Post Details
Last Updated: 24/09/2014
Faculty/Administrative/Service
Department
Research and Innovation Support, within the function of RES (Research and
Enterprise Support)
Job Title
Programme Manager – Research Strategy Programme (
Job Family
Professional Services
Responsible to
Director, Research & Innovation Support
Responsible for (Staff)
No direct line reports
Job Level
6
Job Purpose Statement
The Programme Manager will take a lead role in the successful management of a major and complex programme to
implement the University’s Research Strategy Programme which will be delivered via a series of project work
streams. The post holder will be responsible for developing the programme plan, coordinating and providing
support for the work streams, engaging with key stakeholders and identifying and managing the dependencies.
The post holder will provide programme assurance through a structured reporting process to the Associate Deans
for Research Committee and to Executive Board, and will effectively manage risks and change control for the
programme using sound judgement to escalate issues effectively.
Key Responsibilities
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To pro-actively manage the programme and associated work streams required to deliver the successful
implementation of the Research Strategy Programme, ensuring comprehensive project documentation is
produced, maintained and shared with relevant stakeholders.
To plan the programme effectively ensuring appropriate resources, timescales, governance, reporting structures
and deliverables are identified.
To support programme assurance through the management of programme reporting, including production of
progress reports and key milestone reports, relevant managers and committees and supporting the reporting
requirements of work stream leaders. Identifying and implementing appropriate success measures including
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be a key component of the role.
To be accountable for ensuring all work streams and programme activities deliver to the required deadlines,
pro-actively identifying risks early and managing the mitigation against them wherever possible. The post
holder will draw on their skills and experience to judge when and how escalation of risks is required.
The post holder will be responsible for developing and delivering a system to manage change control for the
programme.
To lead the programme and ensure the appropriate stakeholders are engaged with the work streams and
programme activities as required.
To be a lead communicator to academic and professional staff, as well as to the Associate Deans for Research
Committee (Programme Board), Executive Board, and if required, Council.
Actively engage with the Managers from other programme areas to ensure that the activities from the Research
Strategy Programme are complementary, and are strategically allied.
N.B. The above list is not exhaustive.
All staff are expected to:

Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students in accordance with the University of Surrey
Equal Opportunities Policy.
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Work to achieve the aims of our Environmental Policy and promote awareness to colleagues and students.
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Follow University/departmental policies and working practices in ensuring that no breaches of information security result from their actions.
Ensure they are aware of and abide by all relevant University Regulations and Policies relevant to the role.
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Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager.
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Work supportively with colleagues, operating in a collegiate manner at all times.
Help maintain a safe working environment by:
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Attending training in Health and Safety requirements as necessary, both on appointment and as changes in duties and techniques demand.
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Following local codes of safe working practices and the University of Surrey Health and Safety Policy.
Elements of the Role
Planning and Organising
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The work stream implementation plans are currently in the draft phase, and the post holder will be
responsible for refining and progressing designated work streams. They will ensure that the IT and business
impacts of the work streams are defined and documented.
The developed work streams are identified as follows:
 Develop world-leading outputs
 Improve research culture & infrastructure
 Recruitment and retention
 Systematic proposal submissions
 Development and delivery of thematic research priorities
 Increasing impact of research
The post holder will pro-actively plan and manage the designated work streams. They will apply robust and
logical project and programme management skills to ensure the work streams are planned and then
delivered against agreed milestones.
The post holder will be required to develop and agree plans to deliver the work streams for the 36 months
of the programme contract, and clearly identify any longer term projects or work streams beyond this
period.
They will utilise their project management experience to support the work stream leaders in fully scoping
and then progressing the work stream, particularly drawing on their knowledge of decision making and
planning processes.
They will have freedom to take a pro-active approach to achieve the desired results provided that their
actions are consistent with the agreed mandates and existing processes and procedures.
There is considerable scope for the post holder to apply judgement and initiative when managing their
workload. This role is very much about the successful co-ordination of activities and therefore, the post
holder must operate flexibly and react positively to changing circumstances and requirements.
Problem Solving and Decision Making
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The post holder is expected to operate with a high degree of strategic autonomy, with minimum referral to
the Director, Research & Innovation.
When faced with situations with intangible or unstructured aspects, the post holder will need to define the
key issues before recommending and implementing a solution. To determine the best course of action, the
post holder will need to apply analytical, interpretive and constructive thinking and a high degree of
evaluative judgement.
Significant elements of this role will require the post holder to use their influencing and negotiation skills in
their dealings with colleagues. This will involve persuading individuals over whom they have no direct
authority to complete tasks to agreed deadlines and within project schedules.
Throughout, the post holder will need to use their judgement to maintain a steady, balanced approach
aimed at achieving a solution and ensuring the programme delivers against targets.
