Research Grants Manager

SONICOM; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Generous pension schemes

Flexible working policy

Cycle-to-work scheme

On-site facilities

Job summary

Imperial College London is seeking a proactive Research Grants Manager to lead a portfolio of research awards within the Faculty of Engineering’s Research Services team. You will coordinate funds, ensure compliance, and work with departments to deliver a high‑quality administrative service.

The role requires strong leadership, financial stewardship, and the ability to navigate university processes. You will engage with academics, manage reconciliations and HR paperwork, and influence policy with

Qualifications

• Experience leading administrative teams in a research context.
• Strong financial controls and grant portfolio management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder liaison skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate a portfolio of research grants to ensure compliance with funder terms.
• Provide expert financial management, reconciliation, invoicing and HR paperwork processing.
• Collaborate with Research Services, HR, Finance, and Compliance to resolve operational issues.

Skills

Team leadership

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly organised Research Grants Manager to lead, manage and coordinate a portfolio of research grants within the Faculty of Engineering’s Research Services team. Reporting to the Head of Research Operations and collaborating closely with departmental managers and administrators you will play an important role in the delivering of a high-quality administrative support service. This position offers an excellent opportunity to further develop high-level administrative skills while gaining a strong understanding of university processes, policies and activities.

What you would be doing

The role is the primary point of contact for academic and research staff within the departments and any arising operational issues. You will have sound financial management of a research portfolio of accounts and mitigate any financial and reputational risk in line with funder terms and conditions, and university policy. In addition, you will engage with academics and department staff with the reconciliation, claiming and invoicing of research awards, along with processing of HR paperwork. You will work closely with colleagues in Research Services, HR, Finance, and the Central Research Support and Compliance Office to effectively resolve administrative issues.

What we are looking for

The post involves providing excellent advice and guidance to researchers or teams of researchers, dealing with escalated problems, managing the customer interface, and contributing to the development of standard operating procedures and quality assurance.

Your ability to lead and manage a team is essential; and the role is key to the success and financial performance of the Faculty and University. You must be operationally skilled with the ability to distribute, delegate and prioritise effectively and form strong working relationships with staff at all levels in the organisation.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity
• Benefit from sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes)
• Get access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day 1, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and a cycle-to-work scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing .

Further information

This post is full-time and open-ended based at the South Kensington campus.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top-ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages .

Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.

Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.