Research Development Officer
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 new Professional Services department that is being established to provide a transformative and sector-leading approach to research strategy and support. The RSSD brings together into one connected eco-system professional staff that work within and across the following teams: 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.
It is a really exciting time to join the University of Birmingham – we have set ourselves an ambition to be one of the world’s top 50 institutions by 2030.
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 new Professional Services department that is being established to provide a transformative and sector-leading approach to research strategy and support. The RSSD brings together into one connected eco-system professional staff that work within and across the following teams: 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. An overview of the RSSD is provided in the organogram below.
Role Summary
The Research Development Officer (RDO) sits within the RSSD Hub (College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and College of Life and Environmental Sciences) and provides support to researchers in defined Schools/Institutes, and for this role specifically in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, across all elements of pre-award research support including proactive research development and partnership building in support of research proposals.
Reporting to the Research Support Manager (College of Life and Environmental Sciences), the Research Development Officer supports researchers in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences to develop and secure external research grants and contracts via the provision of specialist practitioner support at every stage of the pre-award and contracting process. Working closely with colleagues from across the research Support team, the Hub and RSSD, the RDO is a key contact point for researchers in a defined School or set of schools in College of Life and Environmental Sciences, providing specialist advice on research funder terms and conditions, undertaking costing/pricing, due diligence of external partners, negotiation of agreements related to grants and industry contracts, submission to funder, the setting up of the projects and effective pre-to-post award handover, and undertake reviews of bids.
A strong package of training and development is available.