Pre-Award Officer

LASE (University of Kent); Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

43 days leave

Excellent pension

Healthcare plan

Job summary

The University of Kent is seeking a Pre-Award Officer to join the Research & Innovation Operations team. You will help researchers identify funding opportunities, support grant applications, and guide colleagues through funder requirements and internal processes.

Working mainly to support Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), you will collaborate across schools and with external funders, contributing to high-quality applications and growing the University's research income.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the university research environment and UK research funding system
• Experience supporting research or innovation grant administration
• Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to work accurately under pressure
• Strong IT, communication and relationship-building skills

Responsibilities

• Identifying research and innovation funding opportunities from commercial, charity and government sources
• Supporting academics with grant applications, costings, guidance and award acceptance
• Building relationships with academic colleagues, funders and external partners
• Keeping up to date with funding developments and sharing insight across the University

Skills

Understanding of university research

Grant administration experience

Organisation and time management

IT, communication and relationship-sk

Job description

Hours per Week: 17.5 Interview Date: Tuesday 06 October 2026

Do you enjoy helping researchers turn funding opportunities into strong, successful applications? We're looking for a Pre-Award Officer to join the Research & Innovation Operations team. You'll help support the University's research and innovation culture by matching academic expertise with suitable funding opportunities, supporting grant applications and helping colleagues navigate funder requirements, costings and internal processes. This role will mainly be supporting Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS). Working with colleagues across BDRI, academic schools and external funders, you'll play a key role in supporting high-quality applications and helping to increase research and innovation income. As Pre-Award Officer you can expect to be involved in:

• Identifying research and innovation funding opportunities from commercial, charity and government sources
• Supporting academics with grant applications, costings, guidance and award acceptance
• Building relationships with academic colleagues, funders and external partners
• Keeping up to date with funding developments and sharing insight across the University

What will you bring to the role?

• Understanding of the university research environment and UK research funding system
• Experience supporting research or innovation grant administration
• Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to work accurately under pressure
• Strong IT, communication and relationship-building skills

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

£32,080 to £35,608 per annum pro rata Grade Grade 6

The University of Kent values diversity and equality at all levels.