MRC Funding Manager

Contract: Type: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

Overall purpose:

You will contribute to the MRC mission as a funder improving human health through world class medical research, by helping to deliver MRC funding through research grants. You will work closely with team members in a supportive and collaborative environment to contribute to team objectives, where development and continuous improvement is encouraged and supported.

The role is based in the Swindon office however MRC are trialling hybrid office-home working. The role also offers:

• flexible working
• excellent pension scheme
• 30 days annual leave
• North Star nursery on site

The Swindon office is based in the Polaris House Campus and offers collaborative working space, staff canteen, free parking, bike sheds, changing rooms and 10-minute walk from Swindon town centre.

The successful candidate will provide administrative and managerial support to MRC’s Boards and Panels team which delivers the peer review, funding and management of the MRC’s research.

You will have:

Essential

• Education to a degree level or experience working within a research organisation or research administration environment
• A good understanding of peer review in research funding
• Experience of leading/managing others to deliver activities, following agreed processes, within timescales
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including experience in drafting correspondence, papers/briefings and minute taking
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills with evidence of effective teamwork
• A proven ability to work with ambiguity and change, sometimes managing difficult situations by utilising excellent problem solving skills
• Self-motivation and proactive in using initiative to deliver results
• Good analytical skills
• Excellent knowledge of Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel.
• Literacy and numerical skills – e.g. Grade 4/C GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

Desirable

• Degree in a science related subject
• Line management experience
• Knowledge of UKRI and grant processing
• Knowledge of Siebel, Oracle, Zoom and Microsoft Teams

Specific tasks include:

• Responsibility for the end-to-end grant awarding process including oversight of the peer review process, funding meetings and post meeting activities
• Attending Funding Meetings
• Line Management of a small team (2-3) with responsibility for attendance, performance management, supporting career development and training
• Working within the cross Board and Panel resource matrix to manage the delivery of strategic funding calls
• Collaborate with peers to deliver a flexible approach to resource management across all MRC funding schemes
• Ensure the team is operating in a consistent and effective manner supporting continuous process improvement
• Monitor the Board/Panel’s peer review funding budget, working with senior MRC staff and Finance teams
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of the Board/Panel’s portfolio of MRC funded research by undertaking coding and classification for relevant schemes
• Respond to enquiries from the resea! rch commu nity and communicate MRC funding policies, taking decisions on exceptions.
• Monitor consistency of funding process, guidance and training, monitoring and reporting.

Close working relationships will be required with:

• Applicants for MRC funding
• Peer reviewers and those who select peer reviewers
• Board and Panel members
• MRC staff, including:
  • Board and Panel Management team
  • Research Funding and Policy Delivery team
  • Events and Committees Team
  • Head of Theme and Programme Managers within the Board/Panel teams
• UKRI staff

Interviews will take place Monday 6^th or Tuesday 7^th March in Swindon

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