POSITION DETAILS

College of Social Sciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906
Grade: 6
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 20th August 2025
Interviews scheduled: 9th September 2025

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated relevant work experience, showing progression and development, along with transferable skills and the ability to perform effectively at this level.
• Strong understanding of programme administration within a higher education context.
• Proven line-management or substantial supervisory experience, or strong examples of effective leadership in practice.
• Experience delivering responsive, customer-focused support, advice, and guidance in a professional environment.
• High-level IT proficiency, especially in spreadsheet and database management, with experience developing and implementing advanced monitoring and reporting systems.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a methodical approach to work, with proven ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and solve problems efficiently.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational, negotiation, and multitasking skills, enabling effective engagement with a wide range of academic, industrial, and external partners.
• Extensive experience in communicating and collaborating confidently across all staff levels, with a track record of setting and maintaining high service standards and conveying expectations clearly.
• Highly organised personally, with strong team management skills and the ability to prioritise workloads for yourself and others to ensure deadlines are consistently met.
• Outstanding attention to detail, discretion, and the ability to work with sensitive information using sound judgement and confidentiality.
• Ability to adapt to and manage change in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, including navigating evolving university processes and making them understandable for team members.

CORE COMPETENCIES/TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

ROLE SUMMARY

The College of Social Sciences is seeking a confident, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have experience in line management or demonstrate strong supervisory and leadership capabilities. A commitment to continuous improvement and a proactive approach to embedding innovative practices are essential.
The post holder will play a key role in managing the administration of postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and postgraduate research programmes within the College. They will be responsible for delivering a high-quality, efficient, and student-centred administrative service that supports the College’s academic mission and enhances the PGR student experience.
Working closely with the College PGR Manager—and acting as their deputy when required—the post holder will support both strategic planning and operational delivery. They will collaborate with School PGR Directors, academic staff, and Professional Services colleagues within the College and across the wider University.
A core responsibility of the role is the direct line management of the PGR administration team. The post holder will provide day-to-day management, guidance, and mentorship, setting clear expectations and supporting staff development through feedback, training, and performance reviews. They will foster a positive, inclusive, and service-focused team culture, empowering staff to deliver an outstanding student experience.

MAIN DUTIES

• Manage, maintain, and oversee the day-to-day operations of postgraduate research related activity in accordance with University/ Regulatory Body regulations/Codes of Practice across the academic cycle.
• Work closely with key members of academic and professional services staff to provide an effective administrative service in response to changing needs and priorities; advising ket stakeholders and colleagues on matters relating to postgraduate research administration.
• Administration of College scholarships including the accurate entry of College scholarship payments into the University Funding Administration System.
• Maintain a focus on the quality of the postgraduate research student experience, including operational delivery of induction, training and PGR development activities under the direction of the College PGR Manager and College Director of Postgraduate Research.
• The post holder will help with identifying opportunities for student engagement and contribute to the delivery and implementation of action plans to respond to those opportunities, working in collaboration with relevant student experience staff in the College and across the University.
• Maintain effective communications with supervisors and postgraduate researchers, including the development of appropriate materials to support postgraduate researchers such as online resources.
• Ensure accuracy and establish sufficient quality control/data checking methodologies.
• Support the development of plans within the College and, at times, within the University, e.g. as a member of University working groups or committees as and when required either as Secretary or as your area’s representative.
• Prepare and deliver management and institutional reporting within set deadlines analysing and interpreting complex data sets where required.
• Acting as a point of contact for prospective and current postgraduate researchers, troubleshooting and problem solving for any general issues that arise, escalating as necessary to the relevant section or colleague. This may involve interacting with colleagues across the University who are involved in supporting the postgraduate research student journey, in Admissions, Registry, and Student Services.
• Act as a key contact and link between Schools, the College and University, ensuring that the appropriate academic and professional services staff are kept fully informed regarding changes and updates in practice and policy.
• Proactively engage with/contribute to process improvement and the development of service delivery capability.
• Manage and support postgraduate research related projects.
• Promote equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the grade.

ROLE CONTEXT

Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. You will either use specialist knowledge or have more of a planning/co-ordination/project role or a role which is supervisory in nature where you may manage a team doing similar kinds of work. You will have the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative which you will use to resolve queries; you will use your judgement to deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, all with limited guidance/supervision.