Priestley Centre for Climate Futures Manager

Would you like to be part of creating a diverse and dynamic research, innovation, knowledge exchange and education community focused on tackling the climate crisis? Are you looking to apply your office / programme management or business support experience to a new challenge? Do you thrive on working in an exciting and creative environment?

The University of Leeds has launched an ambitious vision and strategy for the next 10 years: to have a global impact through improving society and reducing inequality. One of the ways we will deliver this strategy is the development of ‘Futures Institutes’ as recognised centres of excellence for tackling global challenges. By combining research and innovation, knowledge exchange and education to deliver global impact, these Futures Institutes will serve two primary purposes: Firstly, to generate additional academic outcomes that could not be achieved by individual Faculties or Schools, through a focus on interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary collaborations; and secondly, to enhance the University’s impact and external standing in major global challenge areas.

Working with the leadership team of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, you will lead in the establishment of the Centre as a hub for creativity, partnership and impact on climate while developing a culture of transparency, equality, and mutual benefit, regionally, nationally and globally. As the Priestley Centre Manager, you will have responsibility for managing all of the day-to-day operations of the Centre. You will need to build effective relationships with academics and professional services colleagues across the University to support and remove barriers to inter-faculty research and innovation, and collaboration on postgraduate education. You will have specific responsibility for co-ordinating and managing budgets, setting up new processes, systems and governance structures, working with HR to support recruitment and managing the administration and reporting of the Centre and its activities. You will also play a key role in developing and maintaining partnerships and networks within the University and externally.

This exciting new role will suit a pro-active and highly adaptable individual with significant experience in business support, office management or programme management. You will have experience of building effective working relationships and managing people and processes across a complex organisation. You will have excellent communication and problem-solving skills with an ability to influence and negotiate with others effectively. You will establish new systems and structures to ensure the effective operational running of the Priestley Centre, and will develop, implement and evaluate key objectives which align to, and deliver, the Centre’s overall vision and strategy. This post offers an exciting opportunity to be part of expansion of the Priestley Centre and support world-leading academics in tackling the climate crisis.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Shona Smith, Research and Innovation Development Manager

Tel: (0)113 343 0563 Email: S.C.Smith@leeds.ac.uk