Research Strategy Manager

King's College London; London; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking research centre dedicated to understanding brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders. As a Research Strategy Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the Centre's research strategy, overseeing funding applications, and fostering collaborations with academics and stakeholders. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the field of neuroscience while enjoying hybrid working arrangements. If you are passionate about advancing research and have a strong background in neuroscience or a related discipline, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience or equivalent research experience required.
• Experience in managing academic research or funding environments is essential.

Responsibilities

• Implement the Centre's research strategy and oversee academic profiles.
• Coordinate funding applications and manage external communications.

Skills

PhD in neuroscience or relevant biomedical discipline

Experience managing in an academic research environment

Knowledge of the UK research funding landscape

Ability to synthesize scientific literature

Excellent communication skills

Experience building relationships with stakeholders

Ability to manage multiple projects

Proactive work ethic

Education

PhD in neuroscience

Equivalent research experience

Job description

About us

The Centre for Developmental Neurobiology aims to understand the mechanisms that control brain development and how deviations from the normal plan lead to neurodevelopmental conditions. The Centre has a team of over 160 researchers and support staff and is based in New Hunt’s House on Guy’s Campus.

The Centre is part of the School of Neuroscience within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience and has close links with several departments at our St Thomas’ and Denmark Hill Campuses. It leads the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, dedicated to transforming our understanding of brain development to make clinical advances that improve the lives of those affected by neurodevelopmental conditions.

About the role

The Research Strategy Manager will work closely with the Centre’s Director, Professor Oscar Marín, contributing to scientific and strategic decision-making and overseeing the Centre's academic and public profiles. A significant part of the role involves implementing the Centre’s research strategy, including delivering funding priorities and supporting the development and coordination of funding applications to various research funders and philanthropic donors. The Manager will oversee the scientific operations of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, a virtual centre focusing on biological mechanisms underlying developmental brain disorders.

The role requires building strong working relationships with Centre academics, providing responsive funding development support, promoting funding opportunities, and coordinating the internal peer review system. The postholder will assist with strategic grant applications, including drafting proposal components.

Additional responsibilities include coordinating and preparing reports for internal and external discussions, managing external communications and the online presence of the centres, preparing media news in collaboration with the Press Office, and representing the centres in stakeholder engagements.

The postholder will support recruitment of group leaders, oversee mentoring and probation processes, and coordinate the Centre Steering Committee. They will also organize science-focused meetings and perform other duties as directed by the line manager.

This position offers hybrid working arrangements, typically three days on campus, with occasional out-of-hours work and overnight stays.

This is a full-time, indefinite contract (35 hours per week).

About you

Successful candidates will possess the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD in neuroscience or relevant biomedical discipline, or equivalent research experience
• Experience managing in an academic research or research funding environment
• Knowledge of the UK research funding landscape for science and biomedicine
• Ability to synthesize scientific literature and communicate in both scientific and non-specialist language
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills
• Experience building productive relationships with scientists, academics, or stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple projects under time and resource constraints
• Proactive and independent work ethic

Salary: £53,149 to £62,422 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance