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Project Coordinator (Drug Discovery)
Medicines Discovery Institute
Cardiff School of Biosciences

The Medicines Discovery Institute represents a major investment in translational science by Cardiff University. The goal of the Institute is to translate world-leading research on scientific understanding of disease mechanisms into innovative therapeutic approaches. Our vision is to play a leading role in discovering new medicines in areas of high unmet need, with a particular emphasis on, but not exclusive to, neuroscience and mental health. We have a vibrant community of researchers across both academic and biotech sectors engaged in major research programmes which build off the unique strengths of Cardiff University and work collaboratively with other universities and companies across Wales and internationally.

In addition to a number of drug discovery projects running at Cardiff University, funded principally by the Wellcome Trust and the MRC, we have an established drug discovery group who establish a pipeline of new projects. Our team translate exciting new discoveries in neuroscience, mental health and cancer into potential new medicines for onward development through both academic and commercial routes.

This role is to coordinate the smooth running of a major neuroscience drug discovery project that is entering the clinic (being administered in human) for the first time (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/2705517-clinical-trial-launches-for-new-schizophrenia-drug). You will be part of the MDI team working on this project and will be supported by the Project Manager.

You will have excellent organisation and administration skills, with experience of managing complex budgets. You will be experienced with coordinating scientific research involving partners both internal and external to the organisation and experience of working on projects across departments in academia, or in the pharma/biotech industry. Actively supporting continuous improvement within the Institute, you will help us to deliver high-quality collaborative research.

The post will be based at Cardiff University and will be part of a multi-disciplinary drug discovery team. For informal inquiries, please contact medicinesdiscovery@cardiff.ac.uk

This position is full-time, fixed term available from 1st September 2023 until 30th June 2024.

Secondment opportunity welcome - please note for Cardiff University members of staff interested in this post on a secondment basis, permission will need to be sought from your current Line Manager before applying.

Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum (Grade 6).

Date advert posted: Friday, 28 July 2023

Closing date: Friday, 11 August 2023

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Support the University within project coordination carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area

Key Duties

• Provide professional advice and guidance on project coordination processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood
• Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within project coordination where they fall within set role objectives
• Investigate and analysis specific issues within project coordination, creating recommendation reports
• Ensure that the provision of project coordination is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required
• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University, and externally, to achieve Medicine Discovery Institute objectives
• Plan and deliver specific small scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 1234BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1. Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2. Substantial experience of project coordination of complex scientific research projects involving partners both internal and external to the organisation
3. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within project coordination, especially budget management, to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers
4. Proven experience in developing new processes and procedures

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
5. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people
6. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered
7. Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
8. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions
9. Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams

Desirable Criteria

1. Postgraduate/Professional qualification in a neuroscience, bioscience, pharmacology, drug discovery, clinical trial or other relevant subject.
2. Postgraduate/Professional qualification in project management or other relevant subject.
3. Experience of working in a drug discovery or clinical trial environment.
4. Experience of research involving human participants, and an understanding of ethical and regulatory requirements relevant to human research
5. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
6. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

39,347

44,263

Management & Executive

Grade 6