Director of Portfolio - Research Enablement

2 Days Old

Role: Director of Portfolio - Research EnablementCompany: University of ManchesterLocation: Manchester City Centre, Hybrid WorkingSalary: Up to £110,000 plus USS Pension This is a critical portfolio and change leadership role that will coordinate and optimise the delivery of research-facing change across the University in alignment with the Manchester 2035 strategic vision. As a senior leader within Research and Business Engagement, and a key partner to the Strategic Change Office and the Research Infrastructure Strategy Group (RISG), you will lead the strategic coordination, integration, and optimisation of the University’s research infrastructure—spanning physical, digital, and human assets. This will include shaping key aspects of governance, delivery operating models and project standards. You will develop a coherent, structured approach to prioritisation and build a delivery capability that accelerates outcomes for Manchester’s researchers, improves consistency and transparency of change output and integrates research-facing capabilities with enterprise-wide technology and change. The University of Manchester is one of the world’s most influential universities, renowned for world-class research, innovation and social impact. Home to 26 Nobel Prize winners and breakthroughs from the modern computer to graphene, the University ranks highly both in the UK and globally and serves a diverse community of researchers, students and professional staff. The Role
You will lead the consistent, repeatable and efficient delivery of research-facing change across a broad and diverse range of enabling services. Working in partnership with an executive team comprising academic and technical experts, you will establish a shared delivery framework, common governance and a clear prioritisation mechanism for how, and why, we deliver change to Manchester’s research population. You will play a key role in the creation and marshalling of demand and be a credible figurehead for research change at Manchester. You will proactively engage across our diverse and complex stakeholder community to build positive peer-to-peer relationships, both in research and across the wider University landscape at all levels. You will lead the proactive management of resources within the RISG portfolio. You will create a high-performing, professional, blended team of matrix resource drawing on specialist research technology or research administration professionals but also calling on the University’s deep pool of enterprise change professionals as needed. You will also establish a structured framework for research change, whilst also recognising the unique and specialised nature of research environments.
The Candidate
A proven portfolio, programme or change leader, with a background in a research-driven sector, you will have demonstrable experience delivering complex, multi-stakeholder programmes of technology-enabled business change. Energetic, pro-active and politically astute yet possessing the gravitas and intellectual horsepower to engage, credibly, with a diverse and challenging academic research and professional services stakeholder group. You will bring clear experience demonstrating the value of crafting structured and prioritised portfolios of business change aligned with organisational objectives. Outcomes-driven and focused, you will be an inspiring leader with the ability to help teams improve, adopt structure and best practice in project methodology, without becoming dogmatic. You will have a track record of working across boundaries and enthusing traditional project delivery teams. You should also have experience balancing a clear vision for change with flexibility, coupled with a laser focus on delivering measurable benefits for researchers.
To explore this opportunity, please click this link: www.berwickpartners.co.uk/95574 or contact Alex Richardson on 07736 378614 or via alex.richardson@berwickpartners.co.uk for a confidential discussion about this compelling opportunity. Closing date: 3rd May 2026 – Midnight #J-18808-Ljbffr
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Location:
Manchester
Job Type:
FullTime

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