Internal Redeployment Only - Centre Manager presso Cardiff University

Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment.

Internal Redeployment Only - Centre Manager
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

We are seeking a highly motivated and strategic Centre Manager to lead the operations and development of the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) at Cardiff University.

The National Centre for Mental Health brings together world-leading researchers from Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor Universities to learn more about the triggers and causes of mental health problems.

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for managing the Centre’s professional services, supporting strategic planning, and ensuring the successful delivery of research, engagement and innovation activities. You will work closely with the Centre Director, Workstream Leads, and stakeholders across academia, healthcare and industry to drive forward the Centre’s objectives and support sustainability.

We’d like to hear from you if you have substantial experience in project/resource management, ideally in a research environment. Proven competence in financial management is essential, as are excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.

This post is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus.

The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter. How we will support you in performing in this role –

There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see ‘Essential Criteria’), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you:

1. Regular one-to-ones with your manager
2. An experienced and supportive team around you
3. Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require
4. A mentoring scheme

For informal enquiries please contact Helen Richards, Divisional Manager on [email protected] , or Jon Bisson, Clinical Chair in Psychiatry on [email protected]

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 1 September 2025 and fixed term until 31 March 2028.

Salary: £51,753 - £56,535 per annum (Grade 7).
Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Closing date: Monday, 15 September 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Purpose

Lead and manage the National Centre for Mental Health, providing strategic direction, professional advice, and operational oversight.

Duties and Responsibilities

Line Management

• Manage performance, induction and development of the Centre staff, as required 

• Support and guide team members in working culture, environment, and staff welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas as appropriate.

• Ensure the delivery of the Centre’s commitments, adapting these according to changes in workload and collaboration requirements.

Project Management

• Support the Centre Director and Workstream Leads in developing and delivering the Centre’s strategy, developing new research projects and funding with a view to enhancing the sustainability of the Centre.

• Manage and lead the Centre’s professional services team and all professional support functions within the Centre, ensuring the Centre’s academic community and external stakeholders are supported in their contribution to the University and College Strategic plans. This will involve

planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required to ensure objectives are communicated and understood.

• Project manage the development of funding opportunities from both internal and external funding sources preparing documentation for grant applications and liaising with funding bodies and associated internal teams.

• As a member of the Centre’s Senior Management team, contribute to the long-term strategic planning and management of the Centre, interpreting the Centre strategy into work priorities and setting the standards for the Centre.

• Manage and maintain the Centre’s planning and management processes, ensuring accurate delivery of day to day finances providing advice and guidance to colleagues on financial procedures and compliance.

• Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports as appropriate.

• Take responsibility for regularly assessing progress against outputs and targets, analysing and reporting on Centre spending, activities and outputs to the Management Team, Funders, and External Advisory Group, including financial reporting, progress reporting (quarterly) and public facing stakeholder annual report.

• Contribute to the development of Centre and related school initiatives at Divisional, School, University, national and international level, including engagement, education and research impact

Working with others

• Work effectively with senior staff in all areas of Cardiff University, as well as with Health and Care Research Wales and other external stakeholders and funding bodies.

• Facilitate collaborations with businesses and organisations external to the University, to support Centre translational research initiatives, development of educational activities and Public Involvement and Engagement and innovation remit of the Centre.

• Undertake the training of others in areas relating to the Centre’s work.

• Establish working relationships with key contacts to help improve service levels, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.

• Oversee the Centre public facing communications in conjunction with the communications officer

Personal Development

• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate and will enhance performance.

**Job Description continues in 'Additional Information' Section**

**Continuation of the Job Description**

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.

• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other, as well as with funder requirements.

• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to you application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance, 20476BR

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

1. Degree level/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

2. Substantial experience of managing a section consisting of one or more teams.

3. Ability to set up office systems and procedures.

4. Experience of contributing to budget planning and managing a defined budget, which should include forecasting, reconciliation and reporting.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

5. Ability to communicate detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.

6. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure delivery of a quality service.

7. Ability to develop and maintain internal and external networks to support strategic outcomes and sustainability, including supporting effective engagement with funders, academic staff and researchers and a range of third-party stakeholders.

8. Experience of managing several teams, including matrix management, balancing multiple objectives and priorities, and dealing with performance and welfare issues with experience in conflict management.

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

9. Evidence of ability to plan the work of a section over year plus time scales, reacting to changes in workload and strategic direction.

10. Ability to contribute to decision making as part of a team and the confidence to take considered, independent decisions.

Desirable Criteria

1. Postgraduate/Professional qualification.

2. Experience of working in research management or a Higher Education environment with in-depth understanding of planning, coordination, conduct and translation of research at a Senior Level.

3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

4. Proven experience in dealing independently with diverse and challenging problems, including researching issues and creating new solutions where no prior precedent exists.