Operational Manager - Data Connect

Diversity Dashboard; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave (pro rata)

Flexible working

Generous pension

Staff discounts

Staff networks

Recognition awards

Professional development

Family‑friendly policies

Job summary

University of Sheffield is seeking a Data Connect Service Manager to lead the Data Connect portfolio, oversee project delivery, and drive agile practices across research data projects. You will manage teams, coordinate across services, and report metrics to governance boards while shaping cross‑organisational workflow with external partners.

The role emphasizes staff development, budget oversight, and strong communication with stakeholders in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience managing data delivery projects across multiple teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and reporting to governance boards.
• Familiarity with agile ceremonies and project planning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete Data Connect portfolio of work, tracking project progress and maintaining clear reporting up to the Head of Service on delivery milestones, risks, and blockers.
• Lead the project management function, providing overarching management of all active projects, data pipelines, and delivery schedules.
• Run agile ceremonies (daily stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives) to turn complex research needs into practical development plans and technical outputs.
• Coordinate the team to ensure project scoping and initial engagement run efficiently, continuously refining processes to improve the user experience for researchers and streamline effort for the team.
• Work with the Head of Service to track, monitor, and report annual KPIs, metrics, and overall service performance to governance boards and senior stakeholders.
• Lead overall team management and recruitment across the service, ensuring appropriate contracts are maintained and staff are onboarded or scaled based on project demand.
• Monitor team workloads and capacity, identifying skills gaps across core delivery staff and matrix-managed specialists.
• Foster a supportive, high-performing team culture, providing line management, professional development, and day-to-day guidance to direct reports.
• Ensure robust financial management across the service, overseeing multi-source project budgets, financial forecasting, and cost tracking to maintain sustainability in a complex funding environment.
• Support and guide the team in producing professional, up-to-date service communications that accurately reflect current activity and achievements across all channels.
• Work alongside the Head of Service to maintain a strong presence across the University, representing Data Connect at key internal meetings, committees, and Communities of Practice (CoP).
• Act as an operational link between Data Connect, the South Yorkshire ICB, and YH SDE, simplifying cross-organisational workflows and aligning dataset development with research needs.

Skills

Agile delivery

Portfolio management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Overview

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Main duties and responsibilities

Portfolio Tracking, Agile Delivery & Project Leadership

• Oversee the complete Data Connect portfolio of work, tracking project progress and maintaining clear reporting up to the Head of Service on delivery milestones, risks, and blockers.
• Lead the project management function, providing overarching management of all active projects, data pipelines, and delivery schedules.
• Run agile ceremonies (daily stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives) to turn complex research needs into practical development plans and technical outputs.
• Coordinate the team to ensure project scoping and initial engagement run efficiently, continuously refining processes to improve the user experience for researchers and streamline effort for the team.
• Work with the Head of Service to track, monitor, and report annual KPIs, metrics, and overall service performance to governance boards and senior stakeholders.

Team Management, Recruitment & Resource Planning

• Lead overall team management and recruitment across the service, ensuring appropriate contracts are maintained and staff are onboarded or scaled based on project demand.
• Monitor team workloads and capacity, identifying skills gaps across core delivery staff and matrix-managed specialists.
• Foster a supportive, high-performing team culture, providing line management, professional development, and day-to-day guidance to direct reports.
• Ensure robust financial management across the service, overseeing multi-source project budgets, financial forecasting, and cost tracking to maintain sustainability in a complex funding environment.

Partnerships, Communications & Stakeholder Presence

• Support and guide the team in producing professional, up-to-date service communications that accurately reflect current activity and achievements across all channels.
• Work alongside the Head of Service to maintain a strong presence across the University, representing Data Connect at key internal meetings, committees, and Communities of Practice (CoP).
• Act as an operational link between Data Connect, the South Yorkshire ICB, and YH SDE, simplifying cross-organisational workflows and aligning dataset development with research needs.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Grade

8

Salary

£48,822 - £58,225 per annum pro rata with the potential to progress to £65,509 through sustained exceptional contribution.

Work arrangement

Full-time - 35 hours per week.

Duration

Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Leave Cover) until 31/10/2027. Potential secondment opportunity for internal staff.

Line manager

Head of Data Connect

Direct reports

Data Connect Service Administrator, Research Project manager and Data Management team

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/smph

For informal enquiries about this job contact Dr Rosie Gough on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in late October/ early November. This will consist of a task and an in-person interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within 2 weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date :07/10/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.