Senior Research Funding Associate

at  Kings College London

Job id: 088866. Salary: £51,974 - £61,021 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.
Posted: 02 May 2024. Closing date: 26 May 2024.
Business unit: Research Management & Innovation. Department: Pre-Award.
Contact details: Laura Weiss. laura.weiss@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Guy’s Campus. Category: Professional & Support Services.
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Job description
We are looking for a new member of the Pre-Award Health Team in the Research Grants and Contracts department at King’s College London. The post holder will:
provide efficient and effective pre-award service for members of King’s College London staff who are engaged in research.
have delegated authority and responsibility to advise and submit official costs on behalf of the College and to approve and submit research applications for a specific academic area of King’s.
accept grants and negotiate contractual agreements related to grants.
provide guidance to other Pre-Award Health Team staff on complex applications and awards
as required by the Pre-Award Health Team Lead and the Director of Pre-Award, line manage a small number of Research Funding Associates within the Health Team.
contribute towards the formulation of policy and processes regarding research grant matters and develop (or continue to develop) their own expertise in research funding
represent Pre-Award Health Team, as needed, in relationship building/meetings with the academic and professional services community at King’s
The Pre-Award Health Team supports the Faculties of Life Science and Medicine, Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and each team member manages a portfolio of projects across the Faculties.
This post will be based with the Health Team, but may be allocated to another campus team, as required by business needs. King’s has a hybrid working policy and the post will primarily be based at Guy’s Campus, however flexibility is required to be at any Campus where needed. Flexibility with regards to location of work will therefore be required.
Candidates should have experience of supporting grant applications and advising on project budgets, preferably in a university environment. This role will be subject to developments and adaptations according to institutional needs. Resilience and capacity to adapt in constant changing environment is an essential part of the role.
Applicants also require excellent organisational, communication, negotiation and literacy skills, proven decision-making ability and be able to work well under pressure, both individually and as part of a team.
This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.
This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.
Key responsibilities
To check costing and draft applications of funding proposals for research grants and give academic staff accurate, clear advice on related matters, university policy on indirect cost recovery and the presentation of figures in research proposals.
To provide sound, constructive advice to academic staff applying for research grant funding, including costing and pricing grant proposals, funders’ regulations, university polices, King’s Health Partner Trusts’ requirements, publication, legal and intellectual property matters.
To check and formally approve research proposals for their compliance with university policies and the rules and regulations of funders.
To develop an expertise in specific funding bodies, in particular their application processes and systems as well as their funding terms and conditions.
To disseminate information on relevant university policy and procedures and explain them, as appropriate, to academic and research support staff, including participating in seminars, as necessary and providing relevant training for academic and local administrative staff on an ad hoc basis.
To work closely with other sections of RMID and local academic administrative staff across the university to ensure (i) a high quality, consistent and integrated approach and response to research support and (ii) that the pre-award grants team has a well-managed interface with other sections of the Division, the university and its partner NHS Foundation Trusts.
To ensure that proper, up-to-date and accurate records of applications and awards are maintained by the whole Pre-Award Team, and input, validate and monitor material uploaded to university information systems, such as Worktribe. To be responsible for the accuracy and integrity of research-related data in their area and contribute to the preparation of reports and analyses of activity.
To prepare draft collaboration agreements and other related agreements for research projects from Research Grants & Contracts templates (including the Brunswick templates) and develop a good working knowledge of how to use them.
To negotiate collaboration agreements and subcontracts with external partners involved in research projects.
To be a point of contact for the Research Funding Associates in the Health Team for complex matters regarding applications and awards.
To line manage, as needed, a small number of Research Funding Associates and monitor/support their work.
To represent the Pre-Award Health Team and the wider Pre-Award Team in relevant meetings and training within Research Grants and Contracts Division and RMID, as directed by the Health Team Lead and the Director of Pre-Award, as needed.
To provide relevant training, as needed, to the Pre-Award Health Team as directed by the Health Team Lead and the Director of Pre-Award.
To be personally responsible for their own work and to refer to their line-manager on complex matters of policy and/or legal matters.
To undertake such other duties as are consistent with the role, as required by their line manager and to work across such campuses as may be required.
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification or equivalent experience in the university/higher education sector
• Relevant work experience in research grants support in the university/ higher education sector
• Ability to analyse and present information with a focus on specific requirements of funding schemes and university policy
• Knowledge of research funding landscape in the UK and/or internationally, including knowledge of grants and funders requirements
• Able to produce highly accurate budgets in line with funder guidelines, and practical, sound numeracy skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to interact with a wide range of people in a positive and helpful manner whilst being capable of firmly maintaining university policies
• Proven organisational, problem solving and administrative skills
• Ability to work well under pressure whilst maintaining consistently high levels of accuracy and attention to detail, and to be able to prioritise work in the face of shifting priorities

Desirable criteria

• Direct experience handling the pre-award aspects of research funding mechanisms in a university
• Knowledge of full economic costing methodology
• Knowledge and/or direct experience of negotiation of awards/contracts related to research grants
• Line management experience
• Familiarity with clinical research projects, including clinical trials administration and experience of working with NHS Trusts.

Further information
The interview process will consist of a panel interview to be held in early June. A short presentation and/or a separate written test (via email) may be required, to be confirmed if selected for interview.

Please refer the Job description for details