Plastics Network Project Manager

University of Birmingham - School of Chemistry

Location:	Birmingham
Salary:	£36,636 to £46,049 Grade 7
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 2nd April 2026
Closes: 15th April 2026
Job Ref: 101237

Salary:
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049, with potential progression once in post to £48,822.

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract up to 31 December 2026

Role Summary

You will manage the successful delivery of all Birmingham Plastics Network activity, including a diverse and varied range of projects. Working alongside the academic team to achieve the Network’s core objectives of achieving research grant income, delivering research projects and generating meaningful societal impact. This will include leading and managing Network meetings and events, managing internal and external relationships on behalf of the Network, monitoring and managing budgets, writing briefings and documents, and utilising project planning tools to ensure that the Network and its projects stay aligned to core objectives and key outputs.

Main Duties

This post will be responsible for the management of all Network activities and their key defined outcomes. You will be expected to work proactively and use your initiative and planning skills to set your priorities for yourself, and others, as well as identify any issues and propose solutions to ensure progress is maintained as expected. Duties include:

• Responsible for the delivery of projects through the provision of significant and high-level project management support. This may include some or all of the following:
  • developing project plans, identifying (as appropriate) key performance indicators and milestones
  • reviewing and auditing progress on projects to identify and act on improvements to effectiveness, efficiency and delivery
  • reporting on progress including the development of reporting mechanisms, writing reports (e.g. on project budgetary management), and presenting to appropriate meetings such as Committees or to other key stakeholders
  • providing executive support to Committees, work streams and working groups as required; setting agendas, collating and distributing papers and minutes and ensuring follow up action is taken
  • assessing and escalating issues and risks, including monitoring risk registers
  • Stakeholder management, ensuring effective liaison with project partners, funders, Committees as appropriate.
  • managing project resources efficiently and effectively, including budgets, and ensure project documentation is maintained
• Coordinate the organisation of conferences / meetings / workshops / dissemination events as required.
• Manage a number of stakeholder relationships across multiple projects, including senior stakeholders both inside and outside of the University.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Qualified to Degree level or equivalent plus practical managerial experience or significant relevant experience demonstrated through increasingly more demanding roles, evidencing the experience necessary for this role.
• Proven track record of successful project management; can include but not limited to project management tools e.g. Prince2.

Desirable:

• Enthusiasm for working in sustainability-related field, particularly in sustainable plastics.
• Experience of research development in a Higher-Education context.
• Experience of working within a multi or inter-disciplinary environment.

Informal enquiries to Kathryn Miles, Research Strategy & Development Partner or Robyn MacPherson, currentPlastics Network Project Manager

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.