Project Development and Delivery Manager (Job Number: 25000763)
Research and Innovation Services
Grade 7: - £38,784 - £46,049 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contract Duration: n/a
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Hybrid working arrangements available with a mix of on site (minimum 2 days) and home based working
Closing Date: 10-Sep-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY MANAGER (COMMERCIALISATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS TEAM)

The Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development.
This role sits within the Commercialisation, Economic Development and Policy (CEDP) function within RIS focusing on providing a comprehensive support service and efficient structuring, pricing, governance and administration across a comprehensive range of key University Commercialisation and Economic Development Projects. The post holder will report to the Senior Manager of Economic Development (who sits within the CEDP team).

The role requires high levels of expertise and understanding of the structuring, governance, financial management and administration of large-scale multi-partner economic development and commercialisation projects covering for example:

• Submission of Project Claims to a high-quality standard.
• Completion the revision and re-profiling of project budgets, managing both capital and revenue expenditure from diverse funding sources with varying eligibility criteria and regulations.
• Acting as the primary interface with administrative offices of external funders, offering high-level support for financial and output claim queries.
• Providing an effective service to projects, managing changes, re-profiles, extensions, and financial adjustments. Offer briefing and recommendations to Case Officers and project personnel.
• Acting as the main contact point for ongoing delivery and performance queries, liaising with key funding agency personnel. Administer contractual changes and proactively identify potential issues, recommending contingency plans to prevent financial losses and reputational damage.
• Conducting due diligence on project-related information, staying updated on financial regulations and compliance requirements. Provide advice and guidance on the interpretation of funding agency criteria, including national Treasury, UKRI, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and devolved government authorities.
• Coordinating and overseeing inspections from funding agencies, ensuring audits are arranged and conducted in line with contract terms and conditions, in collaboration with specialized teams.
• Overseeing the compliant delivery of funder audits and checks, both pre-visit and ensuring that recommendations are appropriately actioned post-visit.
• Coordinating and ensuring effective servicing of relevant project meetings, including the preparation of agendas, papers, minutes, and follow-up actions.
• Co-ordinating and supporting programme management and governance structures and providing oversight of administrative support.
• Provide effective support on developing new bids for funding.

The base location for this role is our exciting new professional services hub based at Boldon House. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working.
We are currently working to a hybrid working model, with a minimum of 2 days per week onsite.
Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DEMONSTRATE WHEN YOU APPLY/PERSON SPECIFICATION

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.
Your application should cover the following criteria:

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

2. Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of the structuring, governance, financial management and administration of large-scale multi-partner economic development and commercialisation projects including:

• Submission of project claims to a high-quality standard.
• Completion the revision and re-profiling of project budgets, managing both capital and revenue expenditure from diverse funding sources with varying eligibility criteria and regulations.
• Acting as the primary interface with administrative offices of external funders, offering high-level support for financial and output claim queries.
• Providing an effective service to projects, managing changes, re-profiles, extensions, and financial adjustments. Offer briefing and recommendations to Case Officers and project personnel.
• Acting as the main contact point for ongoing delivery and performance queries, liaising with key funding agency personnel. Administer contractual changes and proactively identify potential issues, recommending contingency plans to prevent financial losses and reputational damage.
• Conducting due diligence on project-related information, staying updated on financial regulations and compliance requirements. Provide advice and guidance on the interpretation of funding agency criteria, including national Treasury, UKRI, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and devolved government authorities.
• Coordinating and overseeing inspections from funding agencies, ensuring audits are arranged and conducted in line with contract terms and conditions, in collaboration with specialised teams.
• Overseeing the compliant delivery of funder audits and checks, both pre-visit and ensuring that recommendations are appropriately actioned post-visit.
• Coordinating and ensuring effective servicing of relevant project meetings, including the preparation of agendas, papers, minutes, and follow-up actions.
• Co-ordinating and supporting programme management and governance structures and providing oversight of administrative support.
• Provide effective support on developing new bids for funding.

1. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements.
2. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
3. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/KNOWLEDGE

1. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.
3. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
4. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
5. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

The role requires high levels of expertise and understanding of the structuring, governance, financial management and administration of large-scale multi-partner economic development and commercialisation projects covering for example:

• Submission of Project Claims to a high-quality standard.
• Completion the revision and re-profiling of project budgets, managing both capital and revenue expenditure from diverse funding sources with varying eligibility criteria and regulations.
• Acting as the primary interface with administrative offices of external funders, offering high-level support for financial and output claim queries.
• Providing an effective service to projects, managing changes, re-profiles, extensions, and financial adjustments. Offer briefing and recommendations to Case Officers and project personnel.
• Acting as the main contact point for ongoing delivery and performance queries, liaising with key funding agency personnel. Administer contractual changes and proactively identify potential issues, recommending contingency plans to prevent financial losses and reputational damage.
• Conducting due diligence on project-related information, staying updated on financial regulations and compliance requirements. Provide advice and guidance on the interpretation of funding agency criteria, including national Treasury, UKRI, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and devolved government authorities.
• Coordinating and overseeing inspections from funding agencies, ensuring audits are arranged and conducted in line with contract terms and conditions, in collaboration with specialized teams.
• Overseeing the compliant delivery of funder audits and checks, both pre-visit and ensuring that recommendations are appropriately actioned post-visit.
• Coordinating and ensuring effective servicing of relevant project meetings, including the preparation of agendas, papers, minutes, and follow-up actions.
• Co-ordinating and supporting programme management and governance structures and providing oversight of administrative support.
• Provide effective support on developing new bids for funding