Description
Where can a Agile Project Manager directly improve the health of everyone, everywhere?
At UK Biobank, that’s where.
UK Biobank is helping to pioneer new pathways in health, believing that people have the right to live longer and more fulfilling lives.
We’re a team aiming to make a difference to millions of people on this planet - and an employer who cares passionately about the diverse range of professionals who have come together to drive our incredible journey.
This role is pivotal to that journey.
This is an exciting opportunity to assist the curation of large-scale, complex datasets, for use by the worldwide research community. You will act as Agile Project Manager to two teams based in Manchester and Oxford.
The Agile Project Manager will work with Data Management team members (consisting of data analysts, bioinformaticians and team managers) to ensure the process of Agile Scrum is working well and appropriately tailored according to evolving requirements. The two teams have many projects/deliverables with multiple interdependencies, involving a wide range of scientific, engineering, communication, project management and other specialist stakeholders. You will function as a liaison between these teams to ensure that the processes for managing workstreams are efficient and accommodate the various skillsets and disciplines.
You will assist data management personnel who are acting as product owners to;
* Construct and maintain delivery plans
* Undertake forecasting for resourcing and scheduling
* Analyse and support continuous improvements to ways of working
* Lead specific workstreams including data delivery, policy and technical initiatives.
* Promote the adoption of Agile techniques across the organisation more broadly
* Support initiatives to deliver projects that involve the processing, curation and integration of data.
Can you do it?
The answer is “yes”, if you have a keen interest in developing your career within Data Management.
The key responsibilities are;
* Facilitate the definition, estimation, prioritisation, dependency management and forecasting of ongoing and new data management activities using Agile techniques
* Administer and configure Azure DevOps
* Manage team projects focussed on data management policies, technical initiatives, data processing procedures and system improvements inputting into larger change projects as required
* Have the ability to engage confidently and effectively with stakeholders of all levels of seniority and technical expertise
* Coach data management team members in Scrum best practice, facilitate meetings and ongoing process improvements and help to foster the concept of data deliverables as ‘products’
* Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to develop and maintain delivery plans, resourcing forecasts and produce reports to generate insights into ways of working and prioritisation
* Lead workshops with internal and/or external stakeholders to define and document requirements, processes and standards
* Create and manage documentation for policies, processes, data storage and ways of working
Working hours are 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with expected 2 days per week in the office (based in Cheadle, Stockport, until 2026 when we move to Manchester Science Park). You will be expected to travel to Oxford regularly (bi-weekly).
Is this 'you'?
Reporting to the Head of Data Management, you will have;
Essential Criteria
* Previous, demonstrable experience tailoring Scrum to support multiple workstreams and complex overlapping schedules and resourcing
* A degree in a scientific or numerate subject, or ability to demonstrate equivalent experience
* Accomplished or working towards a formal qualification in Agile Scrum
* Ability to manage multi-disciplinary, geographically separated teams in delivering complex data/technical projects (e.g. a team involving clinicians, scientists, software engineers, data analysts etc.)
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
* Excellent written and oral communication skills in English with the ability to adjust communication style to technical and non-technical audiences
* The ability to produce and present roadmaps, status reports, delivery plans and detailed documentation, utilising data outputs
* The ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at senior levels and resolve competing priorities or other issues with diplomacy and empathy
* High motivation with excellent attention to detail. Able to work on own initiative and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, to prioritise workload and work under pressure
* Advanced skills in project management software/techniques: Excel, Microsoft Project, Visio, Azure DevOps or Jira
Our passion for diversity and equity means creating a work environment for all employees that is welcoming, respectful, engaging, and enriched with opportunities for personal and professional development.
What's on offer
If that is ‘You’, find out more about an exceptional role that offers an outstanding rewards package.
* 26 days' annual leave (which increases with length of service) plus Bank Holidays
* Holiday buy scheme (buy up to 1 week of additional leave per year)
* A paid day off for your birthday (in addition to annual leave)
* Flexible (hybrid) working, including modern offices in Stockport (relocating to new office in Manchester Science Park in 2026)
* USS Pension Scheme which is a ‘hybrid’ defined benefit/defined contribution scheme
* Enhanced family leave (available from day 1 of employment)
* Cycle to work scheme
* Professional subscriptions reimbursement (where applicable)
* Free gym on site
* On site Canteen
* Subsidised lunches (£5.50 contribution per day when working on site) and refreshments
* Free car parking
* Employee discounts portal
* 20% Discount at EE
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Eye-care scheme
* Annual flu vaccination
* Life Assurance cover
#LI-Hybrid
The job advert closing date may change, so we recommend that if you are planning to apply that you do so without delay.
UK Biobank is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing in-depth genetic and health information from half a million UK participants.
The database, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in the world, is anonymised and made widely accessible by UK Biobank to global researchers who use it to find new scientific discoveries about common and life-threatening diseases – such as cancer, heart disease and stroke which strike in mid-later life.
UK Biobank is an innovative organisation with over 250 staff across four sites in the UK that fosters an engaging environment and supports the development of our staff. Our dedicated teams work alongside the world's leading biomedical scientists in our joint mission to improve public health.