Senior Post-Award Finance Lead

Durham University; North East; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham University seeks an experienced post-award professional to join the Post Award management team. You will lead a portfolio of complex externally funded research awards, providing expert advice on funder requirements and university policies, while line-managing a skilled team to drive performance and continuous improvement.

The role combines specialist post-award knowledge with operational and people management responsibilities, ensuring compliant, high-quality service across the research

Responsibilities

• Line manage staff within the Post Award function, providing leadership, guidance, support and pastoral care to ensure high levels of performance, engagement and professional development
• Provide training to new and existing staff members as appropriate and mentor team members to ensure a thorough understanding of university financial regulations, research related policies and external funders.
• Manage a portfolio of high-value, complex and strategically important research awards, ensuring effective financial and project management throughout the award lifecycle.
• Provide advice on project set-up, start certificates, recruitment and appointment approvals, project reviews, virements and change requests, funder claims and invoices, final claims, project closure activities, and complex funder and academic queries, ensuring compliance with funder and University requirements.
• Provide a senior check, where appropriate, of the team's work to ensure accurate calculations and reporting.
• Develop and deliver training sessions to relevant university staff on Post-Award procedures.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of new policies and quality standards, procedures and systems for the post award management of Durham's externally funded research activities to ensure effective working and continuous improvement.
• Actively participate in regional and national networks and working groups to represent Durham and share best practice across the sector in research project management, ensuring that Durham is actively engaged in relevant consultations and well positioned to understand and, where appropriate, influence funder policy.
• Deputise for the Senior Post Award Manager as required

Job description

Durham University seeks an experienced post-award professional to join the Post Award management team. You will lead a portfolio of complex externally funded research awards, providing expert advice on funder requirements and university policies, while line-managing a skilled team to drive performance and continuous improvement.

The role combines specialist post-award knowledge with operational and people management responsibilities, ensuring compliant, high-quality service across the research