Research Development Officer

The Research Development Officer (RDO) is part of the Research Support Team and provides support to researchers within specific Schools across all aspects of pre-award research support. This includes proactive research development, research agreements, and partnership building to facilitate high-quality research, while also supporting the broader research environment and impact agenda. 

Reporting to a Research Support Manager and working collaboratively within a team, the RDO helps researchers develop and secure external research grants by providing specialist support throughout the pre-award and contracting process. Acting as a key point of contact for researchers in a designated School, the RDO offers expert guidance on funder terms and conditions, costing and pricing, due diligence of external partners, and submission processes. They also play a vital role in negotiating research agreements, setting up projects, and ensuring a smooth transition from pre-award to post-award support by working closely with colleagues across the Research Strategy and Services Division (RSSD). 

Main duties 

1. Act as the primary point of contact for researchers within a defined School or portfolio, providing expert guidance on the development and submission of research applications. Work collaboratively within the wider Research Support Team to ensure researchers receive professional support at every stage of the process;
2. Work closely with all collaborators on all aspects of research development, proposal preparation, and funding submissions to UK, EU, and international funding bodies. Liaise with external partners and collaborators, as well as internal colleagues across the Division, to ensure a seamless application process;
3. Review, provide recommendations, and draft clauses to support the negotiation of contractual and grant funding agreements related to research awards (including funding agreements, collaboration agreements, Data Sharing Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, etc.).
4. Provide expert advice on proposal content to ensure alignment with funding criteria, including scheme objectives, project management, resource justification, and key policies (e.g. EDI, research integrity). Ensure compliance with funder requirements and the University’s financial and governance regulations;
5. Cost research proposals, ensuring appropriate cost recovery and compliance with the University’s financial regulations, strategic pricing policies, and funder terms and conditions.
6. Advise on risk management related to research grants and agreements, ensuring compliance with funder terms and conditions as well as University policies and guidelines. Conduct due diligence on proposed external research partners, funders, and collaborators
7. Collaborate with colleagues to support process and systems improvements across research activities, ensuring the effective adoption of changes;

Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

• Knowledge of the UK research funding ecosystem, key research funders and an understanding of their processes.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of providing research support across research grants and/or agreements, ideally in a Higher Education setting
• Skills or experience of effectively identifying and assessing risk and proposing suitable mitigating steps
• Experience of developing/negotiating budgets and/or agreement terms.
• Excellent analytical skills with an ability to analyse complex qualitative and quantitative information and present conclusions clearly and concisely to senior audiences, internal and external.

Informal enquiries to Karen Atkins, email: k.l.atkins@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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