Social Sciences Impact Funding Manager

The Social Sciences Division at the University of Oxford is seeking a motivated and well-organised Impact Funding Manager to join our Research, Impact and Engagement (RIE) Team. This full-time role offers and excellent opportunity for someone with strong administrative and project management skills, an excellent communicator and team player with an interest in social sciences research and its impact on the world. 

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Engagement and working as part of a dynamic and collaborative team, you will play a key role in fostering a positive culture of engaged research and impact across the social sciences at Oxford. You will coordinate a range of impact, innovation and engagement funding schemes and initiatives, including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), the Oxford Environment IAA and social sciences-led schemes funded by Research England’s Higher Education and Innovation Fund (HEIF).

You will be responsible for the administration, operation and delivery of the funding schemes and associated activities, acting as the primary point of contact for related queries. This will involve working closely with colleagues across the team and liaising with relevant expertise elsewhere in the University as appropriate. You will support senior leadership by providing secretariat support to steering groups and panels, and by preparing reports on activity for funders and internal stakeholders. 

In addition, you will organise and deliver a range of high-profile activities, including the Social Sciences Impact Conference, Impact Awards, and Festival of Social Science events. You will also liaise with delivery partners on specific work packages, ensuring the successful delivery of shared objectives and collaborative outcomes.

About You

We are seeking an experienced professional with strong administrative and project coordination experience, preferably within a higher education environment. You will have a proven ability to design and manage effective processes that meet institutional and funder requirements, and to plan, manage, and deliver complex projects and events involving multiple stakeholders. You will be comfortable working to deadlines, maintaining high standards of service, and operating effectively within a complex organisational setting, supported by strong analytical skills and experience in gathering, interpreting, and synthesising quantitative and qualitative data for reporting and evaluation.

You will demonstrate excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, analytical reports and engage confidently and diplomatically with colleagues and partners at all levels. You will have experience of organising and delivering events, briefings, workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder meetings, and will be a flexible, proactive team player able to work independently, prioritise competing demands, and adapt to changing circumstances with a positive, solutions-focused approach. You will be educated to honours degree level (or equivalent) and possess strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant digital tools or databases.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

For queries about the role, contact: recruitment@socsci.ox.ac.uk. For an informal discussion about the post, please contact aileen.marshall-brown@socsci.ox.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is midday on 19 January 2026.

Interviews will take place during week commencing 02 February 2026 and will be face to face.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity. 

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