Senior Research Grants Officer

Key Responsibilities

1. Oversee the pre award management and delivery of the Transformational Research Award Scheme to ensure that applications are rigorously assessed strategically aligned and compliant with AMRC guidance so that high quality research is identified and funded.
2. Coordinate the Blood Cancer UK Clinical Trial Review Committees review of funding applications to ensure assessment processes uphold rigorous governance and support fair evidence based funding recommendations.
3. Manage a portfolio of active awards ensuring researchers are effectively supported risks and delays are addressed proactively variations follow policy and financial claims are accurate auditable and aligned with agreed budget.
4. Deliver structured progress monitoring for awards reviewed by the Clinical Trial Review Committee to ensure timely assessment against milestones early identification and mitigation of issues and maximisation of outcomes and impact.
5. Play a core role in the implementation of a new Grants Management System. Act as a superuser to help ensure the system supports robust pre and post award management and provides accurate accessible data to the research team and wider organisation.
6. Improve research funding processes and workflows to achieve greater alignment with internal strategic goals and external regulatory requirements to maximise the teams effectiveness.
7. Provide authoritative information advice and support to internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure accurate engagement timely communications and alignment with organisational messaging and fundraising needs.
8. Support the development of junior colleagues through coaching knowledge sharing and training so that team capability and consistency remain high.
9. Represent Blood Cancer UK at relevant external meetings networks and partnerships to ensure the charity remains visible aligned with best practice and informed by emerging trends in the research funding sector.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in a biomedical science or related scientific discipline.
• Strong understanding of medical research and/or grant making processes
• Knowledge of research governance and financial oversight.

• Confident communicator able to engage credibly with senior academics committee members and internal leaders.
• Strong analytical skills enabling interpretation of scientific proposals financial information and risks.
• Ability to manage complex funding rounds manage competing priorities and make informed judgement calls under pressure.
• Skilled in using and improving digital grant management tools with the ability to act as a superuser.

• Experience in research grant administration research management or biomedical research
• Experience managing a diverse portfolio of grants and resolving complex post-award issues.
• Experience improving systems or processes ideally including Grant Management System workflows.
• Experience preparing reports briefings or papers for panels committees or senior stakeholders.