Research Strategy and Partnerships Manager

Job description

We have a great opportunity for a research manager to work on strategy and partnerships at King’s. The role focuses on King’s strategic and cross-disciplinary research and innovation themes and our international and national partnerships. The postholder will be helping King’s explore and define new opportunities; building internal and external engagement and communications;  supporting high level decision making and governance; and developing funding proposals and implementation plans.

They will join a 20-strong Research Strategy and Development team, and a dynamic university with real terms growth in research income of 40% over five years. King’s has already identified climate change and sustainability, AI, data sciences and society, as priority themes and will explore more themes over the next few years, in some areas creating new cross-Faculty institutes.

Successful candidates will have a PhD and experience of research development, and must be adaptable and able to quickly get to grips with new fields of research.  They will have good analytical and planning skills, and will be interested in ensuring that strategies deliver practical benefits. They will be effective at engaging colleagues at all levels – from support for individual researchers to senior university leadership – and working in teams with colleagues across King’s professional services. Building profiles and new relationships externally – in the UK and internationally – will also be a key part of the role.

We welcome applicants who meet the core criteria, and including applicants who may have an atypical or non-linear CV.  If you would like a discussion about the role before applying, please email the hiring manager at  declan.mulkeen@kcl.ac.uk.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

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

We support flexible working and are open to applicants seeking a job-share.

Key responsibilities

Strategic research theme development, including:

• Providing end to end management for a portfolio of strategy development projects from concept to implementation.
• Connecting with researchers and specialist research development managers to scope opportunities and interests.
• Supporting university committee and board decisions on strategy development, coordination and investment.
• Analysing the funding landscape and research metrics.
• Developing implementation plans with stakeholders that provide clarity and buy-in on the actions required to implement strategy and accountability for delivery.
• Promoting and communicating the themes.

International research partnerships - working with senior University and Faculty leadership to:

• Reach out to potential partners and explore and assess opportunities.
• Define aims and codevelop partnership opportunities.
• Review existing partnerships.

Horizon scanning and intelligence gathering:

• preparing reports / presentations / informal advice on emerging areas that could be strategically important for King’s.
• maintaining contact with funders and research policy-makers’ planning in major thematic areas, both directly and as part of collaborative teamwork.  Drafting input to consultations and reviews when neededd.

Grant funding development:

• Working with Faculties, Schools and centres of excellence to promote and support applications to international schemes, for grants, fellowships and partnerships.
• Promoting and supporting grant applications in defined strategic research themes. When needed, providing advice and support for academics, from project scoping to funding scheme selection, advice and feedback on application drafts, securing institutional sponsorship and preparation for interviews.

Internal review and funding processes:

• Contributing to internal funding schemes and triage panels where relevant.
• King’s Research Institutes :  contributing to the selection or formation of new institutes.  Conducting reviews of existing institutes.

Team working:

• Working with colleagues in research development and in Faculties to share insights and support, and help strengthen King’s overall capabilities. Curating presentations, documents etc., to build shared resources for future work.
• Working with other relevant professional teams, including on innovation and business engagement, international relationships, doctoral training, research infrastructure, government affairs, and communications.
• Working with the Research Development teams for Health and for Arts and Sciences to ensure clear and complete pathways for support for applicants in each strategy area.
• Contribute to management reports and the collection and analysis of performance data.
• To behave courteously, collaboratively and compassionately in every aspect of the role, in line with King’s Values.

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 qualifications and experience

1. Degree level education and a PhD or equivalent research experience.
2. Experience of working in an academic research or research funding environment, including experience of successfully contributing to research project design, proposal writing, peer review, and reporting.
3. High-level understanding of research and innovation strategies in the UK and beyond.
4. Experience of working across diverse research fields and in interdisciplinary research, and ability to quickly learn about new fields.
5. Experience of creating projects and processes that deliver results in R&D or academic settings, in strategy, networking, or change management.

Essential competencies

1. Critical analysis and fact-finding, and an ability to combine high-level strategic thinking with attention to detail.
2. Demonstrable ability to influence others with excellent inter-personal skills and a collaborative approach; and create enduring working relationships and networks.
3. Excellent presentation and communication skills, able to deliver across a broad range from in-depth reports to engaging promotional material suitable for internal and external academic and non-academic audiences.  Able to convey complex ideas with clarity.
4. High level of work organization and self-motivation, with proven ability to work on own initiative, engaging others at the right stages, and applying independent professional judgement.
5. Comfortable with ambiguity and working flexibly and at pace in a rapidly changing environment.

Desirable

1. Experience of successful international academic relationships.
2. Familiarity with international funding programmes.
3. Experience of building relationships with external stakeholders in business, public sector, or the third sector.