Description:
This new role will be part of an expanding team of research development managers supporting outstanding research development across the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, reflecting its ambition and expansion. In addition to research development across the Faculty more broadly, this role will have particular responsibility for research development in its Faculty Centres (Net Zero and the Physical Sciences of Life), working collaboratively with the existing team of Research Development Managers to support outstanding, strategic research grant applications whether these are single discipline or have a multi- or inter-disciplinary focus.
Key responsibilities
Acting as first point of contact for a defined part of the Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences portfolio
- Working with the existing RDMs to ensure that the Faculty’s diverse research development needs are supported in a timely and effective way, maximising grant capture which reflects Faculty priorities
- Providing a visible and responsive research development service to academics
- Developing a high level of awareness of the research goals and funding needs of individual academics in your portfolio
- Building and maintain strong relationships with academic leaders in relevant academic units, to understand their research funding priorities and support needs
Grant application development
- Working with faculties, departments and centres to promote & support applications to relevant recurrent funding opportunities such as fellowships and responsive mode applications (for example, to funders such as the EPSRC, the Leverhulme Trust, and Horizon Europe)
- Providing application advice and support for academics, from project scoping to funding scheme selection, providing advice and feedback on application drafts, securing institutional sponsorship and preparation for interview
- Working with the Research Development Managers to disseminate and promote high impact strategic funding calls, targeting relevant academic experts across disciplines to help build effective bid teams, then support applications
Scoping new opportunities for research investment
- Identifying new funding calls and relating these to the research expertise within NMES or other relevant Faculties
- Developing relationships with key sector funders and their personnel, to understand their goals and approaches to delivering them
- Contribute to strategic projects that deliver insight and options for research development in research areas of importance to the University or individual Faculties
Provision of training
- Providing training that increases capability to apply to specific funders and funding streams
- Providing targeted training to faculties and schools in response to specific needs
Internal funding process management
- Work with the Research Development Managers to manage the delivery of internal funding schemes such as Impact Acceleration Accounts
- Work with the Research Development Managers to deliver triage processes for external funding schemes
Team work
- To work with colleagues in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, and in the Arts & Sciences Research Development team, to agree priorities and responsibilities for new work, balance workloads and share best practice
- To work with colleagues in the Arts and Sciences and Health Research Development team to maximise “One Team” working across academic research interactions and in our research development practice
- Promote effective academic partnership and interdisciplinarity in all of our work
- Contribute to management reports and the collection and analysis of performance data
- To behave courteously, collaboratively and compassionately in every aspect of the role, in line with King’s Values
Working with others research management professionals
- Build strong working relationships with research management staff in Faculties and the Research Management and Innovation Directorate to improve practices, systems and reporting that supports research grant applications
Essential Criteria
Skills, knowledge, and experience
- PhD or equivalent research experience in a subject relevant to Natural Sciences or Engineering.
- Experience of working in an academic research or research funding environment.
- Good understanding of the relevant research funding landscape and of the research development pipeline from concept development to application, through funder review processes.
- Excellent listening skills, able to quickly understand and explore key concepts.
- Excellent communicator, able to interpret and explain complex information with clarity and confidence, including clear, structured and output-focused written communications. Confident supporting individual and group conversations that deliver insight.
- Excellent qualitative and quantitative analytical and problem-solving skills, with a solution focused approach.
- An engaging and inquisitive individual who thrives on building trusting, courteuous and professional relationships with experts and stakeholders at all levels. Builds and maintains good working relationships with colleagues (academic and professional services) to foster team spirit and achievement of shared goals.
- Comfortable working independently, knowing when to ask permission and when to inform.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to work flexibly and at pace in a rapidly changing environment.
- Ability to achieve goals through influence and negotiation in a complex organisational environment.