Consultancy and Tenders Manager

The Role and Department

Research and Innovation Services (RIS) offers guidance, expert advice, and hands-on support for all aspects of research and research-related activities. This includes securing funding, collaborating with partners, undertaking knowledge exchange, demonstrating impact, commercialising outputs, ensuring good research practice, and supporting professional development.

This post will sit in the Contracting hub within the Research Operations Team. Research Operations is the largest team in the division and provides comprehensive support to academic and Professional Support Staff (PSS) colleagues throughout the lifecycle of a research project. The team comprises pre- and post-award services, contracting, and consultancy support. This includes tailored financial and contractual advice and management for all researchers at Durham, from planning, costing, and pricing the initial proposal to ensuring that contracts and agreements are negotiated effectively and efficiently and managing live awards.

Research Operations collaborates closely with the various teams within RIS and partners with Professional Support colleagues across the University. This collaboration helps facilitate research-related planning, reporting, and development, meeting the needs of both individual researchers and the wider institution.

Working in consultation with the Head of Business Development and the Head of Research Operations, you will take responsibility for the development and implementation of a new model for efficiently seeking, managing, and growing consultancy and tender activity across Durham University.

The post-holder will be an enthusiastic and determined individual with experience operating in a business-focused professional environment. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing expert advice and guidance to academics to support the development of consultancy and tender activity across the university. This includes developing and implementing processes to manage the submission of bids, costing and pricing of bids and ensuring adherence to all internal and external regulations and procedures.
• Issuing and reviewing draft agreements and contracts, negotiating appropriate changes to ensure consistency and adherence to set standards, whilst aiming to achieve the best possible terms for Durham. This will be done in consultation and collaboration with Durham University’s Legal Support team.
• Undertaking due diligence and risk management activities, proposing actions to mitigate risk, and ensuring contracts and agreements comply with university policies and governance regulations, such as ethical approval requirements

It is essential that the Consultancy and Tenders Manager is highly organised, pays close attention to detail, and has a proactive approach to problem-solving. The capability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied workload is crucial, as is the need to delegate and oversee the work of a dedicated support officer when required. The ability to work across a number of concurrent projects at different stages of development is essential. As a confident communicator, you will form close working relationships with members of RIS, Legal Services, Heads of Department, Directors of Research, Department Managers, and other members of Professional Support Staff.

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