ExoMars Project Manager

Aberystwyth University; Aberystwyth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

36.5-hour week

27 days annual leave

Professional Development

Staff relocation bursary

Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Ad.

Welsh language learning

Job summary

Aberystwyth University invites applications for an experienced Project Manager to support ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover project activities. You will oversee financial and administrative aspects, coordinate meetings, and deliver technical and financial reports with partners across UK and Europe.

You will work with the Principal Investigator and Research Finance teams, travelling within the UK and Europe as needed, and contribute to governance and outreach efforts while ensuring compliance with

Qualifications

• Project management qualification or extensive relevant experience.
• Strong record of project management and partnership working across institutions.
• Record keeping and reporting with budgets and spend profiling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience with project planning and management.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of procurement and budget management.
• Experience interfacing between academic and commercial sectors.
• Experience managing diverse stakeholder relationships.
• Experience interpreting financial procedures and audits.
• Understanding bilingual environment and Welsh language awareness.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to project management with financial and administrative oversight.
• Maintain project schedule, track day-to-day activities, and manage travel claims.
• Draft reports for funding bodies and ensure compliance with funders’ rules.
• Oversee staff travel for project delivery and coordinate events.
• Coordinate promotion and outreach activities with stakeholders.
• Serve as central contact point for internal staff on project admin.
• Attend project boards and operational reviews; support line manager.
• Engage in university projects and continuous professional development.
• Support open days, graduation events, and other university activities.
• Promote equality, diversity, and environmental sustainability.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Time management

Independent work

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Procurement processes

Job description

The Role

Aberystwyth University (AU) is seeking to appoint an experienced Project Manager with extensive technical and financial and schedule management skills to support the delivery of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover project objectives.

The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover is a joint European Space Agency and NASA project to deliver a rover to the surface of Mars in 2030. The rover will be used to explore the Martian surface for at least 6 months to search for signs of past or present life in the subsurface. The UK is a key contributor to the ExoMars project, providing the Enfys Instrument led by Aberystwyth University and the PanCam Instrument led by UCL Mullard Space Science Labs (MSSL). These instruments will be used together and operated primarily by teams based at Aberystwyth University, MSSL and the Open University.

The post holder will be responsible for assisting the management of the Aberystwyth based team in the delivery of the project and its deliverables. They will work closely with the university’s Research Finance team and colleagues undertaking similar roles for the project partners, as well as internal and external agencies and government representatives, to provide reliable and proactive advice and services to academics and researchers at Aberystwyth University and provide advice to, and coordinate the activities of, the partners involved in the projects. The appointee will be a member of the project management committees and will work closely with the Principal Investigator to support them in their role, organising project meetings, events, and delivering technical and financial reports. They may be required to travel within the UK and Europe.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact the Principal Investigator, Matt Gunn, at [e-mail]

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

• Contribute to the overall project management through financial and administrative oversight, maintaining the project schedule and monitoring of day-to-day activities, processing travel claims, and collating information for audits, collating and validating reports from the partners.
• Together with the Principal Investigator, write reports for the funding bodies. Use financial and administrative tools to ensure compliance with the funders’ rules, and the reporting and achievement of targets.
• Oversee the management of any staff travelling to and from Aberystwyth University to deliver the project outcomes.
• Assist with the planning and running of key events associated with the project and co-ordinate the marketing and promotion of the projects as required. This might include internal and external meetings with stakeholders, governing bodies, funding bodies and various public engagement for a, including outreach activities associated with the projects.
• Serve as the central contact point for internal university staff for all administrative requirements of the project. Proactively deal with any issues to maintain trust and confidence within the administrative structure of the university.
• Undertake occasional visits to partners and attend project board and operational review meetings.
• Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.
• Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager.
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work.
• Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
• To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
• Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• To be committed to your own development through the use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Project Management qualification or extensive relevant experience.
2. A strong record of Project Management and partnership working across institutions.
3. Record keeping and project reporting experience, including understanding of budgets and profiling of spend across the budget lifetime.
4. Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
5. Experience of project planning and management.
6. Good interpersonal skills, including negotiation and decision making and good time management with the ability to work to deadlines.
7. Ability to work independently (unsupervised and on own initiative) and as part of a team.
8. Knowledge of procurement processes and ability to manage budgets.
9. Experience of working at the interface between the academic and commercial sectors.
10. Experience of working with diverse stakeholder relationships effectively.
11. Experience of interpreting & implementing financial procedures and experience of financial audits.
12. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.

Desirable

1. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

Please keep reading

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Employment Visa

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meetthe criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.