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Part-Time Project Manager – KITAB-Transform

Department

Centre For Digital Humanities

Entity

Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations

Location

London, United Kingdom

Introduction

Help deliver an ambitious international research project exploring a thousand years of Arabic textual history.

KITAB-Transform is an European Reseach Council (ERC) Advanced Grant-funded research project exploring how medieval Arabic texts were copied, paraphrased, translated and transformed across a thousand years.

Combining cutting-edge computational methods with humanities scholarship, the project will also build an international community of researchers developing new ways to study and work with Arabic textual traditions.

We are looking for an organised, collaborative and highly capable Project Manager to work closely with the Principal Investigator and help keep this ambitious international project on course.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys bringing structure to complex projects, building strong relationships and making things happen.

Responsibilities

What you’ll do

Working closely with the Principal Investigator, you will be at the operational and coordinating heart of KITAB-Transform.

You will:

  • Keep the project on track, maintaining project plans, monitoring milestones and deliverables, coordinating the project meeting cycle and supporting ERC reporting requirements.
  • Coordinate our international network of collaborators and partners, maintaining effective relationships, keeping colleagues informed and supporting their engagement with the project.
  • Support the use of the project’s digital tools, helping collaborators get started with platforms such as eScriptorium and developing your own knowledge so that you can provide effective guidance.
  • Coordinate two edited volumes, managing contributor communications, deadlines and publication timelines, and liaising with editors and publishers.
  • Coordinate the project’s website content, ensuring information remains accurate, current and engaging.
  • Plan and deliver workshops and project events, including supporting the annual Arabic Pasts workshop and coordinating logistics, travel and participant arrangements.
  • Monitor project finances, maintaining an accurate overview of expenditure and commitments and preparing monthly financial information for the Principal Investigator.
  • Maintain effective project systems and records, ensuring actions, decisions, deadlines and key documentation are organised and accessible.
  • Anticipate issues and keep things moving, identifying risks, following up actions and helping the Principal Investigator and wider project team remain focused on priorities and deliverables.

Requirements

About you

You will be someone who enjoys creating order around an ambitious project and working with people across different disciplines, institutions and countries.

You will combine excellent organisation with strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable managing deadlines, coordinating multiple workstreams and keeping a close eye on detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.

You do not need to be an expert in all of the project’s digital tools when you join us. What matters is that you are curious, confident learning new systems and willing to develop your knowledge of digital humanities tools and methods.

Essential

You will bring:

  • Experience of successfully coordinating or managing projects, programmes or other complex activities.
  • Excellent organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and experience of building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Confidence working with budgets, financial information and spreadsheets.
  • Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate project records.
  • Confidence using digital tools and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
  • A proactive and collaborative approach, with the judgement to identify issues, follow through on actions and keep work moving.
  • The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with the Principal Investigator and a geographically dispersed project team.

Desirable

It would be particularly useful if you have:

  • Experience in higher education, academic research, scholarly publishing, cultural heritage or another relevant environment.
  • Experience supporting externally funded research projects.
  • Experience coordinating academic publications, workshops, conferences or other events.
  • An interest in or experience of digital humanities, computational research or AI-assisted research methods.
  • Familiarity with digital research tools such as eScriptorium, or an interest in developing this expertise.
  • An interest in Arabic studies, Islamic history or related fields.
  • Experience working with international collaborators or multidisciplinary teams.

Why join us?


This is an opportunity to play an important role in an ambitious international research project and work alongside scholars exploring new approaches to the study of Arabic textual traditions.
The role offers considerable variety — from project planning and international collaboration to publications, workshops, digital tools and financial coordination.
Based at the Aga Khan Centre in King’s Cross, London, you will join an international academic environment while working with researchers and collaborators across institutions and countries.


We offer:
•    Annual leave, pro rata, plus UK bank holidays.
•    Hybrid working.
•    Learning and development opportunities.
•    Cycle to Work Scheme.
•    Relevant family, parental and other leave provisions.


The details


Hours: 0.5 FTE (2.5 days per week)
Contract: Fixed-term until December 2030
Expected start: September–October 2026
Location: Aga Khan Centre, King’s Cross, London
Salary: £40,000–£45,000 FTE per annum, depending on experience (£20,000–£22,500 per annum at 0.5 FTE)
Reports to: Principal Investigator
Closing date: 9 October 2026


Equality, diversity and inclusion


Aga Khan University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We value different perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Reasonable adjustments


We want our recruitment process to be accessible to all candidates. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the application or selection process, please contact a member of the HR team at ismc.personnel@aku.edu and we will be happy to discuss how we can support you.


Right to work in the UK


Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK as part of the appointment process.

 

To Apply

How to apply


Please submit your CV and a supporting statement explaining your interest in the role and demonstrating how your experience meets the essential criteria to a member of the HR team at ismc.personnel@aku.edu

 


Closing date: 9 October 2026.

Applications should be submitted latest by October 9, 2026