Change your career, change lives
The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).
About the Role
As a Manager within Research and Innovation Services, you will manage projects, operational and administrative support, provide professional support, advice, and guidance, and actively contribute to policy development and effective decision-making. Working flexibly and collaboratively with colleagues across the Service and the wider University, you will be responsible for the local planning and organisation of support in the most efficient way and effective way to meet the expected standards of service.
This role will be part of the Research & Innovation Culture and Impact team whose aim is to support a vibrant and interdisciplinary research culture. The culture and impact team will enable an interdisciplinary research environment, drive forward the Open Research agenda, and support research impact delivery.
Specifically, you will support development and maintenance of the shared R&I Hub and Graduate School Network websites, manage communications to stakeholders and co-create mechanisms to contribute to enhancement of the research community. You will contribute to the identification, dissemination, and implementation of good practice as part a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of operational capabilities.
Key Responsibilities
Working closely with academic and professional services colleagues in the service and across the wider University you will be responsible for:
Operations
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Delivering, maintaining and updating internal websites, including the R&I Hub and Graduate School Network.
- Maintaining and updating external facing web pages, including the Research Degrees prospectus and Graduate School LinkedIn.
- Developing and providing information to all stakeholders via appropriate communication channels including working with the Senior Manager RKE Training and Development in the promotion of opportunities e.g., networking, seminars.
- Managing feedback mechanisms in support of improving research communities.
- Establishing strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the Faculties, across the University and externally.
- Providing expert advice and practical support to academics on relevant Service, Faculty, institutional and funder frameworks, policies, and processes.
Strategy, Planning, Policy and Governance (as required)
- Advising key stakeholders of University policy, guidance, and processes and ensuring procedures are adhered to.
Project Management
- Managing and contributing to the development, maintenance, and updating of project plans and project documentation; monitoring and reporting on progress; and assisting with the administration of all aspects of projects.
Wider Influence
Working collaboratively and making an active contribution to the wider work of the Service including:
- Representing Research and Innovation Services at meetings, ensuring that Service and University requirements are understood, and decisions are made that are in the best interest of the organisation.
- Contributing to peer networks and communities within the Service to support the identification, dissemination, and adoption of good practice and solving common issues and problems.
About You
Essential Criteria:
- Relevant professional experience and a commitment to reflection and personal/professional development.
- An appropriate level of directly relevant operational, administrative or project management knowledge and experience.
- Project management and/or high-level planning and organisational skills and experience with the ability to plan, schedule, and manage multiple priorities and deadlines while remaining flexible and calm under pressure.
- Communication, interpersonal and negotiating skills with the ability to communicate with clarity and confidence at all levels and to build trust, establish constructive relationships, and influence others over whom there is no formal authority to support shared goals.
- Experience of, and/or the ability and willingness to motivate and manage others and to lead and contribute to effective team and collaborative working that supports the best collective outcomes.
- The ability to analyse and interpret policy, procedures, information and data; to introduce and assimilate ideas, assess their feasibility and take responsibility for their implementation, anticipating problems and developing practical solutions.
- An understanding of the University’s mission and Values in Action and knowledge of issues relevant to Higher Education and the ability to work in a manner which aligns to these.
Desirable Criteria:
- A relevant accredited/professional qualification; for example CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) accreditation.
- Experience of working in a Higher Education institution.
- Experience of working in research and knowledge exchange-related operations.
- Experience of managing and motivating teams and individuals (direct line management and/or matrix management).
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Work location
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be one day per week as a minimum, but this may be more often as required. Full-time working based from our Milton Keynes site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Milton Keynes site are not reimbursable.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
We anticipate interviews for this role will be online week commencing 16 or 23 November.
Early closing date notification
While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.
If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.
How to apply
To apply for this role, please submit the following document(s):
- CV
- Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 1000 words and should outline how your current skills and experience meet the Essential Criteria listed above)
You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.
