Senior Grants and Contracts Manager

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.  
Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and Department

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related work, including securing funding, working with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice and supporting professional development. 

This is a key management position within the Research Operations Team which is the largest team within the RIS Directorate. The Operations Team comprises three sub teams;: pre award support, contracting support and post award support, and provides specialist guidance to academics and professional support colleagues across the lifecycle of a research project.

The post holder will lead a team of six Research Grants and Contracts Managers and you will play an essential role in the development and training of the staff you manage, acting as a point of escalation and reviewing and implementing key business processes. A thorough understanding of the UK HEI research funding landscape is essential.

The post holder will also have responsibility for working alongside academic staff, project managing the preparation and submission of large complex bids by contributing to the proposal development, providing costings, and providing specialist advice on funder eligibility criteria whilst ensuring compliance with university policy.

Reporting to the Head of Research Operations, you will be a key member of the Senior Management Team. This presents an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to move into a management role.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into this University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 throughout the year.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality,  diversity and inclusion 

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. 

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification    

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.    
  
Your application should cover the following criteria:
 

Essential Criteria

Qualifications/Experience

1.    Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

2.    Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery, events and activities within the organisation.

3.    Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.

4.    Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.

5.    Be able to work accurately under pressure and to meet deadlines, demonstrating attention to detail. 

6.    Experience of successfully providing complex research bid support, including costing and pricing, within a Higher Education environment.  

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

7.    Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.

8.    Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems.

9.    Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.

10.  Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.

11.  Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.

12.  Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

13.  Demonstrate the ability to think creatively about service provision and promote new ways of working.

Desirable criteria

14.  Experience of line management or providing developmental support and coaching.

15.  Experience of using research management software/costing and pricing tools e.g. Worktribe.

How to apply
  
To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.   
  
Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.
  
What you need to submit   

•    A CV: and   
•    A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential set out in the essential and desirable criteria within the Person Specification.    
 
Contact details   
  
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Sally Hewlett ([email protected] ).

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery/Development

• Provide expert research funding knowledge.
• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Develop and apply an in-depth understanding of university policy and external research funding landscape developments when carrying out your role.
• Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met by the activities, processes and transactions that are carried out in services you are responsible for.
• Use your professional knowledge and experience to ensure all stakeholder-facing staff provide an accessible, friendly and professional service by shaping processes for inducting and developing staff.
• Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape the service to achieve the required outcomes.
• Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
• Initiate and manage business process reviews to improve the service in your area.
• Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
• Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures.
• Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance.

Planning and Organisation

• Contribute to the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level.
• Oversee the analysis of data about the service levels provided by your area make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees.
• Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.

Team Development

• Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of your teams to ensure that a customer focussed service is provided.
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff ADR and performance reviews.
• Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring the team in way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members.
• Carry out regular performance reviews to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and identify any development needs.
• Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services or more senior managers.
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development.

Communication/Liaison

• Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans.
• Provide professional guidance and advice when managing complaints, referrals and specialist services.
• Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement relating to your service.
• Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
• Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
• Liaise and engage with key stakeholders and internal and external contractors to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services.
• Represent the service and University at promotional events.
• Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
• Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision.
• Any other reasonable duties.

  
Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices – Durham University  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.