ERDF Project Officer
England, West Midlands, Coventry - £24,780 per annum

Posted: 17/12/14

Description:
JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. JOB INFORMATION
Post Title: ERDF Project Officer
Faculty / Department: Research Office, Research Delivery Support Unit
Grade: 6
Mode: Job share or part time or full time, fixed term to 30/06/15 or 31/12/15
or 31/01/16
N.B. This post has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (Operational Programme 2007-13).
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 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 of ERDF projects in activities associated with the delivery and compliance of ERDF contracts in an efficient and timely manner. The Unit will run until the 31st December 2015, when the current round of ERDF funding finishes.
.2 Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Act as a first point of contact for project clients. Dealing with clients' requests directly or sign-posting to other project staff or other suitable internal or external organisations when necessary.
2. Undertake financial systems support to projects including day-to-day monitoring of income and expenditure, administration of procurement and billing activities and budget tracking needed to maintain effective project contract control and accurate reporting / claims requirements.
3. Lead all areas of support for projects' beneficiaries and internal PIs with regards to internal and external audits of contracts.
4. Maintain project client monitoring systems dealing with or escalating risks as needed to maintain effective day-to-day delivery of identified projects goals.
5. Represent the project (and thereby the University Group) by undertaking company visits / consultations and providing the necessary follow-up reports and actions in a timely and efficient manner.
6. Represent the project (and thereby the University Group) at meetings seminars and other internal and external events. Provide training and awareness to colleagues in the University with regards to the specific requirements of the project.
7. Administer the organisation of events and formal meetings related to identified projects.
8. Assist with the provision of the information broker service operated by the required division and provide support to the consultancy service for interpreting information relating to project initiatives.
9. Undertake any background research and prepare background reports required by projects in the execution of project goals. Provide management information reports as required by the University, the project partners and external funders.
10. Significantly contribute, in association with the ERDF Programmes Manager and the ERDF Project Managers, continuous improvement activities related to the successful delivery of the projects and to the maximisation of outputs from the portfolio to the benefit of the University Group.
AND such other duties as are within the scope and the spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and its grading.
.3 Supervision Received
ERDF Senior Project Manager(s)
ERDF Project Manager(s)
.4 Supervision Given
ERDF Project Assistant(s)
Administrative staff used in support of delivery (on an ad hoc basis)
.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
Small to medium sized businesses benefiting from the project activities
External organisations locally, nationally and internationally
Local and national UK government agencies
3. PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education/ Qualifications
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Project related qualification e.g. Prince2 Foundation / Practitioner
Experience (Paid and Unpaid)
Current working knowledge of ERDF funded project management
Experience of dealing directly with external clients
Experience of undertaking background research
Experience of computerised administration systems, email and the internet
Experience of working in the Higher Education sector
Experience / knowledge of identified project related subject
Job-related skills/ Aptitudes
Ability to work on own initiative whilst contributing as a member of a team
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Significant depth of knowledge, expertise and track record of achievement relating to the responsibilities of the post.
Interpersonal Skills
To be personally well organised and able to prioritise workload
Ability to work under pressure
Other Requirements
To be flexible in approach to working hours and location
Full driving licence and/or access to private or public transport due to need to travel within the West Midlands region
Willing to travel