ERDF Projects Manager. Business Partnership Unit. Reference Number: R Closing date: 10 August Interview date: to be confirmed

Transcription

1 FURTHER PARTICULARS FOR THE ROLE ERDF Projects Manager Business Partnership Unit Reference Number: R Closing date: 10 August 2012 Interview date: to be confirmed Contents: Role description 1 Person specification 2 Outline terms and conditions of appointment 4 Further advice, equal opportunities statement and data protection 5

2 JOB DESCRIPTION ERDF Projects Manager Reports to: Director, Business Partnership Unit Job Purpose: The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is a complex programme of European funding aimed at promoting innovation, enterprise and business growth. The post holder is responsible for identifying bid opportunities and leading the development of projects and associated funding applications often of the value of 1m+. These applications are from across Aston University and can include multiple partners. In the past two years circa 10m has been committed from the ERDF fund to support Aston University projects. ERDF funds involve significant risk to the university as irregular use of the funds, failure to observe complex rules and reporting procedures, or a failure to deliver contracted outputs can lead to claw-back of funds already allocated and spent. In order to minimise risk, the post holder advises senior management and academics, and leads, on ERDF regulations and compliance, project management and reporting systems, and preparation for ERDF audits. Recent ERDF bids and projects at the University include Innovation Vouchers, Graduate Advantage, European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI), Biomarkers, Servitisation, Fibre Optics & Sensing Technologies, and the BSEEN graduate incubator. Main Activities and Responsibilities: 1. Advising senior academics and senior managers regarding the development of project ideas including assisting them to develop an economic justification for projects. 2. Working across the different schools of the University with the capability to understand complex academic concepts from any part of the University, and developing ways to apply these ideas in a practical way to achieve economic impact across the local business community. 3. Leading the preparation of ERDF funding bids including developing project ideas fully in compliance with ERDF regulations. 4. Advising on risk management associated with funding clawback for projects. This involves advising senior managers and academics regarding ERDF regulations and the best mechanisms for applying and verifying compliance with ERDF funding regulations. 5. Applying social science research methods in order to develop appropriate research methodologies and lead the development of evidence to support funding bids (e.g. undertaking demand research with potential beneficiaries and working with industry bodies to prove need for projects). ERDF Projects Manager 1

3 6. Being responsible for setting up ERDF project management systems so that administration arrangements can pass regional and national audit reviews. 7. Developing guidance material to support Project Managers including Project Handbooks that provide guidance relating to evidence collection needed to meet audit requirements. 8. Preparing training on the management of ERDF projects to ERDF delivery teams across the university. 9. Assisting projects that run into difficulties including working in an interim project management role if required and /or assisting project managers to resolve particular difficulties sometimes in a hands on manner. 10. Ensuring that all ERDF teams are kept up to date with changing ERDF regulations. 11. Leading a regular workshop for all ERDF project managers in order to share best practice, identify common problems and establish mechanisms for sharing resources. 12. Representing the university at ERDF related events and participation in networks run by the Communities and Local Government Department. 13. Identification of additional funding resources that may be accessed by the University and preparation of funding bids in response to these opportunities. ERDF Projects Manager 2

4 PERSON SPECIFICATION MOA = Method of Assessment Application Form (AF) Interview (I) Presentation (P) Education / Qualifications Experience Aptitudes and Skills ESSENTIAL Educated to degree level or equivalent Experience of bidding for, and setting up, ERDF funded projects Experience of ERDF monitoring, reporting and audit procedures Experience of State Aid regulations and procurement processes compliant with ERDF requirements Ability to write complex ERDF bids in a clear, wellstructured style compliant with ERDF requirements Ability to work with, and advise, colleagues across the University on ERDF bids and projects Ability to maintain strong relationships with the ERDF team at DCLG Ability to construct complex spending profiles and budgets for projects AF AF,I AF,I MOA Education / Qualifications Experience DESIRABLE Business qualification Experience of working with West Midlands ERDF team Experience of working with universities AF MOA ERDF Projects Manager 3

5 OUTLINE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE APPOINTMENT Term of appointment: Holiday entitlement: Pension: Performance related pay: Qualifications: Relocation: Medical examination: Eligibility to work in the UK: Document checks: The post is offered on a continuing basis. The appointment is Grade 9 and the salary range for this grade is 37,012-44,166 per annum (full time salary). 30 days in addition to up to 13 days per annum public and University holidays (pro rata for part time appointments). Eligible staff are offered a defined benefit pension with the Universities Superannuation Scheme. In addition to the basic salary, the University operates a PRP scheme. Awards are determined on an annual basis. Successful candidates will be required to produce evidence of their qualifications upon joining the University. Newly-appointed staff are required to establish their homes within reasonable daily travelling distance to and from the University. The University operates a relocation scheme to assist newly-appointed staff in meeting this requirement. Full details of the relocation scheme are included with offers of appointment. It is a condition of appointment that newly-appointed staff receive medical clearance from the University s Health Centre. Candidates who are not citizens of the United Kingdom, or of another EEA member country, should ensure that they meet the requirements of one of the 5 tiers of the immigration points based system. Candidates should check their eligibility to enter or remain in the UK in advance of making any job application using the points-based calculator on the UK Border & Immigration Agency (UKBA) website. If you do not meet the minimum points requirement, you will not be able to work in the UK and any application for employment would be unsuccessful. As a result of the implementation of sections 15 to 26 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality 2006 Act on 29 February 2008, the University requires all prospective and, in some cases, current employees, to provide documentation to verify their eligibility to work in the UK. Further information about these requirements can be found on the UK Border Agency website. Full details of the salary scales, terms and conditions of service and associated policies and procedures are available on the recruitment website. ERDF Projects Manager 4

6 FURTHER ADVICE Please contact Peter Shearer, Director of the Business Partnership Unit, for an informal discussion about the post. Tel: If you would like information on the progress of your application, or advice on any aspect of the appointment process generally, or the terms and conditions of service, please do not hesitate to contact: Claire Freeman HR Advisor +44 (0) Sarah Taylor HR Administrator +44 (0) EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT Aston University undertakes to promote equality and diversity within the University Community in all aspects of its work. Further, it aims to ensure through its admissions policies for students and its recruitment and selection processes for staff that it encourages applications from all groups represented in the wider community at a local, national and international level. The University will endeavour not to discriminate unfairly or illegally, directly or indirectly, against students or potential students, staff or potential staff. This commitment applies to all functions of the University and to any stage of an individual s career at Aston. For further details of policies and codes of practice on race, gender, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age see: An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is included with the application form. DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 Your application will only be used to inform the selection process, unless you are successful, in which case it will form the basis of your personal record with the University which may be stored in manual and/or electronic files. Information in statistical form on present and former employees is given to appropriate outside bodies. Data you provide on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be included in a general database, for statistical monitoring purposes enabling the University to monitor the effectiveness of its Policy, Code of Practice and Guidelines on Equal Opportunities in Employment. Individuals will not be identified by name. ERDF Projects Manager 5