Assistant Director Research Support and Development

About us

UCL is a world-leading research-intensive university, often ranked in the top ten in the world, with an annual turnover of well over £1 billion. Our research and innovation continues to grow in scale and complexity with record levels of research income and impact achieved last year.

Research and Innovation Services provides support and services for our academics working across the research and innovation life cycle with a focus on applying for and managing funding, and providing professional advice on collaborations and contracts.

The directorate is comprised of four teams; Award Services, Contract Services, Planning, Insight and Improvement, and Compliance and Assurance, who all work together to deliver a service to support, advise and provide expertise to our academic community for our extensive and varied portfolio of externally funded projects.

Award Services provides a range specialist advice to UCL's externally funded research & innovation portfolio through the departments of: Research Support & Development (Pre-award); European Research and Innovation Office; Research Finance and Compliance (Post-award). The service is delivered in partnership with academic and professional services colleagues across UCL, collaborating organisations, and funders.

About the role

As a key member of Research and Innovation Services’ senior management team, the Assistant Director, Research Support and Development will play a key role in the service’s advancement and growth, with specific responsibility for the development and delivery of integrated and holistic pre-award services, responsive to the changing research funding landscape and the needs of UCL and its Funders.

The post-holder will be expected to draw from their extensive sector knowledge, operational experience and established relationships (with other Universities and Funders). Key to success will be the ability to forge close and pro-active working relationships with a range of senior academic staff and administrative officers.

This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 20% on site.

The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working to find out more.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Servicefor Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working to find out more.

About you

The ideal candidate will have supervisory experience in a research and innovation operations in a high volume, deadline driven environment.

The post holder will be invested in continuous improvement and be able to mobilise the relevant support through to completion in a positive and tactful way.

Key to success in this post will be the ability to forge close and pro-active working relationships with a range of senior academic staff and administrative officers.

Please use the cover letter upload option to tell us how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification.

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Daniela Amadio on

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer great benefits. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Customer advert reference: B01-03145

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