ERDF Project Assistant
England, West Midlands, Coventry - £21,396 per annum

Posted: 17/12/14

Description:
RESEARCH OFFICE
JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. JOB INFORMATION
Post Title: ERDF Project Assistant £21396
Faculty/Department: Research Office, Research Delivery Support Unit
Grade: 5
Mode: Job share or part time or full time, fixed term to 30 June 2015
Location Independent Working (LIW) is available for this post
2. JOB DESCRIPTION
.1 Purpose
Coventry University's 'Excellence with Impact' research strategy takes the University forward to 2020 by strengthening our research excellence and building on our strengths as a business facing Institution. The strategy sees the establishment of new University Research Centres (URCs) and Faculty Research Centres (FRCs), which will provide the main mechanisms for driving the University's research agenda forward.
The Research Office operates under the leadership of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the line-management of the Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research). The Research Office is the primary support department for: research quality and our future Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission; support to our research students; research projects funding and compliance; research projects development, costing and delivery support.
The Research Delivery Support Unit is a central resource available to researchers across the university. Within the unit is a special team, established to support the Principal Investigators (PIs) of ERDF projects in activities associated with the delivery and compliance of ERDF contracts in an efficient and timely manner. The team will run until the 31st December 2015, when the current round of ERDF funding finishes. The key functions of this team are:
a) To ensure high and medium risk ERDF projects (as defined under the risk assessment methodology) are mobilised quickly;
b) To provide hands-on delivery support for high and medium risk ERDF projects, including offering specific ERDF funder expertise;
c) To provide ERDF funder-specific support internally and build close working relationships with the ERDF funders;
d) To support new academics recruited to the University with grant transfer, ensuring that this takes place in a timely and efficient manner.
.2 Main Duties and Responsibilities
The overall aim of the ERDF Project Assistant post is to support the achievement of improved REF submission for the University, which includes: (i) outputs (journal articles, books, physical artefacts, performances); (ii) impact of the research and (iii) research environment (research culture, doctoral degree awards, research income and research income-in-kind).
1. Act as a first point of contact for ERDF project clients. Dealing with clients requests directly when possible and sign-posting to other ERDF project staff or other suitable internal or external organisations when necessary.
2. Undertake financial systems support to ERDF projects including day to day monitoring of income and expenditure, administration of procurement and billing activities and budget tracking needed to maintain effective ERDF project contract control and reporting requirements.
3. Maintain ERDF project client monitoring systems needed to maintain effective day to day delivery of identified projects goals.
4. Represent the project and the Research Development Support Unit by undertaking company visits/consultations and providing the necessary follow-up reports and actions.
5. Represent the ERDF project team at meetings, seminars and other external events.
6. Administer the organisation of events and formal meetings relating to identified ERDF projects.
7. Assist with the provision of the information broker service operated by the required project and Unit and provide support to the consultancy service for interpreting information relating to project initiatives.
8. Undertake any background research and prepare background reports required by ERDF project team members in the execution of ERDF project goals.
AND such other duties as are within the scope and the spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and it's grading.
.3 Supervision Received
ERDF Project Managers
ERDF Project Officers
.4 Supervision Given
None
.5 Contacts
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Faculty/School Deans and Associate Deans (Research)
Colleagues in other units within the Research Office
Project Team members
Staff at all levels throughout the University
Staff of partner organisations, businesses and funding bodies
External organisations locally, nationally and internationally
European Commission and local/regional/national UK government agencies
3. PERSON SPECIFICATION
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
ADVANTAGEOUS
Education/
Qualifications
Degree level or equivalent qualification preferable
OR
Qualified above A-level with relevant employment experience
Prince 2 or equivalent
Experience
(Paid and Unpaid)
Experience of dealing directly with external clients
Experience of Project / team administration
Experience of events organisation/delivery
Experience of computerised administration systems, Email and the Internet
Experience of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or Regional Development Agency funded projects.
Experience of research project delivery or management.
Job-related Skills/
Aptitudes
Highly developed communication ability, particularly related to sharing expert knowledge, providing advice and making recommendations diplomatically with internal and external colleagues.
Good writing ability, including the ability to proof read / edit documents
High level of computer literacy, particularly Excel, is essential.
Excellent numeracy skills and a high level of attention to detail.
Highly developed ability to assimilate knowledge and master new skills rapidly, in particular to understand contractual terms and their impact.
Fluent in a European language in addition to English
Interpersonal Skills
Excellent team working skills.
Excellent self-management skills and the ability to plan your own workload.
Other Requirements
A flexible approach to work - must be prepared to work outside standard hours.
Full driving licence and/or access to private or public transport due to travel involved.
Willing to travel
Tact, diplomacy and the ability to maintain confidentiality.