Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Job purpose
To provide comprehensive high-level research and administrative support to Professor Petra Meier and her team to facilitate the delivery of a wide-ranging portfolio of research, engagement and impact activities. This will include working with both internal and external partners, researching and drafting reports, presentations and speeches; strategically supporting activity across all phases of research including horizon scanning and grant writing; representing Professor Meier where necessary; and proactively managing projects and budgets across the portfolio.
Main duties & responsibilities
- Provide high-level specialist project and portfolio management across a range of complex research and engagement activities using judgement and discretion to drive performance and organisational efficiency, engaging with others from across the University and externally as appropriate. This requires the role holder to establish an in-depth knowledge of Professor Meier’s thematic remit of health equity, and to work closely with a range of different academic and non-academic partnerships and stakeholders.
- To lead the strategic oversight of all research grants, bids, strategic partnerships and externally-facing activities within Professor Meier’s portfolio and provide comprehensive portfolio management support, including (but not limited to) ensuring positive working relationships, and planning and monitoring of progress against targets for delivery of processes, outputs and outcomes, financial management, reporting and co-ordination of academic and non-academic partners.
- Research and draft papers, briefing notes, reports, presentations, grant proposal sections, and speeches across the full spectrum of Professor Meier’s responsibilities and priorities, undertaking substantive background research from appropriate sources, and using a high level of awareness of academic, partner and research funder expectations and priorities.
- Proactively and independently contribute across the different research and engagement projects, from initial idea to final impact delivery, often involving multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities and time pressures, using strong interpersonal negotiating and influencing skills to secure the input of other colleagues and services internally and externally, so that objectives and outputs are delivered in a timely manner.
- Liaising with managers and administrators of specific projects and initiatives, ensuring effective support is in place for event, meeting, diary and email management across the portfolio. This will also involve reviewing and collating papers, reports and presentations, following up and leading on the delivery of actions on behalf of Professor Meier, drafting responses to emails and other communications, and preparing plans for meetings and events. This requires the role holder to be aware of immediate priorities and pressures and to be sensitive to the strategic direction of the various research programmes.
- Liaise with People & Organisational Development, Finance and Research Support teams to discuss new and existing posts and budgets within the research group, and obtaining projected costs for the preparation of future grant applications.
- Taking a leading role in the direction of the multiple research and engagement programmes, drawing on specialist knowledge and experience to inform and formulate strategy to integrate and progress the aims of the various funding streams underpinning the group.
- Use ongoing horizon scanning to consider upcoming opportunities for research directions, strategic bids and engagement activities, and facilitate appropriate responses to the most promising directions.
- Contribute towards the development of funding applications to external funders by providing specialist bid writing support to academic leads within the group to enhance the quality and strengthen the chance of each application being successful.
- Take a leading role in the collation and preparation of responses to policy consultations and similar activities, ensuring these are managed to deadline, allowing for any necessary internal engagement and approvals.
- Undertake any other relevant duties as directed by the line manager or Head of School.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential
- Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification)
- Experience in a subject discipline relevant to Professor Meier’s research portfolio (e.g. health, social policy), with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s) OR
- 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.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with an ability to research and write reports and presentations for a variety of audiences and to draft and edit strategic documents
- Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to promote positive working relationships and to motivate, influence and negotiate inputs from diverse partners
- Ability to work across a range of collaborating organisations from academia, policy and third sector and community organisations.
- Ability to understand and interpret complex information and take lead responsibility in briefing colleagues accordingly.
- umerate with excellent IT skills and advanced ability to interpret management information and manipulate data.
- Ability to produce appealing content for university websites, and traditional and social media platforms
- Excellent knowledge of project and research management techniques and methodology
- Proven analytical, organisational, project planning and problem-solving skills with the ability to act on own initiative and be proactive.
- Demonstrable ability to act calmly and methodically, to set priorities, work with diplomacy and efficiency in a highly pressured environment.
- Ability to generate innovative solutions, demonstrating a clear understanding of the strategic aims of the related area of work.
- Ability to spot and respond to internal and external risks and issues that may affect area of work
- Familiarity with the Higher Education sector, specifically understanding of the funding landscape, research and impact agendas
- Ability to contribute to the writing and editing of multi partner, complex research proposals and other academic texts
Desirable
- Have sufficient understanding of the thematic and methodological research concepts of the relevant projects to permit informed decision making.
Experience
Essential
- An established track record of providing advice, influencing and implementing strategy and long-term goals.
- An established track record of project and portfolio management in complex environments involving multiple stakeholders.
- Experience of engaging and working with professional project teams and ensuring delivery of projects to achieve key targets
- Experience of managing budgets and resources across several projects, preparing and presenting financial management reports.
- Experience in multitasking, working efficiently under pressure, and adapting to changing environments and requirements.
- Experience of managing the activities of self and others
Desirable
- Experience of working at the research/public policy interface.
- Experience of liaising with major research funders.
World-Changing Campus
We have delivered one of the most significant expansions of a UK university city campus for over a century.
Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has invested in its estate to expand its world-class campus and facilities.
An area covering 14 acres of land next to our magnificent Gilmorehill campus has been redeveloped to build a mix of modern research, teaching and public spaces.
Our new buildings will mean the University remains a centre for world-changing research, as well as a vibrant community hub and centre for public engagement.
The development will transform our teaching, learning and research spaces. It will allow us to bring together the best minds of today and tomorrow within world-class interdisciplinary research spaces that offer flexibility and stimulate collaboration, and modern study spaces that will combine study and social learning space with technology enabled teaching.
- The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is changing the way research is conducted at Glasgow. The ARC is the creative and collaborative heart of research at the University of Glasgow, bridging the boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration and true societal impact . The ARC brings more than 500 world-leading researchers from a range of disciplines together in a building specifically designed to break down organisational structure and facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
- The James McCune Smith Learning Hub is an inspirational and diverse learning space. The flagship building was the first to be completed as part of our campus development, and provides a creative environment, combining flexible study and social learning space with multi-styled and technology-enabled teaching. It can accommodate more than 2,500 students, and includes a lecture theatre with capacity for 500 students. State-of-the-art teaching facilities, with flexible study spaces and interactive teaching for students, help to create a more immersive learning experience.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created two guides to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 4th December 2024.
For more information about the infrastructure and the scope of the job or for informal enquiries, please contact Petra Meier, Petra.Meier@glasgow.ac.uk
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 8, £49,250 - £56,921 per annum pro rata.
This post is part time (24.5 hours per week, 0.7 FTE) and open ended with funding up to 30 November 2027.
The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules.
For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
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.
A flexible approach to working.
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.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability