Programme Manager
- Salary range: Between £50,702 – £56,336
- Based at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
- Contract type: Open-ended
- Salary: £50,702-£56,336 gross per annum
- Reports To: Deputy Director for Operations
- Hours: Full-time(We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
- External closing date: Oct 10, 2021
About us:
As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre, which includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
A purpose-built National Quantum Computing Centre will be built and operated by UKRI at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) campus in Oxfordshire. The Centre will be open and operational by December 2022. Until then, the NQCC’s activities are taking place in other facilities on the Harwell Campus or at partnering institutions. The NQCC will sit alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and will be part of the broader National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).
The primary purpose of the NQCC is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing. However, this technology is immature and extensive development work is needed to scale the fundamental science to provide usable computing systems.
The NQCC’s initial 5 years will focus on developing a Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) machine to demonstrate the technology as well as software, algorithm and applications development. The longer-term aim is to scale the technology towards an error and noise-free fault-tolerant machine capability with benchmarking and verification demonstrated in collaboration with the UK and international partners. The NQCC will give assured and direct access to early prototype machines to developers and promote the formation of a strong UK-based quantum computing supply chain.
The Role:
Are you an experienced Programme Manager? We are looking for someone with extensive project and programme management skills, coupled with technical expertise in a relevant discipline to support the delivery of the NQCC core objectives.
You work alongside the Operations and Research Directors to ensure timely, assured and cost-effective delivery of the NQCC work streams and technology roadmap within established constraints and to maximize the benefits. You will ensure that suitable management of the projects is implemented to enable credible planning and informed decision making and will undertake insightful reporting as well as ensuring the maintenance of appropriate project tools. The NQCC follows closely the approach promoted by the UK Association for Project Management whilst being tailored for use within a collaborative scientific environment. The Programme Manager will be expected to help develop these methods and processes as part of our Operations team.
The role will include:
- Managing projects within a portfolio of development programmes and projects, ensuring that all agreed deliverables are meet or exceed partner expectations.
- Identifying the requirements for delivery and construct a detailed and workable project plan, with a critical path, and ensure adherence to the delivery dates, keeping the project on track.
- Ensuring effective risk management is in place across all projects, so that risks to NQCC and the wider STFC can be identified and led from the outset before they become issues.
- Maintaining project documentation (including RAID Log, Project Initiation Document/Business Case, Milestone Log, Project Update Reports, Project Plan/Gantt Chart, Communications Plan, Stakeholder Engagement Map, Lessons Learned Log, Budgets, Benefits Realisation) and communicate project updates to partners.
- Following best practices, techniques, and tools for project management and planning, tailoring as appropriate to the situation. Ensure that problem resolution is handled appropriately and raised when a decision is required at a more senior level or another business area.
- Helping develop new processes within the department for the operation and maintenance of projects including updating progress and resource allocations, populating project report templates, maintaining risk and issue logs and any other documentation, as required.
Skills and Experience Required
Essential Criteria
- Educated to DEGREE LEVEL or HNC/HND – Technical or Science Discipline / Relevant Engineering, Technical or Science Discipline / Significant Relevant Experience
- Significant demonstrable Project and Programme Management experience in the field of scientific or technology delivery.
- Recognised project management qualifications (PRINCE2 OR APMP) or proven experience
- Demonstrable experience with financial, budget and multi-year expenditure planning, delivery of value for money, carrying out business planning, assessing financial / programmatic risk and engaging with ISV’s and technology providers.
- Pragmatic attitude towards the work of others, particularly in a collaborative environment where there is no line-management control of participants (e.g., Matrix management of projects and resources)
- A good understanding of basic engineering principles and manufacturing drawings.
- Significant experience in monitoring project performance, milestones, and evaluation criteria
- Extensive IT skills including the following applications: MS Office & MS Project
- Familiar with a range of professional tools and methods related to large scale programme delivery.
- Eye for detail interpreting and presenting project performance data.
- The role holder is likely to take the lead in project management and negotiations on behalf of the Organisation
- Public sector institution Monitoring & Evaluation processes and reporting.
Desirable
- Experience of working within UKRI PMO and monitoring & evaluation structures or similar organisation.
- Experience in project delivery within an ISO9001 quality management system
- Appreciation of Risk Analysis methods and Risk Mitigation techniques for complex research projects
- Appreciation of Health, Safety and Environment
- Understanding of high-performance computing and/or relevant related technologies
- Experience using and developing Product Lifecycle Management systems
- Familiarity with UKRI policies and procedures
Technical expertise in quantum computing is not required as part of the role since this is provided by the project’s scientific and technical participants.
Consideration will be given to a less experienced individual if there is evidence of potential and passion to grow into the role.
Employee Benefits:
We recognise and value employees as individuals and aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance and a number of other benefits.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
The STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake ground-breaking projects in an outstanding diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving progressive advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates an impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications are only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the file name description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Additional Information
- Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Contract Type: Open Ended
- External Closing Date: Oct 10, 2021
- Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 50,702
- Hours: Full-time