We are recruiting for a Software Development Project Manager - Data Analytics Practice!

About Nesta

We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet. 

For over 20 years, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation. 

Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at nesta.org.uk.

About the Data Analytics Practice 

The post holder will work within our Data Analytics Practice(DAP) both on projects that benefit Nesta’s Missions as well as ensuring the smooth operation of our team. We use new data sources, data science and machine learning methods, and ways of presenting information, to inform research agendas and to develop interventions that will benefit society. 

The practice delivers projects across all parts of the data pipeline - such as developing scalable data collection, processing and machine learning systems, and data visualisation design to transform complex analytical outputs into actionable insights. The delivery of these projects will be supported by the whole Data Analytics Practice, which spans all of these disciplines, and they will look to you to support and coordinate their efforts. 

Nesta’s Data Analytics Practice is a methodologically diverse team that uses techniques including statistics, machine learning, natural language processing and network science, project & programme management & user research. Through their work you will be able to gain experience of these methods and develop your own expertise in support of your career goals and progression. 

The Role

In line with Nesta’s new strategy, the Data Analytics Practice (DAP) is moving away from our traditional research-focused projects, and engaging in an increased number of software and product development projects to contribute to our 3 missions. We are looking for a Software Development project manager to provide specialist expertise to help us kick start our new mission-aligned projects, and ensure that we adopt, develop and streamline best practices across the team. 

The Software Development Project Manager will be  instrumental in transforming the DAP’s ad-hoc ways of working into more long-term and robust approaches and processes. As such, part of this role will involve upskilling members of the DAP in the specific peculiarities of managing software development projects. Our goal is to manage and deliver projects using defined processes and controls, to ensure they are managed and delivered within time, budget and to the highest possible quality.

Key responsibilities 

The Software Development Project Manager will sit within the Programme and Operations Management sub-team within the Data Analytics Practice, and will report to the Senior Programme and Operations Manager. The role will involve close collaboration with the Data engineering, Data Visualisation & Product Development subteams. 

The key responsibilities of the role will include:

Project management (80%)

• Manage the day-to-day details of new and existing projects including the plan, schedule, resources, task assignments, dependencies, scope, issues and risks

• Act as the point-person for stakeholder engagement, bridging communications between technical team members and external stakeholders, and fielding queries and requests

• Conduct user research to gather user needs and feedback, taking into account both practical and ethical considerations; collate findings and relay to the wider team,  in order to feed into the product development life cycle

• Facilitate project meetings focused on status reporting, problem resolution, feedback, fostering open communication within the team on project planning, and execution

• Identify and address blockers to our projects, working with other sub-teams to resolve them and ensuring project timelines are achieved

• Coordinate and monitor activities related to requirements gathering, design, development, testing and deployment of the software

• Review and improve on existing practices, from requirements gathering to delivery and post-release care

Programme management & developing best practice (20%)

• Work closely with the Data Analytics practice and other teams and stakeholders to establish best practice for technical Project Management across Nesta

• Assist with resource allocation and long term planning for technical projects 

• Support with streamlining project documentation across the DAP

The Person

We are looking for someone who: 

• Has knowledge in managing complex projects, and a solid appreciation of software development projects in particular

• Is pragmatic and decisive; can get the job done whilst  weighing up risks and benefits

• Is equipped with strong communication skills and the ability to relate to a range of people, including data scientists and engineers, developers, testers and non-technical stakeholders

• Is excited to work with a diverse team to find the best approach to developing and delivering products and software 

• Has an open-mind, a creative outlook and a collaborative approach to problem-solving

• Is comfortable taking initiative, and working in a diverse, complex and changing environment 

• Is patient and open to working with people who are unfamiliar with best practices in this field 

Desirable technical knowledge

• Familiarity with Github

• Knowledge of Agile project management and the product development cycle

• An understanding of user testing (what it is and why you need it) and quality assurance

• Some knowledge of coding and programming languages

What we offer

Salary: £42k plus array of benefits, including health cash plans, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more  

Location: Nesta has a hybrid work policy, with our default working pattern for most employees being two days per week in their base office.

Term: 6 months

Hours: This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do. 

Reports to: Senior Operations and Programme Manager, Data Analytics

Making an application 

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8:00am on the 8th of November 2021.

Interviews will take place w/c 15th of November 2021.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.