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SalaryScience and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £21,700 per annum rising annually
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Interview date: March 2024
Start date: September 2024
STFC has an exciting Associate Project Management Apprenticeship opportunity based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Didcot. The apprentice will support the delivery of projects in the unique environment of a deep underground science facility at the STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory. The role will involve hands-on management of projects that will be vital to the future development of the laboratory, while supporting engineers, scientists, and technicians to deliver world-leading scientific research. You will be part of a unique team who facilitate the delivery of technical projects in a facility 1.1km below the Earth’s surface. Working with experienced Project Management colleagues you will ensure that projects are delivered to time, quality, and budget.
About an Apprenticeship at STFC
With training and support from experts in their fields, you’ll be enthusiastic about developing your knowledge, skills and behaviours, working towards completing your apprenticeship, gaining appropriate qualifications whilst making a real difference in your role.
If working with innovative technologies on world-leading research isn’t enough, you will develop both professionally and as a critical member of the team in an environment you won’t find anywhere else.
Our dedicated Apprenticeship Team will support you every step of the way, helping you make the most of your opportunities and to achieve the goals you already have – and those you have yet to discover!
We provide an opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion. You’ll have access to additional core skills development, access to a community of apprentices across the site, annual Apprentice awards evenings, and potential opportunities for overseas placements.
STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, an outstanding index linked pension scheme, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours.
For a list of our full benefits, please visit here.
About the role and a summary of key duties & responsibilities
Main duties/responsibilities will include:
In this role you will be responsible for gaining an understanding and knowledge of projects undertaken within STFC with a particular focus on the development of a new underground laboratory. You will work with an experienced Project Management team to deliver against key project milestones. You will need to know what needs to be achieved, how it will be achieved, how long it will take and how much it will cost.
You will be supported to take the lead on a small project. To do this you will:
- Take the lead on the estimation, planning and delivery of the project.
- Identify the resource required.
- Define key activities, dependencies, and project milestones.
- Prepare a plan for the project.
- Track progress against agreed milestones
- Report on project progress
Alongside this, you will undertake professional development and training as part of a cohort of apprentices with Provek Training completing the Level 4 Associate Project Manager apprenticeship. The modules you will complete, combined with real-world projects and experience, will provide you with the knowledge and skills to perform in a Project Management role.
Sessions will be delivered online through workshops, small group study sessions and self-guided study. You will also be supported on a 1:1 basis throughout your apprenticeship by a dedicated Professional Coach.
During the first 13 months of your apprenticeship, you will study:
Modules:
- Organisation and Lifecycles
- Context, Communication, Leadership & Teamwork
- Business cases, Stakeholder management & Planning
- Scope management & scheduling
- Procurement & Risk and Issue management
- Quality management & revision
From month 14, you will be supported on a 1:1 basis to prepare you for your End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment will include the completion of a Workplace Project to enable you to demonstrate the required Knowledge, Behaviours and Skills required to pass.
Person specification (Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and any special requirements)
Key - (S) will be measured and shortlisting, (I) will be measured at interview, (S&I) is both.
We are looking for the following:
Essential:
- Achieved or predicted to achieve 2 GCSE passes at Grade C/4 or above including Maths, English (S)
- Level 3 qualifications* such as: (S)
- Excellent presentation and written communication skills (I)
- Excellent Organisational Skills (S&I)
- Excellent attention to detail (I)
- Ability to work as part of a team (S&I)
- Ability to work to deadlines with a set timeframe (S&I)
Desirable:
- Familiarity with Office Software (MS Word, MS Excel, OpenOffice etc.)
The role will involve occasional travel to Boulby Underground Laboratory near Whitby in the North-East for project meetings.
Important Information
- To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence of Level 3 qualifications (or equivalent) and Maths and English GCSE at grade 4/C or above.
- When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here
- The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe’s largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!
We will be in touch after the closing date however please reach out on apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org if you have any questions.
The next stage of the process will be an interview.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
