Job Description

Job Title:

Portfolio Manager (Rail)

Posting Start Date:

18/08/2025

Job Id:

1421

School/Department:

Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering

Work Arrangement:

Part Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Salary per annum ():

38,294

Closing Date:

31/08/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.



We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

The School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering is seeking to appoint a Part time Portfolio Project Manager, with experience in managing collaborative industry-academic research programmes across discipline specific themes, in this case, Rail.


You will look after multiple funded rail based research projects within the Tribology Research Group, having excellent interpersonal and communications skills, as well as significant experience of project management in the Higher Education sector.


Reporting to the Principal Investigator(s) and in liaison with other academic colleagues, you will take the lead role in managing all aspects of research project including day-to-day project management; development, ownership and delivery of work plans; setting up and management of project processes, monitoring of budgets, audit preparation, reporting to funders, communication and relationship management. You will work independently to produce systems and processes to review, measure and report progress and produce management information to enable rapid decision making on project priorities and resources, and to allocate tasks across the wider research team. You will be an active member of the research group, working closely with internal and external stakeholders, producing reports and presentations demonstrating impact and outcomes.


Providing a sustainable alternative mode of travel, rail systems are critical to UK netzero emissions targets. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly organised project manager to contribute to a significant area of research aimed at improving safety and efficiency of this critical infrastructure.

Main duties and responsibilities

Develop and maintain appropriate and robust project management and monitoring systems for a portfolio of research activities. Work closely with the Principal Investigator(s) (PI) to support the planning and scoping of research projects and activities, clarifying project technical objectives with researchers and project partners and developing and maintaining project plans and work breakdowns. Develop and maintain systems and databases for monitoring the intellectual property (IP)emerging from the programme and for monitoring IP in closely related projects across collaborating partners. Work closely with the PI(s) to review and monitor progress of projects, including key performance indicators, and support rapid decision making on programme priorities and resources. Report any areas of concern across the project portfolio to the PI(s) and take proactive steps to support the resolution of any issues. Liaising with financial and research support teams within the School and Faculty, providing regular financial reports to the Director(s), ensuring that accounts are monitored and controlled within the constraints of the budget, ensuring deliverables are achievable, and timely delivery of financial reports to the collaborative funding bodies. Manage the scheduling, planning and delivery of all required meetings, workshops and training events, in close liaison with relevant stakeholders. Support and coordinate the implementation and maintenance of appropriate quality control systems and procedures (for example, testing records) to ensure projects are delivered to appropriate standards and knowledge can be easily shared. Lead and coordinate the production of reports for the PI(s), Project Team(s) and Partners. Be an active member of Project Team meetings, providing high-level support including developing agendas and briefing notes with the Director(s) and producing technical minutes. Write progress reports for sponsors and lead the production of annual reports and other documents for external stakeholders. Lead and oversee the delivery of specific activities within the research portfolio. Maintain good communications with project stakeholders working closely with PI(s), and wider research team, ensuring influential and effective networking. Be willing to travel to meet with project partners to support and develop the partnership(s). Where required, manage and maintain the project websites and social media accounts, including producing news items, press releases and social media communications. Form part of the Schools Research Support Team. As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A first degree in an engineering or science discipline or equivalent experience.


Essential


Application


Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations; communicating to staff at all levels in the organisation.


Essential


Application/interview


The ability to progress your own workload whilst supporting colleagues to deliver theirs, including supporting delivery from colleagues who do not report to you directly.


Essential


Application/interview


Ability to work accurately to tight deadlines.


Essential


Application/interview


Experience of working both as part of a team and on own initiative.


Essential


Application/interview


Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of implications for projects.


Essential


Application/interview


Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding effectively and efficiently to e-mails, telephone calls and visitors.


Essential


Application/interview


Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to assess and manage resources.


Essential


Application/interview


Experience in the management of research projects at an appropriate level and scale (i.e. large and/or multi-site projects).

Essential


Application/interview


Experience of financial management and budget control.


Desirable


Application/interview


Experience and skills with initiating, facilitating and managing collaborations at the academic/industrial interface


Desirable


Application/interview


Knowledge of the University's financial directives.


Desirable


Application/interview

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

38,294

Work arrangement

Part-time

Duration

1st August 2025 to 31 July 2026

Line manager

Operations Manager

Direct reports

Principal Investigator

Our website

School | MAC | The University of Sheffield


For informal enquiries about this job contact Mac Recruitment on mac-recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in September. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible after shortlisting. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mec-recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 41days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework Route A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more





We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.


We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.