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
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a team managing the successful delivery of the new Research Capability Hub (RCH) that will provide UK-wide research training and capacity building (TCB) for social scientists for at least five years funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The role will work with the RCH leadership team.
The project will develop a new Hub for delivering research methods courses, transforming research training, enhancing accessibility and inclusion, and fostering community engagement of social science researchers across the UK. The Hub is committed to capacity building to enable its long-term sustainability, fulfil its strategic and impact agenda. The Hub will work with partners in the four nations and beyond, and has received a grant of £4.8 Million, with options for follow-up funding if the RCH meets the success criteria.
The Manager will work with the Senior Hub Manager to lead the organisational, administrative, financial and post award activities associated with the Hub. They will collaborate on project management and delivery to fulfil the Hub’s objectives and sustainability plans. The Manager will work alongside the leadership team to enable delivery of the objectives through effective management processes and support.
This role is based within the Institute of Educational Technology (IET) and will be line managed by the Senior Hub Manager. They will line manage a Hub Administrator.
What we can offer
- Opportunity to play a key role in the establishment and delivery of an exciting new UK-wide Hub committed to developing innovative training and capacity building courses to social science researchers, building partnerships and a community of practice across the four nations and beyond.
- Working closely with the Hub’s academic leads and professional services staff across IET, the university and beyond.
- Involvement in a community that takes pride in the development and implementation of the Open University’s Social Mission.
- Training and development relevant to the role.
- Flexible working options can be explored
- HR Benefits – diversity employer, holidays, on-site parking and pension scheme.
Key Responsibilities
For a full list of the key responsibilities associated to this role, please find the applicable Job Description HERE.
About You
Essential
- Degree level qualification (or equivalent) or relevant professional experience and a commitment to reflection and personal/professional development.
- 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, 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.
- 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 and a commitment to the University’s mission and Values in Action and knowledge of issues relevant to Higher Education.
Desirable
- A relevant accredited/professional qualification
- Experience of working in a Higher Education institution
- Experience of working in research-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.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
The advert for this role closes on 29th October and we anticipate shortlisting to be completed 1-2 weeks after the advert closes with interviews taking place mid / late November.
Early closing date notification
We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.
How to apply
To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):
- CV
- Supporting statement (Your Supporting Statement should be tailored to the Job Description above and outline how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role).
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.
