Institute Manager (HE) - Purchasing Professionals Ltd : Job Details

£45 - 60 per hour via Umbrella

Working onsite with 1 day from home.

9 Months +

To Start ASAP!

My client is looking for an Institute Manager to take responsibility and run the organisation's operational support services. This includes finance, IT, HR and scientific support services, including Biological and Histology Services, Health & Safety, laboratory, buildings and Professional Services.

You will be from a higher education background or a research environment with senior level experience in operational management, finance, budgeting, forecasting, people management, and grant funding.

The Role

• To lead the professional services operational, technical and administrative functions ensuring the support services are delivered in an efficient, responsive and professional manner supporting excellence in research, education, knowledge transfer and enterprise.
• Ensure the Institute operates within the set budgetary frameworks and policies of the organisation, providing budgetary and financial management of the Institute and optimising the use of resources.
• Proactively support the role of the Institute Director in implementing the Institute’s scientific and operational strategy, maintaining oversight of the operation and performance of the Institute.
• Collaborate and coordinate with relevant business partners and professional services leads to ensure services delivery at Faculty, School level meet the needs of the Institute.
• To manage the Institute’s external relations initiatives.

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

• Proven track record in a senior role in administration, operations and management within a higher education environment.
• Promoting excellence in areas of administration and the provision of support services, including the setting of service standards and monitoring of performance.
• Recruiting, managing and developing individuals effectively and advising on employment issues at a senior level.
• Demonstrable experience of effective budgetary management and control of a large scale, complex budgetary unit, including achieving annual targets on a regular basis.
• Demonstrable experience of research funding principles and governance.
• Demonstrable experience of enacting principles of employment law underpinning university HR policy (e.g. equal pay issues, job evaluation, clinical and honorary contracts, doctors’ training/career structures, fixed term contracts).
• Educated to minimum of degree level and preferably PhD level in scientific discipline
• Experience of project and change management.
• Experience of effective budgetary management and control.
• Detailed knowledge of research grant, contracts and other agreements
• Experience of recruiting, managing and developing individuals.
• Experience of working with business partners (e.g. Human Resources Consultancy teams and Information System Divisions) to deliver services, and implement change management and strategy
• Experience of working with NHS partners and clinical academics.
• Good understanding of the higher education policies, practices and procedures.

Skills and abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills including tact, diplomacy and flexibility to work effective with senior stakeholders.
• Can inspire confidence, with the drive and desire to get ahead of internal customer’s needs, with an “already done” mentality.
• Capable of explaining complex issues in a concise manner to academics and professional services colleagues.
• Ability to establish priorities and manage multiple activities to meet organisational priorities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and as part of a team.
• Excellent time management, organisational and communications skills.
• Innovative thinking - always looking to challenge the work produced to ensure it is of exceptional quality.
• A combination of analytical skills, curiosity and a strong interest in higher education.
• Personal attributes
• Be resilient and diplomatic, able to work in close partnership with internal customers, managing, optimising and balancing the relationship between FBS, MRC, the Institute and central delivery teams.
• Be intuitive, with the confidence and know how to deliver clear constructive feedback to all stakeholders effectively
• Flexibility, variety and pace are also important aspects within the role, as is an attitude of responsibility with a willingness to challenge the status quo
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to high quality service provision