UKAgeNet Manager

Dunhillmedical; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave benefits

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Development & wellbeing benefits

Discounts

Job summary

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Research Manager within the Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI) to support UKAgeNet activities. You will coordinate network activities, draft policy and briefing documents, manage events, and communicate impact to diverse audiences.

You will work across a large, interdisciplinary team, oversee budgets, and ensure timely reporting while engaging stakeholders and policy partners. Hybrid working options are available.

Qualifications

• Degree in a scientific, medical, public health or social science discipline.
• Experience of managing complex research projects, programmes or networks involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience of organising meetings, workshops or conferences involving a range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrable ability to produce high-quality written outputs, including synthesising complex discussions and evidence into reports or briefing papers.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, including monitoring budgets, milestones and reporting requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external organisations.
• Experience of producing engaging content for website and social media to communicate network activities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the day-to-day management and delivery of UKAgeNet, ensuring activities are delivered effectively and in line with objectives.
• Organise meetings, workshops, conferences and other high-profile events with researchers, policymakers and funders.
• Develop relationships with UKAgeNet members and external stakeholders to support collaboration.
• Draft opinion papers, briefing documents and consultation responses by synthesising discussions and evidence.
• Produce engaging content (blogs, website content, social media) to raise UKAgeNet’s profile and impact.
• Monitor project plans, budgets and reporting requirements with appropriate governance.
• Support the Director and Executive Group in delivering strategic objectives and increasing network influence.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Policy writing

Communications

Event organisation

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Budget monitoring

Report writing

Education

Degree in a scientific, medical, public health or social science discipline

Job description

School/Department: School of Medicine & Population Health

Work Arrangement: Part Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Salary per annum (£): 38,784.00

Closing Date: 30/08/2026

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.

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Manager to join the Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI) at the University of Sheffield and support the activities of UKAgeNet, a network of more than 70 UK research organisations focused on ageing and age-related diseases. UKAgeNet works to shape national research policy by representing shared priorities to research funders and influencing national and local governments.

As Research Manager, you will coordinate the network’s activities, organise high-profile events involving a wide range of stakeholders, and play a key role in raising UKAgeNet’s profile. You will draft opinion papers that summarise discussions and consensus across the network, as well as write blogs and social media content that communicate its expertise to a range of audiences. You will also oversee project administration and finances, monitor progress against milestones, and ensure timely reporting. Some flexibility will be needed to engage with stakeholders and attend events.

You will have a background in scientific, medical, public health or social science research, with experience of writing high-quality scientific or policy-related documents and working collaboratively across large teams and interdisciplinary partnerships. Experience of policy development or engagement would be an advantage.

The post is based within the Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI), which brings together more than 180 researchers across five faculties to develop research, policy, services and products that improve healthspan. The role is also aligned with the School of Medicine and Population Health. You will be supported by Professor Ilaria Bellantuono, Director of HELSI.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Coordinate the day-to-day management and delivery of UKAgeNet, ensuring activities are delivered effectively and in line with agreed objectives and timelines.
• Organise and deliver meetings, workshops, conferences and other high-profile events involving researchers, policymakers, funders and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with UKAgeNet members, partners and external stakeholders to support collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• Draft high-quality opinion papers, briefing documents and consultation responses by synthesising discussions and evidence from across the network.
• Produce engaging communication materials, including blogs, website content and social media posts, to promote UKAgeNet’s activities and impact.
• Monitor project plans, budgets and reporting requirements, ensuring appropriate governance and financial procedures are followed.
• Support the Director and Executive Group in delivering the strategic objectives of UKAgeNet and identifying opportunities to enhance the network’s profile and influence.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

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 is 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.

Criteria

Stage(s) assessed at

Degree in a scientific, medical, public health or social science discipline.

Application

Experience of managing complex research projects, programmes or networks involving multiple stakeholders.

Application/interview

Experience of organising meetings, workshops or conferences involving a range of stakeholders

Application/interview

Demonstrable ability to produce high-quality written outputs, including synthetizing complex discussions and evidence into reports, briefing papers, scientific or policy documents.

Application/Interview

Strong organizational and project management skills, including monitoring budgets, milestones and reporting requirements.

Application/Interview

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external organizations

Application/Interview

Confident in using a range of IT systems and digital collaboration tools to support project coordination, administration and communication

Application/Interview

Experience of producing engaging content for website and social media to communicate the network activities to a range of audiences to raise the UKAgeNet profile

Application/Interview Application/Interview

Ability to work independently managing competing priorities and meet deadlines

Application/Interview

Experience of research policy or policy engagement

Application/Interview

Further Information

Grade

7

Work arrangement

Part-time

Duration

2st September 2026 to 31st May 2027

Line manager

Direct reports

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 .

For informal enquiries about this job contact Ilaria Bellantuono, Director of the Healthy Lifespan Institute: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

Candidates will be informed of the interview date once the advertisement has closed. This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 27th July. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Ilaria Bellantuono on [e-mail].

• 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.
• 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

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.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

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.

The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
[phone]