Research operations lead

hireful; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK charity focused on kidney disease is seeking a Research Operations Lead to manage grant funding programmes and oversee operational processes. The role requires strong leadership and communication skills, alongside experience in grant management. Candidates should be passionate about improving the lives of people with kidney disease and have a proven ability to motivate teams. This position offers a hybrid working model from the Peterborough office.

Benefits

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Pension Scheme

Sick Pay

Employee Assistance Programme

Bike Loan Scheme

Cycle2Work Scheme

Eyecare

Discount Portal

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a grant funding environment.
• Excellent organisational and administration skills.
• Proven track record as an effective line manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead grant funding programmes and manage operational aspects.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and governance requirements.
• Support staff development and create a positive team culture.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Team leadership

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Job description

Research operations lead

Location: Contracted to our Peterborough office with the flexibility for hybrid working.

Salary: £43,000 - £48,000 depending on experience.

Contract Type: Permanent.

Hours: Full time: 37.5 hours per week.

Benefits: We want all our employees to feel valued and engaged and are committed to offering a positive working culture along with a good work-life balance. As well as ensuring we pay our employees fairly, we offer the following benefits: Flexible working, Generous annual leave, Private Medical Insurance, including dental and optical, Pension Scheme, Sick Pay, Death in Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Bike Loan Scheme, Cycle2Work Scheme, Eyecare, Discount Portal.

Closing date: Sunday 16 November 2025

Preliminary telephone interviews: will be held on 18 and 19 November 2025

In-person interviews: will be held in Peterborough week commencing 24 November 2025

No agencies please

Be a part of an energetic and vibrant team who are driven by the desire to improve the lives of people living with kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease.

Responsibilities

We are recruiting a research operations lead who will lead our grant funding programmes, with responsibility for the smooth running and delivery of grant rounds and all operational aspects of the research award process. The postholder will also oversee the day-to-day management of our expanding research portfolio, ensuring processes are efficient, accurate and delivered on time.

You will have experience of working within a grant funding environment and a clear understanding of the end-to-end processes that underpin it. This includes planning and delivering funding rounds, managing application and review systems, issuing and monitoring awards, and ensuring compliance with organisational policies and governance requirements. You will be comfortable balancing accuracy with efficiency, maintaining high standards of service to applicants and award holders, and supporting your team to deliver consistently reliable processes.

We are also seeking a confident, experienced professional with a strong background in operational programme delivery and a proven track record as an effective line manager. You will thrive on leading people: supporting staff development, providing clear direction and creating a positive, collaborative team culture. Your ability to motivate and support others will be central to this role: you will set clear objectives, manage performance fairly and consistently, and encourage professional growth across the team.

With enthusiasm and passion for the mission of Kidney Research UK, you will bring excellent organisational and administration skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities at once. You will be confident and assertive, able to make sound decisions, delegate effectively and keep processes moving at pace. Strong communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal) will enable you to work well across teams, build productive relationships with colleagues, and liaise effectively with external stakeholders.

How to apply

If you are interested in the position, please complete the online application form and submit together with your CV.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone and encourage applications from all sections of the community.

About Kidney Research UK

Kidney Research UK is the leading charity in the UK focused on funding research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease and for more than 60 years the research, we fund has been making an impact. But kidney disease is increasing as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, making our work more essential than ever.

At Kidney Research UK we work with clinicians and scientists across the UK, funding and facilitating research into all areas of kidney disease. We collaborate with partners across the public, private and third sectors to prevent kidney disease and drive innovation to transform treatments.

Over the last ten years we have invested more than £71 million into research. We lobby governments and decision makers to change policy and practice to ensure that the estimated 7.2 million people living with all stages of kidney disease in the UK have access to the most effective care and treatment, and to make kidney disease a priority. Most importantly, we also work closely with patients, ensuring their voice is heard and is at the centre of everything we do, from deciding which research to invest in to how we plan our priorities and our work across the charity.

Those patient contributions are vital, always helping us and our partners to understand what life is like with kidney disease, always ensuring we see the patient behind the treatment and always reminding us that behind every statistic and every number is a person – the patients and the carers who inspire our mission and push us forward to make a difference and change the future of kidney disease.

You may also have experience in the following: Research Operations, Grant Funding Management, Research Grant Programmes, Research Administration, Grant Application Process, Peer Review Management, Funding Rounds, Grant Compliance, Research Governance, Portfolio Management, Research Projects, End-to-End Grant Process, Operational Delivery, Research Strategy Implementation, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Not for Profit, NFP, etc.

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