Research Governance and Grants Manager

The Sax Institute; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

National impact

Hybrid work

Salary packaging

Learning & growth

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

The Sax Institute invites applications for a Research Governance and Grants Manager to strengthen governance, integrity, and grant delivery across funded projects. You’ll navigate complex requirements, guide grant processes, and support researchers with timely advice.

Joining our Business Transformation division, you’ll collaborate with investigators, project teams and funding bodies to ensure compliant, high-quality research delivery and to identify new funding opportunities.

Qualifications

• Graduate qualifications and relevant professional experience in public health, health policy or a related field.
• Significant experience in a research environment, ideally within institutional research.
• Strong working knowledge of research governance, ethics submissions, grant applications, grant delivery and reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on detailed requirements of research governance, integrity, compliance and researcher responsibilities.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Sax Institute Research Governance Framework, including policies, procedures, tools and resources.
• Advise researchers and project teams on governance, compliance and funding requirements for awarded grants.
• Identify funding opportunities and emerging priorities through horizon scanning.
• Guide grant applications by interpreting funding rules and coordinating inputs.
• Monitor grant milestones, reporting obligations and variations to ensure delivery.
• Build relationships with funding bodies and internal stakeholders to support research delivery.

Skills

research governance

grants management

stakeholder management

analytical skills

communication skills

policy interpretation

project delivery

Education

Graduate qualifications in public health/health policy

Tools

Grant management software

Ethics submission platforms

Job description

Help turn evidence into action to improve health and wellbeing.

About the Sax Institute

We bring together the broadest range of evidence, tools and methods, data, and trusted partnerships across governments, communities, services and academia.

We connect evidence, data and decision-makers to generate independent intelligence, support better decisions and create real-world impact for a healthier future for every generation.

Our people are collaborative, curious and purpose-driven. We value flexibility, inclusion and continuous learning, and we're united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of Australians.

Why this role matters

Every role at the Sax Institute contributes to improving health and wellbeing through better use of evidence. Strong research governance helps ensure health research is conducted responsibly, delivered effectively and capable of creating meaningful impact. As the Research Governance and Grants Manager, you’ll maintain and strengthen the Institute’s research governance approach, help navigate complex requirements and support high-quality grant applications and funded projects. Your expertise will build confidence across the organisation, support compliance with national codes and help create the conditions for research to translate into better health and wellbeing outcomes

What you’ll do

Working as part of our Business Transformation division and reporting to the Director, Legal, Risk and Compliance, you’ll act as the Institute's Research Administration Officer (RAO), providing specialist advice and support across research governance, integrity and grant funding. You’ll work collaboratively with researchers, Chief Investigators, project teams and funding agencies to strengthen research practice and support the effective delivery of funded research.

You’ll:

• Partner with teams across the Institute to build understanding, confidence and engagement in research governance and integrity requirements.

• Act as the Institute's Research Administration Officer (RAO), providing expert guidance on detailed requirements of research governance, integrity, compliance and researcher responsibilities.

• Maintain and continuously improve the Sax Institute Research Governance Framework, including its supporting policies, procedures, tools and resources.

• Advise researchers and project teams on responsible research practices, researcher responsibilities, governance requirements and potential breaches.

• Support Chief Investigators and researchers to meet governance, compliance and funding requirements for awarded grants.

• Identify funding opportunities and emerging priorities through regular monitoring and horizon scanning of the research and funding landscape.

• Guide the development of grant applications by interpreting funding rules, coordinating inputs and checking non-financial compliance with grant guidelines.

• Monitor grant milestones, reporting obligations, project delivery requirements and variations, helping teams identify and address emerging issues.

• Build productive relationships with funding bodies, research partners and internal stakeholders to support responsive and collaborative research delivery.

You’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who combines substantial research governance and grants experience with sound judgement, strong stakeholder skills and a practical, collaborative approach. You’ll be comfortable staying across and interpreting complex requirements, providing timely advice and helping researchers and project teams navigate challenges while maintaining a strong focus on quality, compliance and delivery.

You’ll have:

• Graduate qualifications and relevant professional experience in public health, health policy or a related field.

• Significant experience in a research environment, ideally within institutional research.

• Strong working knowledge of research governance, ethics submissions, grant applications, grant delivery and reporting requirements.

• A detailed understanding of relevant research codes, funding bodies and their strategic priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex requirements and provide clear, timely and practical advice to researchers and project teams.

• Strong strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the judgement to identify, raise and help resolve risks to project delivery.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, together with a track record of building trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Highly developed organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to balance competing priorities and work effectively with minimal supervision.

Why you’ll love working here

At the Sax Institute, you’ll join a collaborative team that’s passionate about making a difference.

We offer:

• Meaningful work with national impact.

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (with 40% of your time in the office).

• Generous salary packaging benefits.

• Opportunities to learn and grow professionally.

• A supportive, inclusive workplace where collaboration and curiosity are valued.

Applications will be assessed as they are received and will close on 14 October 2026, unless a candidate is secured sooner.

The Sax Institute is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.