Job description
This role is essential to the smooth running of a research active School in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, supporting all research activity, and supporting academic staff in managing research through the full life cycle of their awards.
 
This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.
This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent.

Key responsibilities

• Provide research administrative advice and support to staff, working closely with the central university teams from application stage, grant set up and final reconciliation and reporting
• Work with colleagues to enhance application quality and financial sustainability
• Forge relationships with key partners and stakeholders including funding bodies
• Line manage operational members of staff
• Work with colleagues to develop and implement policies and processes that improve our research administration.
• Help academics receive more funding for their research by identifying opportunities and working with the Research Development team to coordinate the selection of proposals for funding calls, peer review and mock interviews
• Provide and analyse management information on the research portfolio.
• To assist the School Lead (Research & Impact) and the School Manager in coordinating the School’s response and contribution to the Research Excellence Framework and other formal assessments/reports
• Foster a stimulating, innovative and inclusive cultural environment across the School enabling students and staff to thrive and develop, actively supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives that promote equality in research and aim to address key points of attrition, particularly for staff and students with protected characteristics
• Participate in cross-Faculty and university projects and initiatives.
• To provide high level research administrative support and advice to academic and research staff in the School, working closely with the Research Management & Innovation Directorate from application stage, grant set up and final report and financial reconciliation
• To ensure the alignment of research proposals with the School’s and Faculty’s strategic objectives
• To work with colleagues from the Research Development team to enhance application quality and maximise income to the School, to optimise the School’s and Faculty’s performance and ongoing sustainability
• To work with colleagues based across the Faculty and university to develop policies and processes and to engage staff and students in the implementation of Faculty and university policy within the School
• To forge relationships with key partners and stakeholders including funding bodies
• To identify funding opportunities and promote these to School staff, providing advice on how to improve research grants and working with the Research Development team to coordinate the selection of proposals for funding calls, peer review and mock interviews
• To monitor and record research application success rates, research financial management and research outputs, alerting the School Executive to risks and opportunities as these arise
• To assist the School Lead (Research & Impact) and the School Manager in coordinating the School’s response and contribution to the Research Excellence Framework and other formal assessments/reports
• To encourage an environment of good research conduct
• To foster a stimulating, innovative and inclusive cultural environment across the School enabling students and staff to thrive and develop, actively supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives that promote equality in research and aim to address key points of attrition, particularly for staff and students with protected characteristics
• To participate in cross-Faculty and university projects and initiatives.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria 

1. Educated to degree level or relevant experience 
2. Proven commitment to ongoing skills development 
3. Good understanding of the UK and EU funding environment 
4. Highly numerate with proven financial management and analytical skills to underpin strategic financial strategic decisions and procedure  
5. Proven Professional Services skills gained within the Higher Education sector and a detailed knowledge the regulatory, policy and procedural context along with the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector 
6. Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills at all levels  
7. Demonstrable experience of financial planning and implementation, including preparing budget, financial profiling, preparing business cases and plans, and monitoring key performance indicators, budgets and risks 
8. Experience of building an effective network across a complex organisation and with external stakeholders  
9. Experience of using complex databases and management information systems  
10. Ability to work under pressure in a busy environment 
11. A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias 
12. Solutions and quality focused 
13. Excellent task management skills both for self and others , meeting tight deadlines 
14. Ability to maintain confidentiality  

 
Desirable criteria 

1. Relevant postgraduate or professional qualification  
2. Knowledge of research practice and policy in health (bioscience/medicine)