Centre for Data Science and AI Manager

Job Purpose
Responsible for the leadership and support for the successful delivery of the Centre for Data Science and AI through the provision of effective and efficient administrative support. The successful candidate will work closely with the Centre Director, Programme directors and colleagues in Research Support across the University, managing financial, organisational and procedural elements to support the Centre for Data Science and AI. They will create and maintain excellent working relations with external partner organisations, leading the team consisting of the knowledge exchange officer and administrator to deliver effective collaboration with both external and internal stakeholders, while monitoring outputs, outcomes and impact. You will have a strategic responsibility to deliver high quality and impact activities of the Centre's programmes including research strategy, stakeholders' development, seminars and training programmes, budget management, fund raising and reporting.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

A. Leadership and Management 
1. To provide significant strategic leadership through shaping and developing an effective approach to the management of the Centre for Data Science and AI
2. Maintain an effective operation, management, and administration with appropriate links established with the Centre's Directors, internal departments and Colleges, HEI partners and industry partners, working with the core management team to deliver the Centre activities, project milestones and deliverables across partners and collaborators. This will include initial efforts in establishing the Centre and promoting its activities across the University and wider community.
3. Directly support the Centre Director, extended leadership team to deliver research excellence, enable collaboration with other investments in AI, such as Responsible AI UK, CDTs, The Alan Turing Institute.
4. Line Management of the Centre administrator, and Knowledge Engagement Officer to subsequently coordinate the networking and day-to-day activity delivery
5. Manage the allocation and spend of budget(s), where appropriate, and to provide management information, forecasting and analysis to support project, school, college and university requirements, as required.
6. Creating and management of the Risk Register including provision of risk analysis, monitoring and sharing lessons learnt across the Centre

B. Engagement and Collaboration
1. Working within the Centre core management team, particularly the Centre Director, the Centre extended leadership board as well as advisory board to enable them to deliver on the goals of the Centre across multiple disciplines, and across all four Colleges.
2. To be first point of contact for funding bodies and external partners.
3. To build and support the network of academic and industrial partners, ensuring the successful flow of information and strong relationships with project colleagues, internal departments/Colleges, internal/external stakeholders and industry partners.
4. To lead and manage events on behalf of the centre including; outreach and impact events, seminars, visits from external partners and promotional showcases.
5. Be an active member at specific project management meetings / committees, acting as the liaison officer communicating and coordinating activities between committees, other stakeholders, and the Programme Directors.
6. To identify the relevant contacts across the four Colleges and liaise with them on the development of an impact and innovation pipeline based on Centre activities.
7. The Centre professional staff, including the Centre Manager, will sit within the University Research Services Directorate, there primary responsibility will be to the Centre, however they will also have the opportunity to engage with staff across Research Services, and participate in training etc.
8. Perform other duties as requested, which are consistent with the grade level of the position.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles OR: Ordinary/Honours Degree, Postgraduate qualification or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s).
A2 An excellent understanding of AI and Data Science ecosystem and the UK funding landscape.
A3 Knowledge of AI key stakeholders and organisations.
A4 Knowledge of HE structures, University processes and regulations.
A5 Excellent IT skills including a detailed operational knowledge of spreadsheets and databases.

Desirable:
B1 Strong understanding of key enabling technology.
B2 An understanding of the strategic importance for data driven solutions for grand challenges in the UK/globally.
B3 A science/engineering PhD / degree or an equivalent professional qualification.
B4 Project Management qualification.

Skills

Essential:
C1 Excellent interpersonal skills.
C2 Excellent project management skills- both short-term deadline driven and longer term, involving multiple conflicting deadlines and coordination across multiple organisational units.
C3 Strong consultative, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with students and staff across the University, including academic and support service staff, all levels of management, etc.
C4 Ability to provide constructive advice, analyse, interpret complex and/or specialist issues and translate theses into efficient management measures and actions with respect to relevant tasks.
C5 Strong interpersonal skills for stakeholder relationship development to influence key outcomes.
C6 Ability to multi-task and prioritise a conflicting workload.
C7 Good track record as a team player, developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and others.

Experience 

Essential:
E1 Relevant experience within a management team managing a diverse portfolio, with significant evidence of success.
E2 Experience of external stakeholder relationship management.
E3 Experience of Project Management, developing and managing complex projects with national or international network initiatives.
E4 Experience of monitoring budgets and reporting on expenditure.
E5 Experience of managing cross-organisational teams including individuals from external bodies.
E6 Evidence of ability to supervise/oversee requests to ensure completion of deliverables in a timely way.
E7 Previous experience of supporting and contributing to successful competitive commercial tenders.
E8 Proven experience in process improvement, delivery and support.

Desirable:
F1 Experience of Higher Education-External stakeholder relationship management.
F2 Previous experience of supporting and contributing to successful UKRI funding bid initiatives.
F3 Experience of building strong working relationships with both internal and external customers, ideally within a business context.
F4 Prior experience in a commercial business development function in a technical market particularly around initiating and developing business to business relationships.

Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 8, £48,350 - £56,021 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and and is fixed term for 3 years.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension , benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing , including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University .

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here .

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.