Research Support Officer Research Strategy and Services 105546 Grade 6

Position Details

Research Strategy and Services

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 33002 to 35608 with potential progression once in post to 39906

Grade: 6

Full Time Permanent

2 positions available

Closing date: 19th January 2026

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham

Background

The University has an exciting vision to build on the success of REF2021 by continuing to transform its research performance across outputs income impact and policy influence. Central to this ambition is the Research Strategy & Services Division (RSSD) a Professional Services department that works in partnership with academics across research strategy operations and partnerships. The RSSD integrates professional staff from the following teams into one cohesive ecosystem: Research Strategy & Development; Research Support (Grants & Contracts); Research Partnerships Research Impact & Innovation; Research Policy & Environment; Research Systems & Data; Research Governance; Research Communications; Legal & Regulatory Compliance; and Research Finance Accounting.

As part of its support for academic excellence and international collaboration the RSSD also plays a pivotal role in helping researchers access major funding opportunities including those from Horizon Europe following the UKs reassociation. This enhances the Universitys ability to secure high-impact research funding and drive forward global partnerships. An overview of the RSSD structure is provided in the organogram below.

Role Summary

The Research Support Officer sits within the College Research Support Team and provides academic facing support to researchers in a defined portfolio across all elements of pre-award research support. This includes proactive support across the life cycle of research proposals from costing and pricing approvals support with due diligence the set-up of successful bids and transferred awards.

Reporting to a Research Support Manager and working as part of a teamtheResearch Support Officer will work closely with academic teams including in the identification of funding opportunities; supporting the submission of research applications and supporting contractual arrangements; and ensuring internal approval processes and procedures are followed throughout.

Main Duties

• Provide support to a portfolio of research applications which will include the preparation of budget information administrative information within application forms checking of funder requirements and managing the submission collaboratively within the wider Research Support Team to ensure researchers receive professional support at every stage of the process;
• Review provide recommendations and draft clauses to support the negotiation of contractual and grant funding agreements related to research awards (including funding agreements collaboration agreements Data Sharing Agreements Material Transfer Agreements etc.). Work closely with the Research Support Manager Head of Research Support and Business Engagement Partners as appropriate;
• Contribute to the identification of funding opportunities and their timely and targeted dissemination to academic colleagues;
• Support the acceptance and set up of new awards from funders which will include reviewing budgets and making changes to budget lines stipulated by funders; updating Worktribe records and completing the funder portals as well as awards being transferred into the University by new researchers;
• Following agreed processes ensure correct internal approvals as well as due diligence are in place prior to the submission of proposals to funders identifying and escalating risks as appropriate;
• Ensure entries in the research grant management system (Worktribe) and other reporting is completed accurately and in full;
• Assist in thesourcing preparation and maintenance of standard texts for applications e.g. relating to EDI priorities University research strategy and approach to open research that can be adapted as necessary in response to specific funder calls and requirements;
• Working with the wider Research Support team arrange and contribute to application pipeline reporting and to meetings with academic colleagues on pipeline development in order to maintain an up to date picture of applications in the relevant area;
• Where appropriate contribute to the development of more complex bids in liaison with other RSSD may include organisation of meetings and workshops (e.g. funding webinars sandpits pitch-to-peer sessions etc); capturing of key information for the bid such as project partner details or budgets; or the dissemination or collection of key information from partners;
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held significant and directly relevant experience and expertise in research support or administration within a higher education or comparable research environment will be required.
• Knowledge of the UK research funding landscape key funders (e.g. UKRI NIHR charities EU industry). An understanding of their application and award management processes is desirable.
• Evidence of strong literacy and numeracy skills with the ability to produce clear written materials and to interpret and analyse information and data accurately.
• Experience of successfully engaging and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. academic staff funders partners) to deliver research-related outcomes resolve issues or support complex projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven experience of working effectively as part of a team within an academic or research-intensive environment and of engaging confidently with staff at all levels.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain policies procedures or decisions clearly and to influence or negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience of improving administrative processes or systems to enhance the quality efficiency or consistency of research support services.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret both qualitative and quantitative data and present findings appropriately to different audiences.
• Strong IT skills including proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and experience of using corporate research management systems (e.g. Worktribe or equivalent). Demonstrable ability to learn new systems and software quickly.
• High level of self-motivation and accountability with the ability to plan and deliver work to deadlines manage competing priorities and support others in doing so.
• Experience of actively championing equality diversity and inclusion with the ability to identify and address issues that may impact protected groups and to ensure relevant legislation and institutional policies are applied effectively in practice.

Informal enquiries to Karen Atkins email:

View our staff values and behaviours here

Use of AI in applications:We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.