Junior Project Manager

Part-time / full-time options to be discussed at interview (minimum 3 days per week)

Hybrid working arrangements available (minimum 50% office based)

Plymouth Marine Laboratory has an exciting opportunity for a suitable candidate to join the Project Management Team to deliver the effective and efficient project management of societally important marine, social and earth observation research. These projects are focused on the dynamic and complex marine environment that sustains life not only under the water but also across the entire planet.

The position will involve managing a portfolio of projects of interdisciplinary and pioneering research across the various science areas at PML. As well as monitoring research delivery the postholder will be responsible for tracking and evaluating the achievement of non-academic impact (real-world changes as a result of research) and the pathway to it. They will support the generation of impact through the organisation of stakeholder engagement and co-development activities under the guidance of the Senior Impact Manager.

You will be an enthusiastic, flexible and highly motivated person with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, possessing appropriate managerial capabilities and experience. We are seeking to appoint a post-graduate with a good working knowledge of MS Office packages and relevant online data and information management systems. Ideally, you will also have an environmental science background and experience in research project management.

The Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is a dynamic, highly innovative, independent and impartial provider of research and advice relating to coasts and oceans, globally and locally. PML is an independent research business with charitable status and a NERC Collaborative Centre. Researchers at PML collaborate externally with universities and research institutes across the UK and internationally such that PML has been an integral part of the UK’s strategic marine science capability for over 30 years.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Project manage research projects that PML are the lead partner or co-partner of, including monitoring the implementation of the projects’ activities and the delivery of their results.
• Contribute to the project management team and provide support to the Senior Project Manager in general duties as requested to ensure the successful and consistent delivery of projects.
• Monitor project progress including schedule, budget and work plan to ensure that deadlines and reporting requirements are met.
• Ensure milestones are met by those responsible and deliverables are quality checked and delivered on time.
• Support the generation and monitoring of research impact and the pathway to it including collating evidence (training will be provided to carry out these functions)
• Act as the interface between the funder, project Steering Committees, project partner organisations, third parties and scientific management teams disseminating information as and when necessary.
• Actively communicate and liaise with project partners and stakeholders to build effective networks and communication channels.
• Write reports and record meeting minutes;
• Check and monitor budget expenditure both at project and partner organisations’ level, including supporting partners to submit suitable financial records.
• Organise external events and project meetings.
• Support Principal Investigators and maintain project documentation.
• Develop and maintain contact databases.
• Work closely with internal groups in PML including different Science Areas as well as Communications, Finance and Contracts teams.

Essential Skills:

• At least 3 years’ experience in project management, ideally in a research field or equivalent training / expertise;
• Educated to degree level, preferably in an environmental / science field
• Flexible in approach, specifically the ability to manage several concurrent projects, recognise and respond to shifting priorities, and handle different types of information (e.g. scientific, financial, and legal).
• Excellent organisational skills with the capacity to multitask, to deliver on allocated tasks and to meet deadlines in pressurised situations;
• A proactive approach, high level of initiative and a willingness to drive projects forwards by encouraging others but also to seek help from others when required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Willingness to travel (considering COVID restrictions at the time)
• Experience in working with and drawing together diverse stakeholder groups

Desirable skills:

• A qualification or formal training in project / programme management
• Proven skills to manage and work to budgets
• Experience in writing/co-writing project reports
• Experience in working with overseas partners
• Experience in research impact approaches (generation and monitoring)
• Experience organizing conferences / events / large meetings

PML offers a variety of employee benefits which can be viewed here: https://www.pml.ac.uk/Working-with-us/Employee-benefits

As part of PML’s 20^th anniversary of becoming an independent organisation with charitable status (2002-2022), we asked PML people why they enjoy working at PML and what makes it special – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdQf-2ffnlY

Interviews will be held on 21 September 2022