Department:Economic and Social Engagement

Job Description

Department:Economic and Social Engagement

Location:Mithras House

Job Title:Research Development Officer

Post Number:Tbc

Grade:6

Responsible to:Research Development Manager

Main areas of

responsibility:1To manage a portfolio of research grant proposals, playing a significant role in maximising the university’s success with obtaining research funding.

2To develop and implement the most effective systems for maximising the volume and quality of research grant proposals.

3To manage the process of interpreting complex information to enable the university to respond to and act on funding opportunities.

4To lead on building links between areas of key research expertise across the university, meeting funder requirements for collaborative research grants.

5To undertake any other projects in support of research activity as required by the Head of the Research Office.

Specific Duties:1To manage a portfolio of research grant proposals, playing a significant role in maximising the university’s success with obtaining research funding.

1.1To play a key role in developing a robust system for ensuring research grant proposals from the university are of the highest quality; creating effective systems of interaction with other key support departments.

1.2To developa detailed knowledge and understanding of research activity across the university and specialist knowledge relevant to the key areas of research expertise, using own judgement to ensure the provision of tailored and timely information.

1.3To develop innovative ideas, systems and processes to ensure that crucial links between researchers are made, enabling the university to respond effectively to new research funding opportunities.

1.4To play an active role in developing research growth, working with Heads of School, senior academic colleagues and others to improve success rates and quality of research grant submissions.

1.5To manage the overall preparation and writing of grant applications to UK, European and international funders, including the provision of guidance, and where appropriate, content for inclusion in funder requested data management plans and technical plans.

1.6To develop and manage schemes to improve research application quality andsuccess rates, using initiative to devise and implement appropriate systems andprocesses for their delivery and subsequent monitoring.

1.7To design, manage andplan the delivery of a series of internal workshops for academic, management and support staff on all aspects of research policy and funding, updating and augmenting the programme regularly in response to internal and external initiatives, to enable the university’s research community to develop the necessary skills and expertise needed to respond to funding calls.

1.8To work with contracts and IP, HR, Finance, Ethics and Governance on ensuring compliance to develop strong grant applications.

2To develop and implement the most effective systems for maximising the volume and quality of research grant proposals.

2.1To actively promote an increase in university research activity;playing a leading role in developing and implementing initiatives to increase both the volume and quality of research grant proposals from the university to external funders.

2.2To advise and assistacademic research staffon the preparation,drafting and submission of funding proposals, including where appropriate assisting with the drafting of grant documents,and providing expert interpretation of complex guidance and information from funders. To be responsible for ensuring all research grant proposals are of a quality and standard expected by funders, including: key features of good applications, content, structure, programme of work, milestones, deliverables, presentation and format to ensure the submission of high quality research proposals in line with school and university research targets.

2.3To analyse proposals for coherence, relevance to funder, completeness and consistency meeting funder priorities; using specialist knowledge and experience of funder requirements and guidelines.

2.4To monitor and analyse peer review comments on new proposals, using initiative to provide timely and relevant interpretation and advice on the peer review feedback for research grant applicants.

2.5To advise researchers and support staff on appropriate project costing models and budgets in order to maximise research income, ensuring the inclusion of all necessary resources for project implementation, including salaries, indirect and all other relevant costs. Budgets may include multi-institutional and international partners.

2.6To develop effective procedures for ensuring all applications are financially sound, and that all appropriate university approvals are in place. To be responsible for managing the authorisation offunding applications, ensuring theyare submitted in accordance with internal requirements.

2.7To work in conjunction with colleagues in Finance and Human Resources on all pre-award systems and procedures to ensure financial probity and compliance with the HR policies and processes – taking responsibility for ensuring applications are managed, and ensuring that personnel, financial, ethical and IPR issues have been addressed.

2.8To assist with the development of university systems in order to effectively manage the grant application process and ensure accurate and timely reporting on research grants.

2.9To work closely with research leaders, Heads of Schools, research administrators and colleagues in Finance, Personnel, the Economic and Social Engagement Office, Strategic Planning and Marketing and Communications to ensure effective and co-ordinated approaches in support of research activities.

