Research Funding Specialist

Research Funding Specialist

Funding & Contracts Team, Research Services

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, and enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

Research Services is one of the key Professional Services Departments supporting Oxford’s research and innovation community. Our values include teamwork, professionalism, continuous improvement, empathy, respect and trust.

As a Research Funding Specialist you will be part of a collaborative and supportive team. Your work will play a vital role in enabling and supporting research grant activity that underpins funding for research across the University.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

•  An excellent contributory pension scheme

•  38 days annual leave

•  A comprehensive range of childcare services

•  Family leave schemes

•  Cycle loan scheme

•  Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

•  Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs 

Hybrid working is available with the working pattern to be discussed at interview.  

About the Role

The Research Funding Team provides expert specialist support for research grant preparation, submission, acceptance and amendment across all Divisions, Departments and Faculties of the University. As a Research Funding Specialist, you will provide guidance and funder insight to members of the University on research funding opportunities; advice and training on the preparation, submission and acceptance of research grant applications; and guidance on quality assurance and institutional risk criteria relevant to research funding.

You will develop excellent, close working relations with Departments and will work with them, with funders and with other University professional services to resolve complex issues where these arise.

You will have a key role in creating and delivering appropriate training material for different University audiences and using different media, and you will also have opportunities to take part in ad hoc projects that support the research aims of the University, both within the Team and across the wider Research Services.  As a senior member of the Grants Team you will provide training, information, support and mentoring to team colleagues.

Full training will be given and we strongly support ongoing professional development.

About You

To be successful in this varied and interesting role, you will need to enjoy working effectively in a deadline driven environment. You will be happy managing your own work while at the same time working closely with others to ensure effective team performance. You will relish balancing business as usual with ad hoc time critical project work.

High quality customer service will be important to you and you will have excellent communication skills. You will have a genuine interest in mentoring and supporting team colleagues, and a commitment to continuous review and improvement of operations at Team and wider levels.

You will be comfortable when priorities suddenly need to be revised, and with working in an environment where high quality customer service is maintained alongside process review, renewal and change.

Experience of working in a research funding support capacity within a Higher Education environment will be an advantage in this role. Most important will be your positive approach to cohesive team working and proactive service delivery, and your ability to communicate clearly and effectively to different audiences.

Application Process

For an informal chat about the role of Research Funding Specialist please contact Katie Price by MS Teams or email: [email protected]

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon Monday 22 April 

Interviews will take place during week commencing 6 May and will be face to face in Oxford.