Where issues/problems are of significantly complex nature or fall outside of the remit of the role, guidance
may be sought from the Director, Research and Innovation Support. Many of the judgements taken will
have a direct impact on the successful delivery of the Research Strategy Programme.
Continuous Improvement
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The Research Strategy work streams aim to deliver an array of improvements across the research
environment at the University of Surrey, therefore the post holder is expected to provide a leadership role in
the embedding of these improvements with minimum input from the Director, Research & Innovation.
Although much of the post holder’s work will be independent, the post holder will be required to present
succinct and accurate updates and reports to the Director, Research & Innovation Support, Associate Deans
for Research Committee (Programme Board), other senior members of the University and colleagues across
the University on progress. They will need to determine the level of detail required in these updates to
ensure that recipients of the reports are confident that sufficient progress has been achieved and relevant
issues and/or risks highlighted, but are not overwhelmed with detail. The post holder will therefore need to
demonstrate a confident written and verbal communication style and sound judgement.
Accountability
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The post holder has full control and responsibility for the provision of strategic programme and work
stream management ensuring that timely reporting deadlines are met.
The Post Holder has responsibility for programme assurance; ensuring that the academic leads for the work
stream areas and agreed thematic areas within the programme, The Programme Board are informed of
progress against milestones as reported, and obtaining variance explanations where required to justify
changes to the Executive Board sponsor.
Failure to provide appropriate leadership to the programme and project academic leads could lead to a
failure to meet the University’s Research Strategy objectives, particularly around academic performance and
research income generation. A successful implementation of the programme will impact positively to the
submission of the next REF in 2020. Failure would lead to increased financial risk and reputational damage
for the University.
Dimensions of the role
The post holder is responsible for acting as the key point of liaison between Research & Innovation Support
and the wider University in regard to the programme and as such is required to be a credible and confident
communicator in order to motivate, negotiate, influence and build strong relationships with colleagues
across the University.
 The Research Strategy Programme is very high profile and is of great strategic importance to the University
requiring credible and effective stakeholder management. On the back of the recent Operational Review,
the University has set stretching research income and academic performance targets, and successful
implementation of the Research Strategy Programme underpins this. The Programme requires strong
leadership, an ability to positively engage senior management: Faculty Deans, Associate Deans for Research
(Programme Board) and Academic Heads of Department from the three faculties along with the wider
academic community and professional support staff.
Supplementary Information
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Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
Professionally qualified with a relevant degree/ post graduate qualification, plus broad relevant
managerial and leadership experience, or substantial experience and proven success in a strategically
important specialist area.
E
OR
Extensive vocational and strategic management and leadership experience, demonstrating
professional development through involvement in a series of progressively more demanding and
influential work/roles, supported by evidence of significant development of appropriate specialist
knowledge.
Prince 2 Practitioner or equivalent project management qualification or direct equivalent
Technical Competencies (Experience and Knowledge)
E
Essential/
Desirable
Level
1-3
Significant experience of project or programme management, involving negotiation at a
senior level, co-ordination of professionals from different disciplines and managing
expectations.
E
3
Track record of successfully managing multiple work streams or projects within a highly
pressurised, deadline driven environment.
E
2
Excellent IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Office
E
2
Knowledge of the Higher Education sector, specifically within a research environment
E
2
Special Requirements:
Essential/
Desirable
N/A
Core Competencies
Level
1-3
Communication
3
Adaptability / Flexibility
3
Customer/Client service and support
3
Planning and Organising
3
Continuous Improvement
3
Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills
3
Leadership / Management
n/a
Creative and Analytical Thinking
3
Influencing, Persuasion and Negotiation Skills
3
Strategic Thinking & Leadership
2
Organisational/Departmental Information & Key Relationships
Background Information
Research and Innovation Support (RIS – part of Research and Enterprise Support – RES) comprises around 40 staff
and is responsible for providing specialist support services to develop the University’s research income, to ensure
compliance with research governance legislation, and to provide programme and project management support to
the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation. RIS activities are closely aligned with the University’s Research
Strategy. The University of Surrey has a strong history of successful research in science and technology, and benefits
from running a major Research Park located on University land adjacent to the main campus. We work alongside
our Enterprise and Growth colleagues as part of RES.
Department Structure Chart
Relationships
Internal
 Director of RIS and the DVC Research & Innovation to inform of programme activities and progress towards
milestones
 Faculty ADRs as part of the Programme Board (ADR Committee) for progress updates and reporting KPIs.
 Academic thematic leads and academic staff – to engage in and to promote the Research Strategy Programme
planned activities.
 Work stream leads (academic and non-academic) to engage in agreed planned activities and progress towards
key milestones.
 Faculty Deans and Heads of Department to report on agreed programme activities and progress towards
milestones.
 Head of Research Development & Governance to align the Programme work with programme activity for REF
2020.
 Other University departments who will need to be engaged in the development and implementation of work
stream activities.