Research Funding Development Manager

Salary: £33,966 to £36,024 with progression to £44,263 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 14 April 2024

An exciting opportunity is available to join the Research Funding Development Team as Research Funding Development Manager.  The Research Funding Development Team is part of Newcastle University’s Research Strategy and Development Service. 

We have two positions available.  One post holder will be based in the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS), the other in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE).  Both will work with colleagues across the University to deliver a high quality, seamless service to maximise research funding from external funding bodies.  Please note in your application which of the posts you wish to be considered for, or both. 

You will have skills in the preparation of or support for applications for external research funding.  You should have knowledge of research funding agencies and funding streams. You will need to have the ability to work effectively on complex, deadline-driven tasks with colleagues in a range of roles. 

As Research Funding Development Manager, you will use your interest in and understanding of research to deliver a high-quality service that enables Newcastle University’s researchers to maximise their research funding. You will be a member of the University Research Funding Development Team and work with colleagues across the University and the NHS (via the Newcastle Joint Research Office, NJRO) to deliver a high quality, seamless funding service.

Your role will involve working with:

• The University Research Funding Development Team to deliver a high-quality research funding service across the University
• Senior managers and Faculty academic units to deliver their long- term research funding strategy
• Academic colleagues at all career stages to support them in achieving research funding success
• Colleagues in the NJRO, including NHS Research Funding Development Teams, to ensure seamless support for researchers (this will be most relevant to the medical sciences position)

Informal enquiries are welcome.  Please contact Dr Emma Campbell, Senior Research Funding Development Manager ([email protected] ), if you would like to discuss the Faculty of Medical Sciences position.  Please contact Dr Sarah Warner, Senior Research Funding Development Manager ([email protected] ), if you would like to discuss the Science, Agriculture and Engineering position.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop, maintain and use a strong working knowledge of research funding, particularly with respect to the UK Research Councils, charities and more broadly.  For the medical sciences position, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will also be relevant
• Help to source, review and disseminate in a targeted manner published and unpublished information on funder and funding strategy and opportunities. This should be supplemented with additional support and guidance where possible
• Discuss specific funding opportunities with academic and clinical academic colleagues and/or research groups in order to help them to assess their chances of success and the appropriateness of pursuing particular funding opportunities
• Nurture and develop research collaborations in priority areas.  Support the development of collaborative, inter/multidisciplinary funding proposals across the Faculty, University and relevant NHS Trusts. For the medical sciences position, some of these opportunities will be translational
• Advise applicants on the presentation and content of funding applications, taking into account your (developing) knowledge of funder and peer review requirements and expectations
• Provide project-management-style support to large, complex funding applications of particular strategic importance, in liaison with necessary teams and committees to ensure compliance with processes
• Attend funding information and networking events. Provide feedback and follow-up work as appropriate
• Arrange funder visits and information sessions, ensuring appropriate follow-up and information sharing across the Faculty and University
• Develop and maintain good practice guides and templates to assist applicants in drafting funding applications
• Work with other members of the wider Research Funding Development Team and other colleagues as appropriate to plan and deliver training sessions on the strategy, content and presentation of research funding
• Assist in interpretation of funding reports and action planning to further improve funding success
• Develop and maintain content for the internal research funding development website and translational research website
• Work closely with a wide range of colleagues, including the University team of Research Funding Development Managers, Newcastle Joint Research Office colleagues, Business Development and Partnership Managers, Research Finance Teams, Research Impact Teams, Faculty and unit research teams and academic unit staff to ensure a cohesive, integrated and well-regarded professional service across the University
• Develop and maintain close working relationships across the University, drawing on skills and experience to complement your own. Examples of important working relationships for this role include: Academic and clinical academic colleagues from across the University; (Senior) Research Funding Development Managers; Heads of Faculty Research; Faculty Deans; Research and Impact Teams; Enterprise Team; Research Grants and Contracts Team; Research Finance Teams; Directors of Research, Academic Unit Managers and professional services staff; Faculty of Medical Sciences Project Managers; Academic Unit professional services staff; Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP)

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Appreciation of the research lifecycle, from idea through to its translation into impact
• Experience of working productively with academic researchers
• Skills in the preparation of or support for applications for external research funding
• Working knowledge of research funding agencies and available funding streams
• Strong and effective communication skills, both oral and written. Ability to influence others
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively with individuals and teams both within the University and externally
• Strong presentation skills and experience of delivering effective training
• Ability to manage and analyse data and report on findings to the relevant audience(s)
• Well organised and proactive, with the ability to manage own time, prioritise tasks and work effectively to deadlines
• Ability to work effectively as part of multi-skilled teams
• Relevant IT skills, in particular the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint
• Knowledge and understanding of research in the NHS (desirable for the medical sciences position)

Desirable

• Experience of working with or for a major research funding body (e.g. a UK Research Council)
• Direct postdoctoral research experience 
• Experience of facilitating research collaboration 
• Experience of project management
• Knowledge and understanding of the UK higher education sector, research landscape and funding system 

Attributes and Behaviour

• Thinking strategically (University)
• Team working (University)
• Communicating (University)
• Planning and organising (University)
• Influencing (University)

Qualifications

• Graduate or equivalent with significant experience, or substantial broad vocational experience, in progressively more demanding jobs, in research, HE or a similar complex environment

Desirable

• PhD , MSc, MRes or other postgraduate research qualification, or proven high-level experience in the area 

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 26844