NORI Operations Manager

University of Sunderland; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 49 days’ holiday

Award-winning staff networks

Lifestyle benefits

Health and well-being support

Learning and development

Job summary

University of Sunderland seeks an experienced Operations Manager to lead the NORI Institute's five‑year EPSRC‑funded hub. You will mobilise a multi‑partner programme across engineering, data science, ophthalmic sensing and health partners, translating ambitious research into coordinated, well‑governed delivery.

You will report to the NORI executive and oversee governance, risk, finance monitoring, and partner coordination, shaping delivery across University, NHS and industry partners during a

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering complex research or multi‑partner programmes.
• Strong governance, risk management and financial monitoring abilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence across organisations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate programme plans, milestones and dependencies to ensure timely delivery.
• Support governance and decision‑making, including escalation as needed to keep projects on track.
• Maintain oversight of risk, performance and funder reporting across the NORI Institute.

Skills

Programme delivery

Governance & risk

Partnership leadership

Job description

The University of Sunderland offers life‑changing opportunities for more than 27,500 students across our campuses in Sunderland, London and Hong Kong, as well as through global partnerships in 19 countries.

We’re an inclusive, ambitious and forward‑looking University in a vibrant city that’s constantly evolving. We’re also entering an exciting new phase with a refreshed vision and strategic ambitions shaped around the changing higher education landscape.

As we move through 2026, we’re celebrating being recognised as:

• A top 30 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2026)
• 1st in the North‑East for student support services (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
• 1st in the North‑East for teaching quality (The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)

Lead the operational delivery of a major five-year health innovation programme.

Help turn an ambitious research and innovation programme into real-world delivery. We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Operations Manager to provide senior operational leadership across the Northern Ophthalmic Research and Innovation (NORI) Institute and its five-year EPSRC-funded Hub.

This is an opportunity to work at the centre of a major collaborative programme bringing together engineering, data science, ophthalmic sensing and health partners to advance earlier disease detection and prevention. You will work across University, NHS, industry and civic partnerships, helping translate ambitious research programmes into coordinated, well‑governed and deliverable activity.

You will join NORI at an important stage of growth, with the opportunity to shape how a complex EPSRC-funded programme is mobilised, managed and delivered over its full five-year lifecycle.

Reporting to the NORI executive, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the operational grip needed to deliver a complex, multi‑partner programme. You will coordinate programme plans, milestones and dependencies; support governance and decision‑making; maintain oversight of risk, performance and funder reporting; monitor finances and resources; coordinate recruitment, procurement, contracts and partner commitments; and help resolve operational barriers as they arise.

You will also play an important role in coordinating professional services and external partners, supporting the Hub's Flexible Fund, maintaining audit‑ready programme information, and contributing to agreed Faculty research, innovation and income‑development priorities.

This is an externally funded 5‑year fixed term contract.

Is this you?

The successful candidate will have:

1. Complex programme delivery: significant experience of managing major research programmes, awards or comparable projects involving multiple teams, partners, milestones and dependencies.

2. Operational judgement and control: strong experience of governance, risk, financial monitoring, reporting and corrective action, with the ability to identify what needs resolving, what needs escalating and how to keep delivery moving.

3. Partnership working and influence: excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coordinate and influence colleagues and partners across organisational boundaries, including where you do not hold direct management authority.

At the University of Sunderland, we’re more than a place of learning, we’re a welcoming community that values inclusivity, collaboration, and well‑being. We don’t just offer jobs, we offer careers that come with support, flexibility, and plenty of perks:

• Up to 49 days’ holiday - that’s 36 days’ annual leave, 5 festive closure days and 8 Bank Holidays!
• Award‑winning staff networks that celebrate who you are.
• Lifestyle benefits, with savings on shopping, tech, bikes, and even cars.
• Health and well‑being support, from private medical cover to gym discounts.
• Learning and development that helps you achieve your goals.

If you have questions about the role, please contact: