Job description

The Senior Programme Manager, Postgraduate Research plays a key role within the Education and Support Team (EST), leading and managing the delivery of excellent effective, and responsive support for 600 plus Postgraduate Research students and their supervising teams in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Working closely with the Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies and key stakeholders within the faculty, the role holder will significantly contribute to the development and delivery of PGR strategy at faculty level. In addition, they will also liaise with key stakeholders such as the Centre for Doctoral Studies, and external bodies such as the UKRI, Research Centres and various funding providers.

The Senior Programmes Manager, Postgraduate Research will be responsible for operationalising studentship schemes and allocations, alongside developing plans and new initiatives in line with the faculty strategic and King’s Vision 2029 plans.

The post holder will also represent the faculty at college level committees and meetings, or task groups, ensuring that the faculty is operating in line with regulations, guidelines and best practice as well as managing and reporting on critical areas of activity such as student records.

Managing a small team (currently 3), the post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the workload and responsibilities are appropriately distributed amongst the team, that key deadlines and Service Level Agreements are met, and that the structure of the team meets the needs of the faculty and will be able to deliver the Postgraduate Research strategy.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

This is a full-time  post

Key responsibilities

• To work closely with the Faculty Vice-Dean Research, Faculty Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies, Centre for Doctoral Studies (CDS) and liaising with other stakeholders such as the Faculty Research Manager to develop and implement PGR policy in the faculty.
• Analysis and reporting of PGR recruitment and progression to inform strategy planning and decision making.
• Management of the faculty PGR team.
• To maintain an excellent awareness of PGR and HE policy landscape.
• To lead on the improvement of PGR management support provision, PGR administration and ways of working.
• To work proactively with the Associate Dean, CDS and Departmental management to manage PGR student recruitment across the Departments.
• To work closely with the Vice-Dean Research, Associate Dean, CDS and the Student Experience Manager to improve the student experience across the faculty.
• To provide professional services leadership for the development and implementation of any new doctoral training programmes within the faculty.
• To oversee the UKRI studentships (such as EPSRC DTP), ensuring that there is consistent practice across the Faculty and liaising closely with colleagues such as the Faculty Research Manager and Head of Faculty Operations.
• To manage the IoPPN faculty Studentships and any similar schemes in liaison with key stakeholders.  
• To develop and maintain policy and guidance and operational oversight for studentship schemes.
• To oversee and improvements being developed and implemented for admissions, induction, training and progression.
• To manage PGR student data and the associated data flows to ensure that all PGR data is effectively collated and stored and can be used by decision-makers, colleagues and the CDS, and to develop the use of the Power BI reporting tool.
• To either lead, or actively contribute to, PGR focused projects that are aligned with the faculty’s strategic plan, as required.
• To be an active member of the Doctoral Studies Committee and oversee the departmental Doctoral Sub Committees.
• To build and maintain effective relationships with academic and professional services staff across Departments, Faculty, and the College.
• To represent the faculty in institution-wide networks, contributing to the alignment of the Research & Researchers function across the university.
• To assist the Vice-Dean Research, Associate Dean (Doctoral Studies) and Faculty Research Manager as required.
• Demonstrate commitment to personal development through attending internal and external training opportunities.
• To undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. First degree, other appropriate qualifications, or relevant experience.
2. Substantial Postgraduate administrative experience.
3. Experience of direct line management, supervising or leading a team.
4. Excellent IT skills, particularly MS Office, SharePoint, Power BI and the SITS Student Records system.
5. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce concise written material and reports for a range of audiences.
6. Experience and confidence in handling multiple, complex workstreams – excellent analytical and numeracy skills.
7. Experience in leading and implementing change, including report writing, preferably in an academic environment.
8. Able to think strategically and to contribute to strategic direction.
9. Demonstrable experience of taking initiative to improve process.
10. A high level of accuracy and consistent attention to detail.
11. Excellent organisational and time management skills, including flexible approach to managing a constant and varied portfolio of requests; able to meet multiple fixed deadlines.
12. Ability to use initiative, work independently and demonstrate a proactive approach.
13. Effective, highly developed interpersonal skills at all levels, with both internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

1. Postgraduate level qualification.
2. Familiarity with HR processes and equal opportunities policy.
3. Experience in event management. 

Further information

The role is based on the Denmark Hill campus, with a hybrid working pattern requiring a minimum of 40% of time in the office.