Research Funding Assistant (Grants)

Research Grants Manager

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

We offer hybrid working and we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

The Benefits

We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives, offices within walking distance of Hornbeam Park train station, free onsite parking and a whole lot more.

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As our Research Grants Manager, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

The Role
As a Research Grants Manager, you will manage the Research Funding Team, plan and deliver our Research Funding rounds, and provide ongoing award management. This will include developing new funding opportunities to support the evolving research and services strategy which aims to attract and support high quality research that directly benefits the people of Yorkshire.

Supporting the Head of Research and Clinical Trials, you will contribute to the delivery of our research strategy through leading the implementation of new funding initiatives in key areas which may include cancer prevention, screening, treatment, capacity building, younger adult cancers and health inequalities.

Specifically, you will:

·       Define the funding round priority areas and develop associated guidance and data collection.

·       Manage funding round calls and lead on consultations with potential applicants and evaluate applications through strategic fit test and independent peer review.

·       Prepare proposals for the Board of Trustees and communicate outcomes to applicants.

·       Manage the Research Advisory Panel, actively recruiting new members to ensure sufficient numbers and to reflect current funding priorities.

·       Ensure effective research governance and ensure that our governance structures and peer review processes are in accordance with AMRC guidelines and best practice.

·       Develop strong relationships with funded award holders and serve as the main point of contact for any issues with Research Awards.

·       Manage all funded awards including overseeing the awards monitoring process and managing the midterm reviews of programme awards.

·       Develop appropriate management processes for new funding initiatives.

·       Monitor the progress on all research awards, meeting with investigators and working with the Cancer Insight team to ensure impact of the awards is captured.

·       Set the Research Funding Team objectives and budgets ensuring they underpin the delivery of the organisational strategy.

·       Maintain awareness of the external research environment, including working with the NCRI, AMRC and relevant funding organisations such as the NIHR and other health charities. 

·       Assist the Research and Services Team with the design and development of Patient, Public Involvement (PPI) for the charity.

·       Work in collaboration with the Communications and Marketing Teams to provide research Award information to allow us to communicate our work to our beneficiaries, donors and supporters.

·       Coach and develop the Research Funding team, whilst role modelling the values of the charity.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

·       A Post Graduate Qualification or a degree in a relevant subject area with demonstratable experience in a charity, research, or health environment at a similar level.

·       An in-depth understanding of Research Funding mechanisms including peer review processes and management of research awards. 

·       Demonstratable experience of Research Funding and/or management of health research.

·       Experience of managing budgets and analysing expenditure of grant awards.

·       Experience of developing and maintaining strong relationships with a broad range of external stakeholders including senior academics and medical consultants and public health experts.

·       An understanding of Patient, Public Involvement in relation to health Research Funding.

·       An understanding of the health research environment and funding landscape and an awareness of UK research governance and issues affecting the research environment and the voluntary sector.

·       Excellent communication, networking, and interpersonal skills with an ability to engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

·       To be an experienced user of PubMed and other research literature databases.

·       A proven track record of managing, motivating, and developing a team and good project management skills including budget control.

·       Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise workload to meet deadlines and coordinate multiple complex projects

·       Strong IT skills including MS Office and experience in using databases.

Application

Before applying, please visit our Careers Page to view the full role profile and find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To apply please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People, before 25 March 2024. Please read our privacy notice before applying.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer.  We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact us.