Autism Intervention Research Trust

Job Description

Job Purpose

The Research Manager will support the charity in its primary purposes to: (a) foster research into autism, with a particular emphasis on research that makes a difference to the quality of life of people affected by autism; and (b) disseminate that research effectively. Research Autism achieves these objectives by identifying important research topics (‘scoping’), analysis and where appropriate publishing existing high quality evidence in these areas, raising funds, granting monies to appropriate research groups, and ensuring dissemination through publications, including its website, conferences, and any other appropriate means.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Research Development

• Working with the Board, the Scientific and Advisory Committee, the Chief Executive and Research Director to develop and refine research priorities;
• Developing research data for input into the charity’s overall strategy;
• Developing and implementing in-house research projects as required;
• Researching and monitoring sources of funding and funding calls from statutory (e.g. NIHR etc.) and non-statutory (e.g. Big lottery etc.) sources.

Research Application Process

• Working with the Research Director to refine and maintain the application process to ensure that projects have clarity in terms of objectives, scope, budget, timing, deliverables and milestones, management controls and governance;
• To review and update the terms and conditions of the research grants to ensure including of detailed reporting requirements by the researcher and appropriate involvement of the charity in the results following the research completion and into the future;
• Project management of the research application process and projects arising including ensuring compliance by the researcher with the terms and conditions and reporting requirements;
• Input and liaison with fundraising, finance and business development teams;
• Develop new applications proactively by sourcing, scoping and planning new initaitves, either from scratch or refining proposed project submissions;
• Working with funding applicants to support them through the application process, information sharing and communication.

Research Project Delivery

• Working with the Chief Executive and fundraising team to ensure that funding proposals for research projects are cogently developed and articulated
• Working with ongoing projects to assist researchers in providing the necessary management information and reporting throughout the life of the project;
• Maintaining a two-way, open and honest dialogue between RA and the research projects to disseminate information about successes, difficulties and opportunities;
• Maintaining and reporting an up-to-date status on all projects including time tracking, cost, quality, issues, risks, opportunities;
• Advise on project progress and any problems, ensuring remedial action is taken as appropriate, particularly in relation to output, budget and timelines;
• Provide regular written reports on research projects for the Research Director, the Scientific & Advisory Committee and the Board;
• report to donors, in line with the requirements of fundraising team;
• Monitoring and overseeing all reserchh projects.

Other

• Providing other RA functions with management information on a periodic and ad-hoc basis;
• Supporting fundraising in providing evidence that research projects are well managed;
• Participating, where appropriate, in specific research projects;
• Taking responsibility for managing and servicing meetings of the Scientific and Advisory Committee;
• Providing summaries of each project for marketing and PR purposes as well as for the Information Centre and the website;
• Attend all relevant committee and other meetings, deputising for the Research Director as appropriate.

Person Specification

Research Manager

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