Research Support Manager

Job id: 086905. Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 25 March 2024. Closing date: 22 April 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: Mathematics.

Contact details:Maria Flores. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Professional & Support Services.

The Department Research Support Manager is a key position in the Department of Mathematics, within the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES), playing an important role in managing the research support within the Department. Responsibilities include line managing the Department’s Senior Research Support Officer, providing the support and guidance they need to successfully deliver in their role, having oversight of all research activity across the department and ensuring that research staff and academics in the department receive high-quality support.

The post will report to the Department Manager and work closely with the Deputy Head of Department for Research. The post will also work closely with the Faculty research team.

This is currently a hybrid role and role holder would spend part of their working week on campus and part of the week working remotely.

Celebrating diversity and supporting staff is important to us and we offer a range of provision including flexible working, caring support (including a Parenting and Carers Fund and the Carer’s Career Development Fund), training, and a variety of diversity and inclusion networks. Staff can apply for flexible working to help them balance the demands of their professional and personal commitments and we offer comprehensive leave policies for parental, adoption, surrogacy, dependant, and shared leave.

The university is making investment in NMES and both student and staff numbers are growing. Our staff come from over 45 countries and 56% of our students are from outside the UK. Principally located on the Strand Campus in the heart of central London.

Information on the Department of Mathematics and the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences can be found at the following links:

 https://www.kcl.ac.uk/engineering 

 https://www.kcl.ac.uk/nmes 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract from 1st of August 2024

This is a full-time  post

• Manage and maintain oversight of all research activity in the Department.
• Ensure that research activities are compliant with internal and funder policies, working closely with central and Faculty teams.
• Monitor, report, and analyse grant financial information.
• Advise academics on grant finances and prepare forecasts for them.
• Support academics and PS colleagues with the completion of quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc grant reports as required by the College and funding bodies.
• Proactively support the Pre and Post-Award activity of large/complex grants.
• Develop and maintain a high level of knowledge on research funder policies, and university process and policy surrounding research grant administration.
• Provide support to research-related committees or meetings as required.
• Develop a good understanding of the university’s research information and finance systems (Worktribe, PURE, Business World), and assist academic and professional services colleagues.
• Produce research management information reports and perform analysis.
• Develop a good understanding of Open Access publication policy and liaise with the Library as required.
• To provide administrative support to preparations for submission in the REF exercise, including coordinating output reviews and entering information on PURE.
• Support the development of a robust research culture across NMES.
• Support the research related activities of the Enterprise & Engagement function, including impact & engagement.
• Add content to and maintain data on the Department’s information platforms – intranet, internet, SharePoint, etc.
• Manage and support the Department’s Senior Research Support Officer.
• Contribute to and promote ideas that can help improve research management support provision and ways of working.
• Maintain professional knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks and participating in the Research Management Network and professional societies.
• Be a proactive member of both the Department and functional teams.
• Work closely with colleagues from across the Faculty and wider organisation in the timely and efficient delivery of projects and activities.
• Serve as Enterprise & Engagement professional services lead for the department.
• Deputise for the Department Manager as required.
• Undertake any other duties as required by the Deputy Head of Department for Research, Department Manager or Faculty Research Manager.

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.

Essential criteria

1.       Experience of supporting research activity within the Higher Education sector and a strong understanding of the research funding landscape 

2.       Excellent IT skills, including Office, Windows, databases etc. 

3.       Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and appropriately with staff at all levels, within and outside the organisation. 

4.       Highly numerate with proven financial management and analytical skills 

5.       Ability to balance competing, shifting priorities under pressure of deadlines and workload. 

6.       Experience of dealing with budgetary and financial processes, ideally relating to research funding 

7.       Experience of using and manipulating electronic resources 

8.       Experience of producing detailed reports using complex data from a wide range of sources 

9.       Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

10.     Accuracy/ability to pay attention to detail. 

Desirable criteria

1.      Educated to first degree level or equivalent. 

2.      Experience of line management 

Interviews are expected to be held during the w/c 29th of April 2024 and will be held in-person at our Strand Campus in central London.