Portfolio Manager – Research and Innovation Funding Delivery

Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE)
Contract Type: X3 Open Ended & X1 Fixed Term (12 Months)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

About the role

BBSRC provides a range of funding opportunities to enable individuals and groups to pursue world-class bioscience research and innovation. The Research and Innovation Funding Delivery (RIFD) Team is responsible for the management, peer review and awarding of BBSRC’s research and innovation grant applications, awards to students and research fellows and research infrastructure. The annual funding budget is ~£500 million.

As Portfolio Manager, you will manage the assessment of pioneering research applications from the academic community that help tackle major bioscience challenges.

Main Responsibilities

By developing and utilising knowledge on the work of BBSRC, and the research and innovation it supports, your main job roles will include:

• Collaborating with BBSRC colleagues on the development and creation of new funding calls
• Leading the grant application, assessment, and award processes for BBSRC’s funding activities; providing oversight on the external peer review of applications and managing expert assessment panels
• Using your knowledge of BBSRC’s funding programmes and policies to provide advice and guidance to the research and innovation community and internal colleagues on how to apply for grants, funding policies and peer review processes
• Organising and leading the delivery of peer review meetings throughout the UK, ensuring that all applications are assessed fairly and robustly
• Providing advice and outreach to the research and innovation community, and other stakeholders, on BBSRC’s funding programmes, processes, and policies
• Utilising your knowledge of BBSRC’s scientific portfolio and funding processes to contribute to the ongoing continuous improvement of funding application, assessment, and award processes
• Identifying ways to improve funding practice and processes within BBSRC for the benefit of bioscience research and innovation communities in the UK; and supporting the office and research community throughout the implementation of changes

Shortlisting and Interview Criteria

• A demonstrable understanding of the bioscience research and innovation sphere, and the impact of scientific discoveries; including an awareness of how BBSRC works with the research community, other funders, government, and wider partners
• A proven ability to interpret scientific information within own science area and a readiness to develop a broader understanding of the science that BBSRC supports
• An ability to communicate complex information in a range of ways, with BBSRC’s stakeholders, including BBSRC’s scientific communities, internal colleagues, and colleagues from other parts of UKRI
• Experience of planning and prioritising own work to ensure that critical deadlines are met; as well as supporting others and a willingness to line manage up to 5 members of staff
• A readiness to develop professionally, challenge effectiveness, contribute to ongoing improvements and provide leadership within the Research and Innovation Funding Delivery team.

In return, UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

- Flexible Working

- 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays

- Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme

- Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

For more information and to apply, please visit our Careers Pages.

Advert information