The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute is named in honour of the scientist Alan Turing and its mission is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better.

The Turing and NATS have been working together since 2018, and so far have collaborated on a research project https://www.turing.ac.uk/research/research-projects/decision-making-under-uncertainty-air-traffic-control and on two Turing Data Study Group challenges. For more information about the impact of the collaboration so far please see https://www.turing.ac.uk/research/impact-stories/putting-ai-air-traffic-control

The collaboration is now embarking on a new programme of research, entitled Advancing Probabilistic Machine Learning to Deliver Safer, More Efficient, and Predictable Air Traffic Control led by Tim Dodwell (Turing AI Fellow at University of Exeter) with Evelina Gabasova (Turing Principal Research Data Scientist), Mark Girolami (Turing Programme Director for Data Centric Engineering programme), Richard Everson (Professor of Machine Learning at University of Exeter and Turing Fellow), Edmond Awad (Assistant Professor at University of Exeter), Adrian Weller (Turing Programme Director for the AI programme), and our partners at NATS including Richard Cannon (Research Lead).

The ambition of this partnership between NATS and The Alan Turing Institute is to develop the fundamental science to deliver the world's first AI system to control a section of airspace in live trials.

The collaborative research will take a hierarchical approach to air traffic control (ATC) by developing a digital twin alongside a multiagent machine-learning control system for UK airspace. Furthermore, the partnership will develop technical approaches to deploy trustworthy AI systems, considering how safety, explainability and ethics are embedded within our methods, so that we can deliver new tools which work in harmony with human air traffic controllers in a safety-critical environment.

Programme Management

The Alan Turing Institute has ten Programmes of scientific research in key areas of AI and data science, each led by a Programme Director. There are also a small number of significant programmes of activity which sit across several research Programmes.

This role sits within the Institute’s Programme Management directorate, which is responsible for the management and delivery of these programmes in support of the senior academic Programme Directors and Principal Investigators. The team oversees millions of pounds of data science and AI research, training and knowledge exchange programme initiatives in these programmes, ensuring they are managed to business requirements, specification, time and budget.

There are a number of Programme and Research Project Managers within the team, usually focussed on one research Programme or programme of activity, but who may provide programme and project management capabilities and support to other projects or activities from time to time as required. Programme managers and Research project managers are not permanently attached to programmes and may be moved to other research programmes in-line with business needs, and may have the opportunity to support other programmes, both ad-hoc or more formally. The postholder will be recruited initially into the role of Research Project Manager to focus on the Turing NATS Partnership.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Research Project Manager will coordinate and oversee a portfolio of research projects and workstreams within the Turng-NATS partnership programme of research. The post holder will work with the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigators (Co-Is), and the Programme Manager as well as postdoctoral researchers, research engineers and software engineers to ensure effective leadership and management of the research programme and coordinate each research project or workstream from concept to implementation; this will involve understanding and managing the resource requirements for each project, drawing up detailed financial plans, supporting further funding applications if required, agreeing on clear milestones for each project/workstream, ensuring that the deliverables are completed on schedule, as well as providing regular updates to the Institute’s leadership on the progress of each project and workstream.

The Research Project Manager will coordinate and support a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, research engineers, data scientists and others across a range of partners. These include the Turing, and the universities of Cambridge and Exeter, and of course with the partners at NATS. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating the organisation of project meetings, facilitating their delivery (including minuting), arranging events and workshops, and managing the relationship with funding agencies and partners. The Research Project Manager will also need to liaise closely with Institute research and operations staff, in London, at university and research centre partners, to perform their duties. Management of small projects in other areas may also be required, subject to business needs.

This role reports to the Programme Manager, Turing-NATS partnership.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Research project management and delivery

• Coordinate and oversee the delivery of research projects and workstreams. This will involve:
• Working with the research teams to outline the resource requirements for each project, to support them in applying for funding (if needed) or securing the resources, to agree on clear milestones for each project and workstream, and to ensure that the deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Working with the Turing’s finance team to draw up detailed financial plans and reports for each project/workstream, and with the Institute’s legal counsel to put the right contracts in place.
• Providing regular updates to the Institute’s leadership on the progress of projects/workstreams.
• Working alongside the communications team to disseminate outcomes.
• Coordinate the programme’s events, training, and knowledge exchange initiatives. This will involve:
• Working alongside researchers and the programme’s leadership to identify a suitable venue for each initiative, to shape the agenda, to create the guest list, to publicise the initiative, and to ensure that meeting minutes are taken and distributed.
• Maintain up-to-date records that enable effective monitoring, control and evaluation of the programme’s research initiatives.
• Produce regular reports on activity to external partners and funders.

Programme operations and resources management

• Perform resources planning and financial analysis for the programme. This will involve assisting in the preparation of the programme’s budget, anticipating future staffing and operational needs, identifying potential funding sources, as well as managing the programme’s office space and payment of expenses;
• Coordinate the delivery of strong programme governance. This will involve developing, writing, and editing reports and presentations for the Institute’s senior leaders, Board of Trustees, and funders, which outline the programme’s progress and initiatives; as well as project board agendas, papers and minutes.
• Working with the People team, organise the recruitment of additional programme researchers or administrative staff. This will involve supporting coordination of writing job advertisements, organising interview panels, and overseeing the onboarding process for new hires.
• Provide day-to-day support to the PI and research leadership for the programme.

Essential

• Degree or equivalent level of professional qualifications and/or experience
• Relevant experience in project management
• Strong project management and organisational skills: the ability to plan, execute, and keep on schedule numerous projects in an organised fashion;
• Budget management and financial processes
• Experience working closely with Finance team on budget planning, reporting, reconciliations
• The ability to form and maintain relationships with a wide range of people at all levels

Desirable

• Formal training in one or more project management processes (Scrum, Lean, Agile, Prince II, etc.) as well as familiarity with project management tools and software
• Experience in managing complex research projects involving internal and external partners
• Experience working with or in industry research projects
• Experience of contractual agreements for research (collaboration, funding etc.)
• Experience in facilitating research using sensitive health data, or other sensitive data
• An interest in data-driven research.
• Work with others to make collaborative decisions that may be operational or strategic and impact immediate team or work area only.

Please see the Job Description for the full breakdown of the Person Specification.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact them on 020 3862 3575, or email [email protected].

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 02 August 2021 at 23.59

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This full-time post is offered on a fixed-term basis until July 2026. This is also open to job share applications. The annual salary is £37,000-£40,000 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Reasonable adjustments to the interview process will be made for any candidates with a disability.

Please note all offers of employment are subject to obtaining and retaining the right to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.

Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from [email protected].