Research Development Facilitator

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working 2-3 days/week

Job summary

University of Cambridge is seeking a Research Development Facilitator to work with the Research Development (pre-award) Teams across the School of Clinical Medicine. The role involves providing expert advice to academics and grants staff on grant applications, costings, and approvals to external funders.

The post-holder will contribute to ensuring high-quality funding applications, accuracy of budgets, and compliance with policies, while supporting training and research strategy planning.

Qualifications

• Strong numerical and communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Educated to first degree level or equivalent knowledge/experience
• Previous project management experience desirable

Responsibilities

• Prepare, submit and approve applications to external funding agencies
• Ensure budgeting accuracy in research agreements with external partners
• Identify and mitigate risk and ensure compliance with policies
• Support training initiatives and research strategy planning for the School and departments

Skills

Numerical skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Networking

Education

First degree or equivalent

Job description

The Research Office welcomes applications for a Research Development Facilitator to join the Research Development (pre-award) Teams and work with research-focussed staff across the School of Clinical Medicine.

As a member of the Research Office team, you will work alongside other Research Development posts and Research Operations staff to provide specialist advice and support to academics and Departmental grants administrators relating to research grant applications. You will be actively involved in preparing, submitting and approving applications to external funding agencies, delivering a seamless and integrated service.

The successful applicant will demonstrate a clear understanding of the research grant lifecycle and will ideally have directly relevant experience of providing administrative support across a complex research landscape.

Demonstrating a proactive approach to ensuring high quality funding applications, you will identify any discrepancies between the application and costing, and work with Departmental grants administrators and PIs to resolve these before the funder deadline. You will identify and help mitigate risk, ensuring compliance with university and funder policies. You will also play a key role in ensuring the accuracy of budgets in research agreements with a variety of external partners and commercial sponsors.

The post-holder will be supported to take on varied responsibilities alongside the core requirements of the role, making key contributions to training initiatives for both departmental and Research Office staff, and supporting research strategy planning for the School and its departments.

Key skills and attributes required for this role include strong numerical and communication skills, as well as attention to detail. Excellent organisational skills, along with the abilities to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels and to build networks and effective working relationships, are essential for the role. You will be educated to first degree level/level 6 vocational qualification, or with equivalent level of knowledge and experience. Previous project management experience is desirable.

We are supportive of hybrid working within teams for a minimum of 2-3 days per week from Greenwich House.

Some roles may require additional onsite working according to business need and this is subject to discussion with the recruiting manager.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Grace Martey at [e-mail]

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact: Cambridge Research Office Recruitment at: [e-mail]

Please see the Further Particulars document for more details of this vacancy. Candidates will be shortlisted based on these criteria.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.