Position Details

Research Strategy and Services

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £45,585 to £54,395 with potential progression once in post to £61,198

Grade: 8 

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 8th May 2024 

Background

The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research.  We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge.  Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University’s resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence. Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University’s objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work. 

The University has an exciting vision to build on the success of REF2021, by continuing to transform its research performance across outputs, income, impact, and policy influence. Central to this ambition is the Research Strategy & Services Division (RSSD), a new Professional Services department that is being established to provide a transformative and sector-leading approach to research strategy and support. The RSSD brings together into one connected eco-system professional staff that work within and across the following teams: Research Strategy & Development; Research Support (Grants & Contracts); Research Partnerships, Research Impact & Innovation; Research Policy & Environment; Research Systems & Data; Research Governance; Research Communications; Legal & Regulatory Compliance and Research Finance Accounting.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Head of Research Support (Medical and Dental Sciences) and working closely with the Research Strategy & Development Team in Medical and Dental Sciences (MDS), the Research Support Manager (RSM) leads a team of professional research support practitioners providing the College of MDS with a first-class research support service, comprising proactive research development and partnership building through to support for research proposals, submission to funders, costing and pricing, the due diligence of external partners and the negotiation of research agreements.

The RSM will deliver a portfolio of either research grants and/or contracts support and will lead a combined team of research practitioners that work across all aspects of pre-award research development. 

The Research Support Manager will play a critical role in developing a strong relationship with Academics and Professional Services in the College of MDS, and with external funders and partners. They will form part of the broader leadership function of the RSSD and be trusted experts in their own defined area of expertise. Developing effective links to the other central Professional Services teams will also be key, including particularly the Finance Office, Development and Alumni Relations, University of Birmingham Enterprise, and Legal Services. 

Developing staff in an inclusive environment that supports all colleagues to thrive is key to the RSSD culture and that of the wider University, and the Research Support Manager will be provided the opportunity to develop their own team, supporting colleagues to progress through the research support career path of the Division, whilst also being supported to continually develop their own professional practice. 

The Research Support Manager will be assisted by the RSSD Research System & Data Team, to understand the volume and complexity of the demand placed on their team, and to ensure that staff expertise is appropriately focused, in close partnership with the Head of Research Support (MDS), the Assistant Directors (RSSD) and the College. They will ensure that the team receives the necessary training, development, and support to ensure both a high quality of service to academics, their funders and partners, whilst also providing a vibrant and positive working environment for all staff. 

