Research Support Officer - Birmingham, United Kingdom - University of Birmingham

University of Birmingham

Verified Company

Birmingham, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Position Details
Research Strategy and Services

Location:
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £31,396 to £33,966 with potential progression once in post to £38,205

Grade 6

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 11th December 2023

Background

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.

An overview of the RSSD is provided in the organogram below.

Role Summary

The Research Support Officer (Grants & Contracts) sits within the College Research Support Team and provides academic facing support to researchers in defined Schools/Institutes across all elements of pre-award research support.

This includes proactive support across the life cycle of research proposals from costing/pricing, approvals, support with due diligence, the set-up of successful bids and transferred awards.

Main Duties

Contribute to the identification of funding opportunities and their timely and targeted dissemination to academic colleagues.
Support the acceptance and set up of new awards from funders, which will include reviewing budgets and making changes to budget lines stipulated by funders; updating Worktribe records and completing the funder portals, as well as awards being transferred into the University by new researchers.
Manage any additional awards to existing projects (supplements), ensuring costings and documentation is complete, working closely with RSSD Post Award team colleagues as well as College Research & Knowledge Transfer teams to ensure these are set up in a timely fashion.
Following agreed processes, ensure correct internal approvals as well as due diligence are in place prior to the submission of proposals to funders, identifying and escalating risks as appropriate.
Ensure entries in the Research Grant management system (Worktribe) and other tracking documents (e.g. pipelines) are completed accurately and in full.
Where appropriate, contribute to the development of more complex bids in liaison with other RSSD professionals. This may include organisation of meetings and workshops (e.g. funding webinars, sandpits, pitch to peer sessions etc); capturing of key information for the bid such as project partner details or budgets; or the dissemination or collection of key information from partners.
Undertake any other appropriate duties as required by the Line Manager in support of RSSD activities.
Promote equality and value diversity, act as a role model and foster an inclusive working culture.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required
Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to analyse information and data.
Knowledge of the UK research funding ecosystem, key research funders and an understanding of their processes is desirable but not essential
Experience of engaging and collaborating, with internal and external stakeholders to build teams, deliver key outcomes or resolve challenges.
Experience in improving processes, service quality and/or efficiency, and delivering high quality customer service
Excellent analytical skills with an ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative information and present this to a wide range of audiences
Proficient IT skills, including the MS Office suite and corporate systems. Confident and able to quickly learn new IT skills and software packages as required.
Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven experience of collaboration within teams, including engaging with peers and staff, within an academic, public sector or commercial research environment
Excellent communication skills with the ability to negotiate effectively with a range of internal stakeholders in order to convey policies or decisions, and to influence decisions.
High level of selfmotivation and personal accountability with ability to plan and deliver goals to deadlines under pressure and set priorities for a wide range of tasks and duties
Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equal