About PRISMs

The term "PRISM" (Professional Research Investment and Strategy Manager) describes someone within the university or similar environments who is predominantly working to enable the delivery and growth of large research investments. PRISMs have a diverse range of positions and responsibilities and the term captures the role breadth and distinguishes them from the established roles of “Research Managers / Research Development Managers” who are often pre-award focused, and “Project Managers” who can be working to a clearly defined brief and focused on deliverables.

The members of the UK PRISM network reported a wide range of different job titles, such as programme manager, network manager, centre manager (doctoral training centre / research centre), project manager, hub manager, institute manager, business manager, collaboration manager, knowledge exchange manager, and scientific manager.

Some PRISMs are also active researchers who undertake research enabling activities as part of their role.  PRISM roles therefore span a large spectrum of expertise and experience with a broad range of job requirements, and can be grouped mainly as

• PRISM roles which require research expertise and an academic background;
• PRISM roles which require purely administrative, project management and operational skills.

What do PRISMs do?

In a research and innovation landscape which is always becoming more interdisciplinary and collaborative, PRISM roles play a crucial part in the success of research teams. The PRISM remit spans a range of areas, including:

• external relationships
• community management,
• specialist scientific/technical expertise
• business development
• project/finance/event/people/space management
• PhD student training
• pastoral duties
• marketing
• outreach/public engagement.

PRISMs have a breadth of skills and experience, which enables them to navigate and build the varied communities within the research ecosystems they manage and lead, in tandem with their academic counterparts. PRISMs work across a range of specialist teams within their organisations, as well as the academic environments they are embedded in. They manoeuvre between a wide range of stakeholder groups and their respective work cultures and pressures.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• managing resources and ensuring timely delivery of objectives,
• identifying ways to improve productivity and efficiency and reducing delays,
• ensuring programme operations comply with internal control policies and legal requirements,
• supervising and coordinating activities of the parties involved in the programme,
• resolving issues internally and externally,
• compiling and writing progress reports and giving presentations to internal and external stakeholders,
• creating new initiatives according to the strategic objectives of the research team.

PRISMs effectively bring together day-to-day operations, project work, and strategic growth activities for a research investment. The PRISM role, if developed and supported effectively, can add significant value to research and training investments, expanding them, and identifying and delivering new opportunities for researchers and institutions.

PRISMs require, among other characteristics, high levels of analytical and strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, resilience, communication skills, as well as recognised leadership traits such as empathy and persuasiveness to enable successful research communities. Breadth of knowledge, experience, and skills, alongside the ability to form strong networks bringing together all relevant expertise for a successful research team, are key to these roles.

PRISM roles have significant growth potential, are dynamic and evolve with the success and needs of their research team. However, there are no development frameworks and pathways for progression and the majority of the highly skilled and experienced managers are employed on contracts subject to external funding. 

About the PRISM Network

The UK PRISM network community consists of 1000 members from ~90 institutions. The majority of PRISM network members identify as female (93%). 57% have caring responsibilities. 70% are highly educated (43% PhD, 27% MSc), and have a significant amount of work experience (90% > 11 years). However, 52% of the highly educated and experienced PRISM community members are employed on fixed term contracts.

The UK PRISM Network was founded by Dr Anja Roeding in April 2020 to address three interlinked key challenges around PRISM roles:

1. Career progression & Professional development
2. Recruitment & Job security
3. Recognition & Belonging

As of 1 January 2023, the Network is led by Dr Isabella von Holstein.