Pre-Award Grants Assistant

Francis Crick Institute Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme (up to 16%)

Health & wellbeing services

Gym membership discount

Subsidised on-site restaurant

Job summary

The Francis Crick Institute is seeking a Pre-Award Grants Assistant to join the Grants team. You will provide essential administrative and operational support across a varied portfolio of research funding activities, ensuring grant records and processes run smoothly.

The role offers hybrid working and opportunities to work closely with Grants Managers and researchers. We seek an organised, detail-oriented individual with strong communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Experience providing administrative support in a busy, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly when managing data and records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Support the Pre-Award Grants team with the administration of research funding applications.
• Maintain accurate records across our grants management and finance systems, including Worktribe and Workday.
• Tracking legal agreements, following up on actions and keeping colleagues informed of progress.
• Assisting with compliance checks on research funders and project partners.
• Responding to routine queries and liaising with researchers, funders and colleagues across the organisation.
• Ensuring records, correspondence and approvals are accurately documented and maintained.
• Helping to identify opportunities to improve processes, data quality and ways of working.

Skills

Organised

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Tools

Worktribe

Workday

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Salary for this Role: From £32,000 with benefits, subject to skills and experience.

Job Title: Pre-Award Grants Assistant

Reports to: Jane Benstead

Closing Date: 18/Nov/2026 23.59 GMT

Job Description: Pre-Award Grants Assistant – Job Advert

Reporting to: Jane Benstead, Pre-Award Grants Team Lead

Department: Grants

Contract term: This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

Salary for this Role: From £32,000 with benefits, subject to skills and experience

Working Pattern: Hybrid working

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

About the role

Want to play a part in supporting world-leading biomedical research? We’re looking for an organised, detail-oriented and proactive Pre-Award Grants Assistant to join our Grants team at the Francis Crick Institute. Research funding plays a vital role in making scientific discoveries possible and our Pre-Award Grants team helps researchers secure the funding they need to bring their ideas to life. In this role, you’ll provide essential administrative and operational support across a varied portfolio of research funding activities, helping to ensure that grant applications, records and processes run smoothly. You’ll work closely with Grants Managers, researchers and colleagues across the Crick, making this a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, managing information and keeping things organised.

What you will be doing

• Supporting the Pre-Award Grants team with the administration of research funding applications and related activities.
• Maintaining accurate records across our grants management and finance systems, including Worktribe and Workday.
• Tracking legal agreements, following up on actions and keeping colleagues informed of progress.
• Assisting with compliance checks on research funders and project partners.
• Responding to routine queries and liaising with researchers, funders and colleagues across the organisation.
• Ensuring records, correspondence and approvals are accurately documented and maintained.
• Helping to identify opportunities to improve processes, data quality and ways of working.

About you

• Essential: We’re looking for someone who enjoys working collaboratively, has a keen eye for detail and can confidently juggle different priorities.
• You will bring: Experience providing administrative support in a busy, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly when managing data and records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, prioritising tasks and following up on actions.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and Outlook, and learning new systems.
• The ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and discretion.
• A flexible, collaborative approach and enthusiasm for learning and developing new skills.Experience in research grants administration, funding applications, compliance or using systems such as Worktribe or Workday would be an advantage, but isn’t essential.

Working at the Crick

Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick’s mission and shaping our culture! We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences.

We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we’ll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply.

What will you receive?

• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.
• Health & Well-being: 24/7 GP consultation services. Occupational health services and mental health support programs. Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.
• Work-Life Balance: Back-up care for dependents. Childcare support allowance. Annual leave purchase options. Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.
• Perks: Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts.
• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute researching the biology underlying human health. At the Crick, scientists and staff collaborate to stretch the very limits of what we know about how life works. Our work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections and neurodegenerative diseases. The Francis Crick Institute is a charity, founded by the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King’s College London.