Job Description

Job Category: Specialist/Professional
:
Position Details
College of Medicine and Health
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 33,002 to 35,608 with potential progression once in post to 39,906
Grade: 6
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2027
Closing date: 24th September 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the
Background
Our Birmingham Integrated Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme ( ) is one of the biggest in the country, supporting ca 95 doctors and dentists who are combining their clinical training with academic research.
We are seeking an experienced Project Officer to join our small ICAT operations team. The team co-ordinates delivery of the programme, working in partnership with our NHS and University stakeholders. We support our trainees to access all the opportunities offered by these posts, enabling them to progress as future clinical research leaders. We also co-ordinate regional cohort networking events for West Midlands trainees.
The post holder must have experience of effective, proactive project co-ordination and of working on their own initiative. A key member of the team, they will provide highly professional support to our senior academic leads and stakeholders.
Role Summary
Either to assist in the management of designated projects across a School, College or professional service area, or manage smaller projects on own, devising and delivering project plans.
Main Duties

• Manager smaller projects or assist in the management of one or more projects through the provision of significant and high level project management support.
• To support Project Boards, workstreams and working groups within an overall project or manage small projects on own.
• Support will include preparing progress reports for project boards (where they are held), project planning, and delivering on sub-projects/small projects which will be defined on a continuing basis.
• Draw up project plans, including key performance indicators, identifying milestones as appropriate.
• Contribute to milestone tracking/key performance indicator tracking.
• Assisting with stakeholder management and maintaining regular contact with stakeholders to understand requirements, and review, develop and propose solutions for any issues.
• Appropriately assess and escalate issues and risks.
• Assist in the management of project resources and/or budgets.
• Contribute to developing communications plans, presentations, and promoting the projects and outcomes of projects/workstreams.
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of project management methodologies.
• Determine short term priorities for work, and how to maximise quality, efficiency and continuity.
• Assist in the evaluation and review of projects.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Qualified to UK level 5 (e.g. Foundation degree, HND) or equivalent.
• Substantial experience of project management, preferably in an academic setting.
• Excellent IT skills, with working knowledge of standard Microsoft Office software and using custom systems and databases.
• Project management experience, preferably using project tools such as Prince 2.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Dimensions
The role will manage smaller projects, or sub-projects/workstreams on a larger project across a School, College, or professional service area. The role may manage the budget designated areas of the project.
Planning and Organising
The role will either assist in managing larger projects or will manage smaller projects themselves. They need to forward plan, and deliver project plans, reporting to internal and possibly external stakeholders. The role is operating within defined requirements, systems and processes, but does consider and recommend improvements.
Problem Solving and decision making
This role will be expected to either devise and deliver project plans for small scale projects, or assist in the delivery of larger projects, assess and escalate risk, and make recommendations for improvements. The focus of the role is on delivery of the project(s). The role will be likely to operate within constraints set by project leads/project boards.
The role will take the day-to-day operational decisions relating to the project delivery, and will support Project Leads and Project Boards in reaching informed decisions about the project delivery.
Internal and External relationships
The role is a key liaison and co-ordination role on specific project(s), so will have a range of internal and potentially external stakeholders.

• Internal members of the Project Board
• External stakeholders such as funders
• Team members (on larger projects)
• Other Professional Services colleagues, such as Finance, HR etc.

Further particulars can be found
Informal enquiries to Bridget Bell, email:
View our staff values and behaviours
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone .

Skills Required