Job description

We are looking to appoint to the post of School Research & Partnerships Manager in the School of Life Course and Population Health Sciences. This is an exciting new role within the School, that will provide operational leadership to research and partnerships activity in a diverse academic environment. Reporting to the School Manager, and with oversight and management responsibility for the research and partnerships activity in the School, this role will appeal to a personable and high-performing candidate who is able to establish strong relationships and is committed to excellent customer service.   

This role involves working collaboratively with the Faculty Research Manager, the School Lead (Research & Impact) and colleagues working in King’s Research Management & Innovation Directorate (RMID), including the Research Strategy and Development team. The role will form part of a high-performing research and partnership development team working closely to capitalise on cross-Faculty opportunities and strategic partnerships, such as our Global Health Partnerships in Sierra Leone, Somaliland and the Democratic Republic of Congo, King’s Health Partner Institutes, NIHR Clinical Research Network, NIHR Research Design Service, Biomedical Research Centre at Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust & King's College London, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, Tommy’s Baby Charity, EU, among others.  

The successful candidate will:  

• Coordinate and oversee the research administrative support to academic and research staff across the School, working closely with the School Research Manager, operational team, and central university teams  
• Develop and coordinate large, strategic funding proposals aimed at particular high-priority opportunities 
• Provide forward intelligence of new funding opportunities and funding themes, to relate these to the research expertise within the School, and to stimulate high quality proposals 
• Contribute to strategy development for our research and international partnerships 
• Develop key and strategic relationships with key sector funders and their personnel, in order to understand their goals and their strategies for reaching them (including funding programmes) 
• Improve financial sustainability through maximising cost recovery and overhead contributions 
• Line manage and develop key research and partnership staff to support the delivery of research and partnership administrative support across the School 
• Work with colleagues across the Faculty and King’s to develop and implement policies and processes that improve our research administration  
• Lead on the generation and analysis of research performance data and identify areas requiring improvement 
• Assist the School Lead (Research & Impact), School Manager and Faculty Research 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 

We would encourage anyone from an underrepresented background to apply and make our University even richer. 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract  

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Work with the School Executive, primarily the Head of School, School Lead (Research & Impact) and School Manager, to develop and help deliver the School’s Research Strategy  
• Assist the development of business plans for new initiatives in the School, such as new partnerships and commercialisation that have resource implications for the School 
• Lead and manage the School research and partnership operations, in particular acting as line manager for the School Research Manager and Global Health Partnerships Director and the wider operational research and partnerships team 
• Working closely with academic leaders, lead the development of significant and strategic research and partnership grant applications, ensuring that the School is well positioned to secure significant research and partnership income 
• Support the School Manager in monitoring School research and partnership related accounts and contribute to the annual budget planning as appropriate  
• Work independently based on an agreed work plan, setting own priorities, working cooperatively to achieve the School’s operational objectives  
• Be responsive to changing priorities and an evolving context, maximising the efficiency of the operational service, leading, and managing change using best practice to ensure that change is adopted 
• Support an environment of good conduct in research, ensure the School is compliant with relevant regulations and policies – including ethical approval. 
• Manage staff, setting objectives and work standards, identifying risks to business continuity, and mitigating these 
• Build a strong network across the Faculty, in the Directorates and other Faculties and with key partners, such as our partner NHS Trusts, research funders and other external partners 
• Raise awareness in the School of the relevant university regulations, processes and associated legislation, monitoring compliance with these 
• Deputise for the School Manager as required, representing the School/ Faculty at university-level meetings 
• Engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives 
• Facilitate an inclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and other professional services staff and colleagues external to King’s 
• Participate in cross-School/ Faculty/ university projects and initiatives for up to 10% FTE

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.                   Level 6 qualification, e.g., undergraduate degree or equivalent, plus work experience in relevant operational posts OR Evidence of work experience in relevant operational posts with management experience and/or qualification and clear progression in increasingly demanding jobs 

2.                   Evidence of an active commitment to professional development  

3.                   Experience of supervising/managing staff and teams, establishing protocols and performance standards, giving feedback on performance and providing training/coaching where necessary 

4.                   Ability to manage through influence and negotiation in a complex environment  

5.                   Demonstrable experience of research funding and policy from a university or funder perspective, or equivalent  

6.                   Solutions-focused self-starter, with excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks for self and others in a changing environment, handling conflicting requirements where necessary 

7.                   Excellent spoken and written communication skills, with strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills 

8.                   Good numeracy and analytical skills, drawing together data from various sources, to identify solutions and inform decisions 

9.                  A good understanding of best practice to comply with GDPR legislation 

10.               A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias 

Desirable criteria

1.                   Level 7/Postgraduate qualification  

2.                   Management or Project Management qualification(s) 

3.                   Experience in strategy and policy development 

4.                   Experience of operational management in a higher education setting 

5.                   Experience in building partnerships with external partners, including overseas 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to specifically address the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification in their covering letter.

Further information

About the Faculty: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/index.aspx 

About the School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences: www.kcl.ac.uk/sphes  

About the School of Life Course Sciences: www.kcl.ac.uk/solcs  

The selection process will include a competency-based questions panel interview and a presentation. 

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service