Research Planning and Operations Manager - Research Strategy and Services Grade 8

Position Details

Research Planning & Operations Manager – Research Strategy and Services

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

£47,389 to £56,535 (Grade
8). Potential progression to £63,606.

The Research Planning & Operations Manager is a key role within the Research Performance & Systems Innovation Team, providing senior operational leadership for  research planning activity, translating strategic direction into robust delivery, ensuring institutional research processes are coordinated, high quality, compliant, and delivered to schedule.

• Lead the University’s REF
  2029 submission under the strategic direction of the Assistant Director (Head of Research Planning & Systems Strategy).
• Develop and manage detailed  plans, timetables and risk registers, ensuring alignment across ‘Contribution to Knowledge & Understanding’, ‘Engagement & Impact’, and ‘Strategy, People & Research Environment’ (SPRE).
• Coordinate ‑related data collection, validation and assurance processes, working closely with College teams, research systems colleagues and data specialists.
• Act as a central operational point of contact for , providing clear guidance and practical support to Colleges, Schools and Institutes.
• Support the delivery of institutional and College‑level research planning rounds, ensuring alignment between , research strategy and performance planning processes.
• Produce high‑quality briefings, papers and reports to support decision‑making by senior academic and professional committees (e.g. , Senior Research Leadership Team).
• Work closely with Research Systems and Data colleagues to ensure  research planning requirements are effectively supported by institutional systems (e.g. Pure, Worktribe, Core Fusion).
• Support data quality, audit readiness and compliance in relation to  external reporting requirements.
• Build strong, trusted working relationships across the RSSD and with College‑based research teams, academic leads and Professional Services colleagues.
• Provide operational leadership to staff contributing to  planning activity, including matrix‑managed or project‑based contributors.
• Represent RSSD on operational working groups and communities of practice relating to , research planning and research environment activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, clarity and effectiveness of  research planning operations.
• Contribute to wider change programmes within RSSD, supporting the transition to a more integrated, data‑driven research planning model.
• Capture and embed lessons learned from  planning cycles to strengthen future delivery.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade, as required from time‑to‑time by the Assistant Director.

• Significant experience delivering complex, time‑critical operational processes within a research‑intensive or similarly complex organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of the Research Excellence Framework () or equivalent large‑scale assessment, planning or compliance exercises.
• Proven ability to manage multiple work streams, competing priorities and tight deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience coordinating stakeholders across organisational boundaries, including academic and professional services colleagues.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to work confidently with data, plans and detailed documentation.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to produce clear guidance and high‑quality papers for senior audiences.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of initiative, judgement and professionalism in a sensitive and high‑profile environment.

• Direct experience of  processes, Codes of Practice or ‑related data and systems.
• Experience of research planning, performance management or research environment activity in a UK higher education context.
• Familiarity with research information systems such as Pure, Worktribe or Core Fusion.
• Experience supporting or delivering change programmes or process improvement initiatives.

Full Time, Permanent, Grade
8. Closing date: 25th June 2026. Flexible working arrangements are available. Benefits include 40 days paid holiday, one paid day for volunteering, occupational sick pay, pension scheme and subsidised day nurseries.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and uphold the principles of inclusion. We hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations, and maintain a fair and inclusive workplace for all employees.

Informal enquiries:
Nathalie Maillard, email: