Network Manager (Project Manager)

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days leave (full-time)

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Health & wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

University of Glasgow invites applications for a Grade 8 role to lead the RaRE Materials Network+ delivery, engaging stakeholders, securing partnerships and guiding strategic planning. You will manage governance, finance and reporting while championing collaboration with industry, academia and public bodies across the UK and internationally.

This full-time post focuses on developing marketing strategies, coordinating events, and growing a portfolio of contracts and collaborations with SMEs and

Qualifications

• Excellent project management skills with ability to plan and deliver across multiple deadlines.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication and organisational skills.
• Financial management and planning capabilities.
• Ability to advise on funder requirements and governance processes.
• Strong ability to build and manage business relationships between higher education and industry partners.
• Knowledge of project management techniques and tools.
• Understanding of data integrity and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate overall delivery and operation of the Network with effective stakeholder communications.
• Provide comprehensive project management support to the PI and co-PIs, including planning, budgeting and reporting.
• Engage with partners, manage expectations and ensure clarity of programme messages.
• Develop marketing and business engagement strategies to drive growth.
• Plan and deliver Network events, workshops and collaborative activities.
• Support governance, financial monitoring, risk management and fund coordination.
• Represent the Network at industry and government events to raise visibility.
• Develop and secure a pipeline of contracts and collaborations with SMEs and industry partners.
• Initiate business attraction and bid activities to seize new opportunities.
• Build durable relationships with key partners to enable future projects.

Skills

Project management

Time management

Communication

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Business development

Education

SCQF Level 9–11 or equivalent degree

Degree or equivalent in electronics/related field

Job description

Job Purpose

The “EPSRC Responsible and Resilient Electronic and Electromagnetic (RaRE) Materials Network+” is a major UKRI investment towards building a UK-wide community connecting academics, industry, and the public/policy.

RARE Materials Network+ will be the focal point for creating a sustainable flow for translating material innovation to electronic systems.We will connect the material science and development community to end-users and innovators in electronics across telecommunications, quantum technologies, and power electronics. The Network+ will foster a more unified community and adopt transferable, industry-standard characterisation across materials’ electronic and electromagnetic performance, which enable sector-agnostic innovation.

We will also allocate significant funding to the community through pump-priming projects and to facilitate career development.

The postholder will manage the overall delivery and operation of the RaRE Materials Network+, playing a leading role in championing the Network, building productive relationships with stakeholders, creating opportunities for collaboration, and strengthening the Network’s profile across the UK.

You will lead stakeholder engagement and business development activities, identifying and securing new partnerships and collaborative opportunities to support the successful delivery of the Network’s strategic aims. You will engage with potential users of the research and facilitate dialogue with industry on technological challenges and translational opportunities, helping to maximise the impact of the Network’s activities.

The postholder will provide comprehensive support to the PI and Co-Is, including supporting governance, financial monitoring, risk management, reporting, research dissemination and strategic planning, ensuring that the project stays on track and that objectives, milestones and deliverables, as well as any changes in the research, are documented.

You will represent the Network at conferences, industry events, trade shows and government/parliamentary events, helping to enhance its visibility, influence and impact across academia, industry and the wider stakeholder community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To manage and coordinate the overall delivery and operation of the Network, ensuring effective communication of decisions, priorities and outcomes to key stakeholders.
2. To provide comprehensive project management support to the Principal Investigator and co-PIs, including planning and monitoring, financial management, logistical support, change management, reporting, and coordination of funds allocated to WPs. Collaborate closely with Project staff to ensure efficient project planning, resourcing, and delivery.
3. To communicate with all relevant partners and stakeholder communities, including consultation and management of expectations and engaging and managing stakeholders from senior management to operational staff to ensure clarity in the delivery of key programme messages (verbal and written).
4. Lead on the development and implementation of comprehensive marketing and business engagement strategies utilising market insights and analysis to fuel business growth.
5. Lead the planning and delivery of Network events, including workshops and sandpits, working closely with the theme leads and special interest groups.
6. Contribute to the formulation and dissemination of the Flexible funding including formulating funding calls, overseeing the independent review process, and supporting the funded project leads.
7. Represent the Network including at exhibitions and industrial tradeshows, technical conferences, and other events, in the UK and internationally.
8. Lead on developing and securing a mature pipeline of strategically relevant contracts/collaborations with SMEs, academia and industry and enhance direct commercial funding in support of the Network’s long‑term sustainability.
9. Initiate and lead business attraction and bid initiatives to seize new opportunities.
10. Proactively build and maintain effective relationships with key partners and stakeholders, identifying opportunities and facilitating collaborations for new projects
11. Effectively support the Network’s members with research and dissemination including whitepapers, press releases, and non‑technical briefs.
12. Act as the key contact coordinating any requests from funders for periodic updates on the grant progress, visits and requests for information, audits or to attend events or activities organised by funders concerning the programme.
13. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the PI.

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: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9,10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s).
• A2 Knowledge of project management techniques and tools.
• A3 Knowledge of the Higher Education organisations, and their purpose, infrastructure, policies and contractual legislation.
• A4 A thorough understanding of grant management processes.
• A5 Good knowledge of financial management, processes and systems.
• A6 Knowledge of effective communication, publicity, and dissemination skills and approaches.
• A7 Knowledge and understanding of data integrity and its importance.
• A8 A strong understanding of risk management.

Desirable:

• B1 Detailed knowledge of UKRI funding schemes, their rules and their processes.
• B2 Degree or equivalent research/industrial experience in the electronics sector, preferably around materials.

Skills

Essential:

• C1 Excellent project management skills – both short-term deadline driven and longer term involving multiple conflicting deadlines and coordination across multiple organisational units.
• C2 Excellent time management skills with an ability to prioritise competing demands and multiple projects.
• C3 Proven exceptional verbal and written communication and organisational skills to produce clear project management documents and stakeholder focused content, presented in an engaging and constructive manner.
• C4 Financial management and planning skills.
• C5 Ability to provide advice and guidance in relation to funder requirements.
• C6 Ability to build and manage business relationships bridging between higher education and partners from industry and charity organisations.

Experience

Essential:

• E1 Track record in electronics/tech and/or materials.
• E2 Experience of managing a portfolio of external engagement activities and projects across the full lifecycle with a successful track record of delivery.
• E3 Experience of establishing, developing and maintaining relevant marketing intelligence and knowledge systems and utilising them effectively in business development and customer support.
• E4 Experience of attending partnering meetings and hosting company visits.E5 Experience and knowledge of working and collaborating with electronics/circular economy or similar companies and understanding of their business drivers.

Desirable:

• F1 Experience of working in the electronics or (electronic) materials industry.
• F2 Experienced in allocating funding through competitive process, such as through grant funders, investment funds, or in R&D management.
• F3 Experience of providing high-quality advice and guidance on research management.
• F4 Demonstrable effective networking experience including community building through working groups, societies, or other membership/community-based organisations.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, £50,253 - £58,225 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and has funding to 31 March 2030. Relocation assistance may be provided where appropriate.

Closing date: 20 October 2026

All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK or be eligible to obtain permission to work in the UK.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant Home Office requirements, including any applicable tradeable points criteria. Further information can be found on the University of Glasgow’s UKVI Website.

For research and academic roles, we will also consider whether the Global Talent visa route may be available, subject to individual eligibility.

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 - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, 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 https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

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 https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ 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.