Cambridge University: Faculty of Architecture and History of Art: Research Coordinator

Part-time: Around 18.25 hours per week (exact hours to be agreed with the successful candidate)
Salary: £22,332-£25,135 per annum pro rata * (Cost of living increase due in October 2008)
Vacancy reference no: GC03946
* Limit of tenure: 3 years
FURTHER PARTICULARS
Background: The Faculty
The Faculty consists of two teaching Departments, Architecture and History of Art, based at 1-5 Scroope Terrace. The Faculty has an overall establishment of 22 University Teaching Officers, plus 20-30 visiting lecturers and studio teachers, and around 10-15 members of contract research staff at any given time. There are around 240 undergraduate students and some 60 postgraduate students, plus 24 part-time MSt. students. There are around 20 members of non-teaching support staff, including a Workshop Supervisor, a Computer Officer, a Photographic Technician, a Slide Curator, library and custodial staff, as well as clerical and secretarial staff.
The project
The role is part of a new four year research project within the Department of Architecture. The project has £3.8m of EPSRC research funding and includes six university partners led by the University of Cambridge, plus several non academic partners and collaboration with similar overseas projects. There will be approximately five researchers working on the project in the Department of Architecture and approximately 10 researchers at the other universities as well as the academic Co-Investigators. It will research how an integrated spatial planning and design for buildings, energy, transport, water, and waste could reduce environmental impacts. For further information see: www.regionalvisions.ac.uk
Role Purpose
The role of the Research Coordinator is to assist the Project Manager. The Research Coordinator is to take on as much responsibility as possible for the day to day operational aspects of the project. Dr Hargreaves, the Project Manager, has only 20% of his time allocated to project management and the rest is allocated to the research and supervision of research staff. He will provide advice to the Research Coordinator in a supervisory capacity and will take responsibility for the decisions that would result in changes to the project collaboration agreement, funding split and, or programme of work. However, it is expected that the Research Coordinator will take on responsibility for the day to day project administration, organisation and communications. This will include organising events, monitoring progress, record keeping, updating the website, producing newsletters, editing research documents, oversight of data acquisition and financial management. The Research Coordinator is required to take a proactive role in encouraging and reminding partners to deliver on project actions and research outputs to the agreed programme. This needs an ability to understand the relative importance of different tasks and how to prioritise when resources are limited as well as good interpersonal skills to maintain good long term working relationships. The Research Coordinator will also need to take the initiative on sourcing and acquiring reports and data from non-academic organisations such as government agencies, utility companies, consultancies and overseas collaborating projects.
Dimensions of the Role (see organisational structure chart below)
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The Research Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination and administrative tasks that the EPSRC funding agency would expect to be carried out as a directly incurred cost for research project coordination. Other administrative tasks that are required by the university and covered by funding for overheads (directly allocated or indirect costs) can be delegated to the Department Administration.
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The project Research Coordinator will be able to delegate some of the research related tasks, such as data collection and report preparation, to a Research Assistant, and 20% of the Research Assistant’s time will be available to assist the Project Coordinator.
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The project Research Coordinator will be able to delegate some of the Research Administration tasks to the Martin Centre* Research Administrator. Up to 13% of the Department Research Administrator’s time is available to carry out directly incurred research administration for the ReVISIONS project.
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The project Research Coordinator will be able to delegate some of the clerical support tasks to the Martin Centre Research Secretary. Up to 6% of the Research Secretary’s time is available to carry out directly incurred clerical support for the ReVISIONS project.
* (Note: the Martin Centre is the name given to the research section of the Department of Architecture.)
Organisational structure within Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge relevant to the ReVISIONS project
Faculty work Martin Centre work ReVISIONS project work
Principal Investigator
Project Manager/Researcher Co-Investigator
X
4 Research Associates
Research Secretary
Co-Investigator
Research Associate
Research Director
Research Administrator
Faculty Administration
Faculty Administrator
Research Assistant
X = ReVISIONS Research Coordinator
Key Duties and Responsibilities
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Day to day coordination of project and correspondence with partners
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Follow administrative procedures (or ensure that they are followed by others) for revisions to collaboration agreements, etc
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Monitoring progress of partners against programme of work and track action points. Raise concerns with Project Manager. Chase up action points from meetings. Take a proactive role in encouraging partners to deliver outputs to agreed timescales.
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Organising meetings, workshops and conferences and producing minutes
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Producing short/straightforward biannual financial statements. Checking invoices. Use Cambridge University Finance System for data entry (training given).
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Keeping and organising the project records and filing systems
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Editing and assisting with preparation of research documents. Proof reading, formatting, suggests and creates graphs, maps, figures. Amending documents for readability.
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Updating the website. Inputs on format, design and readability
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Oversight of data acquisition
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Producing newsletters, leaflets etc
Knowledge, Skills and Experience for the Role
A good general education to A level standard, preferably with a degree, at least three years of relevant work experience, good organisational, interpersonal, and team-working skills, with office computer experience and an aptitude to use databases and spreadsheets, (software training provided). A general interest in research and sustainability issues would be an advantage.
Terms and Conditions
Further information about the terms and conditions of work can be found on the University’s website at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/staff/handbook/
Information on employee benefits can be found at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/benefits/
The University of Cambridge is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to a pro-active and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and
values diversity. The University’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Codes of Practice can be found at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/policy/equal.html
How to Apply
Applications should consist of:
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A completed application form PD17 (Parts I and III only), including full contact details for two referees. Please note that we will assume that you are happy for us to approach your referees at any stage, unless you indicate otherwise in the space provided on the form. The post will require health screening at the appointment stage.
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A covering letter explaining the reason for your application and how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role.
These should be sent to the Dr Tony Hargreaves, Department of Architecture, 1-5 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge, CB2 1PX (email: ajh91@cam.ac.uk), to arrive no later than 19th September 2008. Emailed applications are acceptable, subject to receipt of a signed hard copy should you be shortlisted. Interviews will take place on early October 2008
Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Tony Hargreaves, email ajh91@cam.ac.uk, tel. 01223 760128