2.10To maintain systems and information required for reporting on success rates of grants submitted,including analysis of trends and progress against targets for the Research Strategy Committee, otheruniversity committees and the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research).

3To manage the process of interpreting complex information to enable the university to respond to and act on funding opportunities.

3.1To take a pivotal role in advising university staff at all levels; optimising the quality of research proposals submitted to funders; interpreting complex information to provide clear and relevant advice and guidance on funding opportunities.

3.2To gather research funding intelligence in order to identify funding and collaborative opportunities, effectively ensuring the promotion of these and targeting appropriate schools and researchers based on knowledge ofthe research strategies, policies and mechanisms of individuals, groups, schools and the university.

3.3To initiate the provision of timely and relevant information, advice and guidance to research active groups across the university, research communities at all levels (school, faculty, university), and provide briefings and recommendations that enable these groups and individuals to act on opportunities.

3.4To monitor changes to the external research policy environment including funder and national research funding strategies, identifying their current and future research priorities, advising senior committees and research leaders as appropriate. Taking responsibility for the provision of important advice and recommendations to senior academic and management colleagues on how changes in policy will affect funding in relation to their dedicated research portfolio.

3.5To attend external events and meetings on research funding and research funding opportunities, representing the university in liaising with funders and external bodies and counterparts in other universities to develop early intelligence on changes affecting the university in relation to research funding.

4To lead on building links between areas of key research expertise across the university, meeting funder requirements for collaborative research grants

4.1To identify potential areas of collaboration, working with Heads of School(s) and senior colleagues across schools and faculties to manage the process of bringing researchers together for collaborative grant opportunities.

4.2To use detailed understanding, knowledge and experience of research funding at local, regional, national and international level to develop proactive initiatives building robust university research collaboration partnerships.

4.3To initiate, suggest, investigate and advise on internal and external partnerships for collaborative research.

4.4To interpret the links between REF outputs and research expertise across the university, to help develop individual portfolios for new grants and new areas of collaboration to meet the requirements of funders.

5To undertake any other projects in support of research activity as required by the Head of the Research Office

5.1To be secretary to research-related university working groups and committees being responsible for the preparation and circulation of agendas and papers, the organisation and reporting of meetings and the initiation and oversight of resulting action;

5.2To undertake specific projects as agreed with the Head of the Research Office;

5.3To provide cover at times of heavy workload or absence as agreed with the Head of the Research Office;

5.4To attend and contribute to Research Office team meetings, the Research Administrators Forum and department-wide events

Selection criteria:Essential:

• Knowledge/qualifications: a good honours degree or higher education qualification (or equivalent experience); an awareness of the higher education sector and the importance of research environments; some familiarityand / or experience of higher education and of working closely with academic staff; successful professional track record; organisational skills; ideally, significant broad and specialist experience in research environments, including successful outcomes in a similar work environment; familiarity with professional office software and systems, including the MS suite of software; highly numerate; ability to produce grammatically correct written work; strong analytical and interpretation of information (written and financial) skills.

• Analysis, creativity and problem solving: considers other perspectives and wider implications; solves problems and develops plans successfully using own initiative; thinks and plans strategically and creatively.

• Communication: understands the information needs of others; clear and concise written and/or verbal communication; ability to establish good working relationships with staff and students at all levels. Ability to convey complex information in concise formats for different audiences.

• Consultation and partnership: ability and commitment to set and meet objectives jointly with others, achieving mutual satisfaction and results.

• Self-motivation: meets objectives and standards on own initiative; is committed to continuous self-development.

• Organisation: systematic; efficient; attention to detail, meets agreed priorities.

• Response to change: investigative; adaptable; creative/innovative.

• Physical: commitment to safe working practices and keeping up-to-date on relevant health and safety regulations and procedures.

Desirable:

• knowledge of another European language, preferably French
• experience of proof reading

• knowledge and understanding of UK, European and International funding programmes and organisations
• experience of Committee servicing

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Updated April 2013 LH