successful delivery of SINAPSE activities including seed funding calls, annual scientific meeting, seminars, workshops and collaborative initiatives with other research pools.
• Responsible for overseeing publicity and promotion, including management of the SINAPSE website and other dissemination channels.
• Responsible for representing the consortium administratively to the partner universities, including preparation of annual reports and end-of-grant reports.
• Work independently, but also undertake other duties of equivalent standing as assigned by the Director of SINAPSE.
• Optional: Up to 20% of the post-holder’s time may be spent on imaging related research projects.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Essential: A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent in a relevant scientific area (e.g., physics, biomedical engineering, psychology, medicine, etc).
• A2 Knowledge of imaging research relevant to SINAPSE.
• A3 Broad understanding and awareness of research ethics, clinical trial and GCP regulations and procedures and the implications of non-compliance.
• A4 Knowledge of Intellectual Property.
• Desirable: B1 PhD in a relevant scientific area. (e.g. physics, medicine, biomedical engineering, psychology etc)
• B2 Knowledge and understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape, particularly government priorities and the drivers of funding strategies.

Skills

• Essential: C1 Excellent leadership and management abilities.
• C2 Excellent project management skills.
• C3 Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate at all levels.
• C4 Excellent time and workload management skills with the ability to multi-task and cope with unplanned interruptions and challenging deadlines.
• C5 Ability to work proactively and to use initiative and judgement.
• C6 Influencing, negotiating, facilitating and relationship building skills.
• C7 Ability to build and sustain strong working relationships at a senior level across a complex multi-partner environment.
• C8 Ability to manage and control budgets and effectively apply financial management procedures.
• C9 Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate.
• C10 Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach.
• C11 Ability to work under a minimum of supervision.

Experience

• Essential: E1 Project management experience including a significant component gained through working with multiple centres or sites.
• E2 Experience of managing and controlling budgets.
• E3 Experience of working in an academic or clinical research environment.
• Desirable: F1 Postdoctoral research experience in a relevant scientific area.
• F2 Experience of research management within an academic environment.
• F3 Experience in reporting to funding agencies.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, £50,253 - £58,225 per annum. This post is full time and open ended with funding available up until 31st January 2028.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Gordon Waiter at g.waiter@abdn.ac.uk.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
• A flexible approach to working.
• A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too.

Closing date: 23:45 on Monday 2nd March 2026.