Main duties

• Lead a diverse team of Research Support practitioners in the areas of: 
  • Research proposal development, partner liaison, costing and pricing, institutional contributions, funder terms and conditions, effective pre-to-post award handover;
  • The negotiation and agreement of research contracts and research-related agreements;  
  • Renegotiation of awards with funders, where required; 
  • Accurate reporting of research applications and awards in Worktribe, the University’s Research Management System; 
  • The due diligence of external collaborators; 
  • Grant transfers from national and international universities. 
• Be responsible for the delivery of a defined portfolio of research grants and/or contracts work as defined with the Head of Research Support (MDS);
• Proactively contribute to the development, evaluation and review of the area’s research delivery plans with relevant senior colleagues and manage the subsequent direction and prioritisation of support. 
• Participate in University and College-level fora on strategies for research and associated activities to ensure the area’s delivery plans complement and support the wider University research strategy.
• Lead team to ensure that research proposals are supported in a proactive and timely manner, adding value to applications and working with the College to develop effective systems, procedures, and guidelines for the timely submission of applications to multiple funders;
• Provide leadership to the team on risk management of grant and contract activity and provide guidance on appropriate mitigation. Manage the delivery of a risk-based and highly professional research contracts service to academics, ensuring that all agreements are progressed in an effective and timely manner. 
• Support the Research Strategy & Development Partner (MDS) with funder relationship management and the development of strategic links with key funders, including: supporting funder visits; engagement of relevant funder strategy groups to identify key topics of interest; development of briefing documents including relevant data; assessment of opportunities with the funder. 
• Provide specialist and authoritative advice for applicants regarding their grants and contracts based on expert professional knowledge of funder expectations in terms of eligibility, terms and conditions, content, presentation, collaborators and associated arrangements, institutional requirements and deadlines.
• Proactively contribute to all aspects of the research application and tender submission process, and support team members to do the same including: informing and preparing of budgets; drafting of non-specialist sections in the application; organising internal academic peer review; advising on grant terms and conditions and funder requirements or informing the contractual requirements for the proposal; coordinating final approvals and submissions, and the smooth setting-up of successful awards;
• Working closely with the Head of Research Support (MDS) and the Research Strategy Development Partner (MDS) as appropriate, be responsible for providing solutions on issues relating to: major bid development; tendering strategies; negotiations including contracting and related procurement issues; complex budgeting; Electronic Submission systems; research governance, due diligence, and ethics processes.
• Working closely with the Head of Research Support (MDS) and the wider Research Support Manager network to develop a strong and inclusive research support community at the University, from the recruitment of excellent staff through to professional development and helping colleagues to progress through the University’s research support career pathway
• Produce high quality written papers/reports and presentations for a range of internal and external audiences (e.g. College and Schools academic management Team; academic leads, professional services) on a wide range of topic areas associated with the wider responsibilities of the role.
• Establish good working relations, workflows and coordination between research areas and other activities in the College(s) and University, including, for example, the Marketing & Communications Teams, Development and Alumni Relations, External Relations and other parts of RSSD.
• Lead on the design and development/maintenance, evaluation and improvement of processes, associated guidance and best practice around research support, ensuring proactive liaison with all relevant stakeholders (which may involve working with external partners as well as internal colleagues).
• Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.  
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus significant relevant practical experience – where no equivalent qualification is held substantial practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly for a variety of audiences, and to produce and analyse source material, information and data.
• Experience of providing senior practitioner support to complex issues relating to research support including research facilitation, meeting funder conditions, budgeting, aspects of contracting and collaboration, set-up and delivery of projects, research culture and being recognised as a trusted expert and developing individuals and teams to do the same. 
• Authoritative knowledge of the strategic issues impacting the UK and/or overseas research funding environment, including broader sector/commercial awareness
• Experience of successfully leading the development of major research grants and contracts.
• Substantial experience of engaging, and collaborating, with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and management skills, with proven experience of leading, motivating and managing teams, including engaging with peers and staff who are not direct reports.
• Excellent analytical skills with an ability to analyse complex qualitative and quantitative information and present conclusions clearly and concisely.
• Judgement and proven problem-solving skills that will help to identify and implement improvements and efficiencies across the service area and beyond. 
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the MS Office suite and corporate systems such as WorkTribe or Tableau.  Confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required. 
• High level of self-motivation and personal accountability with ability to plan and deliver goals to deadlines under pressure.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied. 
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Role context

Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice and opinion across a range of activities and/or will lead and manage diverse team(s) and resources.  You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent.  Significant evaluation and independent thought is therefore required to resolve ambiguity. You will have wide discretion to decide on direction whilst ensuring activities are broadly consistent with operational policies. You will be able to influence policy through advising on the impact of policy change and implementation in your area of work. You will need to assess the impact of your activities across your area, with related areas and to ensure they fit with the broader objectives of the University. 

Core competencies/transferable skills

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below. You will be expected to take ownership for getting things done, including calling on or joining others to assist. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University. 

Planning and organising

• provide professional expertise, and manage resources and/or a diverse team;
• integrate and co-ordinate work across different parts of the department/university;
• lead and manage staff who are likely to be carrying out diverse duties, and ensure collaborative working to deliver a successful service;
• project manage activities to facilitate major changes;
• develop policy within functional guidelines, and contribute to strategic development within own area;
• be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery, with an appreciation of longer term issues

Problem solving and decision making

• anticipate, interpret and assess customer needs, identifying trends, generating original ideas and testing innovative solutions; 
• deal with significant people management issues such as change programmes;
• resolve issues which may not have arisen before through use of experience and judgement. 

Organisational understanding

• have an excellent understanding of your own working area and a broad understanding of the contribution other areas make to the success of the University; 
• have an excellent understanding of how the University operates, together with an understanding of how academia operates in the UK;
• demonstrate empathy with the academic endeavour and seek to encourage others to do so. 

Relationships and communication

• use coaching skills to motivate and develop staff;
• proactively and sensitively manage the performance of their team and create a motivating environment;
• influence others (including across the University) to follow a particular course of action;
• represent the department at internal and external meetings/events/network with colleagues in other institutions to share best practice.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Sam Hickman, email: s.j.hickman@bham.ac.uk 

View our staff values and behaviours here 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.