SME Project Manager

Status: Permanent

Remuneration: £50k - £65k plus benefits dependent on experience

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Job Overview

The purpose of the role is to deliver the business support programme, providing advice and support to enable individual Black Country SMEs to pursue market opportunities, conducting research and developing new products for Very Light Rail and last mile mobility.

The Company

Located in Dudley in the West Midlands, a new purpose-built Innovation Centre for rail and last mile passenger transport, is planned to open for business in the summer of 2021. The facility will include an engineering hall, laboratories and outdoor test tracks for rail and light rail vehicles. The Centre will operate via a Hub and Spoke model with University partners.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Work with SMEs to help them adapt existing technology, or develop and adopt new technology, to exploit emerging opportunities for Very Light Rail and last mile mobility.
• Initiating, building and maintaining relationships with appropriate SMEs within the Black Country and with project partners.
• Provide SMEs with advisory and support services and introductions to academic partners and industry able to assist the SMEs with expert research and new product introduction.
• Coordinate technical activities of project partners to ensure alignment of timing and technical solutions and costs, resulting in achievement of objectives and targets.
• Take responsibility for project deliverables and timing execution.
• Monitor and evaluate project progress, helping ensure client and BCIMO targets are met.
• Work as part of a team on preparation of funding applications and budget tracking on complex projects
• Collation and assimilation of data to enable strategic and operational planning and reporting.

Preferred Background, Experience & Qualifications

• Degree level education in an appropriate subject.
• Demonstrable experience in managing research and new product introduction projects
• Excellent selling skills including negotiation, influencing and communicating
• The ability to identify and engage with SME clients from the Black Country.
• Ability to translate strategy into practical tasks.
• Experience building strong long-term relationships with partners and collaborators.
• Experience in working with data for planning and reporting.
• Communication at all levels including industry, government and academic institutions.
• Ability to disseminate research outputs through presentation and training materials.
• High level verbal and numerical reasoning ability.
• Able to maintain direction and work with a great deal of autonomy in a rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to use project management software.

Please click the ‘Apply’ button to submit your application.