Project Manager (European Research Funding)

UCL; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

UCL is seeking a highly motivated Project Manager to join their international research management team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role involves providing bespoke project management services for a diverse portfolio of funded research projects, ensuring effective communication and budget management while supporting project partners in compliance with UCL’s policies.

Qualifications

• Significant professional experience in project management, ideally in research or higher education.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects independently.
• Experience in budget monitoring and financial forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Act as the interface between funders, project partners, and stakeholders.
• Monitor project risks and budget expenditure, proposing corrective actions.
• Support project partners in preparing technical and financial reports.

Skills

Project Management

Organisational Skills

Communication

Analytical Thinking

Job description

About us

UCL is a radically different university. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, we were the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women to university education. Today UCL is a world-leading research-intensive university, often ranked in the top ten in the world, with an annual turnover of well over £1 billion.

Research and Innovation Services provides support and services for our academics working across the research and innovation lifecycle with a focus on applying for and managing funding, and providing professional advice on collaborations and contracts. The Directorate is comprised of four teams who all work together to deliver a service to support, advise and provide expertise to our academic community for our extensive and varied portfolio of externally funded projects.

Award Services provides a range specialist advice to UCL's externally funded research and innovation portfolio through the departments of: Research Support & Development (Pre-award); European Research and Innovation Office; (Post-award). The service is delivered in partnership with academic and professional services colleagues across UCL, collaborating organisations, and funders.

About the role

We are recruiting for a Project Manager to join us on a 12 month FTC basis, or secondment for internal staff.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our international team of research management, proposal development, project management experts. As Project Manager you will be based in the ERIO’s project management team, where you will provide a range of bespoke project management services to our large and diverse portfolio of funded research and innovation projects.

In this role, you will act as the interface between the Funders, the project partners and relevant stakeholders and will provide advice to UCL academics and their collaborators on UCL’s policies and processes relating to research and innovation projects, and advice on Funder’s T&Cs. You will also monitor project risks, help project partners to devise and implement the relevant mitigation and contingency plans and monitor budget expenditure both at the project and partners’ level, proposing corrective actions where deviations are identified.

This role is eligible for hybrid working.

Cover letters/supporting statements not including description of how each criteria is met, will not be considered.

About you

You will bring significant professional experience in project management, ideally within a research or higher education environment, with a proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects independently. Your background will demonstrate strong organisational skills and the capacity to prioritise and deliver work under pressure, responding effectively to changing demands.

You will be adept at supporting project partners in the preparation and submission of both technical and financial reports, using structured tools such as templates and data reviews. Your experience will also include budget monitoring, financial forecasting, and making timely updates in collaboration with partners, as well as supporting risk, issue, and change management processes.

Strong communication skills are essential, including the ability to explain financial and contractual matters clearly to non-specialist audiences. You will be confident chairing meetings or events, and producing accurate minutes and follow-up actions. You are a self-motivated, proactive individual, able to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. Excellent attention to detail, analytical thinking, and the ability to manage sensitive situations with diplomacy and discretion will be key to your success in this role.

Customer advert reference: B09-01226