View Vacancy -- Programme Manager – Research Funding (maternity cover) – NC3Rs 2063

Open Date
06/02/2023, 00:00
Close Date
24/02/2023, 23:55
NC3Rs

Application of the 3Rs plays an essential role in achieving scientific excellence. The NC3Rs supports the development and uptake of new research tools and models with reduced reliance on the use of animals and/or improved animal welfare and its activities are divided between its role as a 3Rs research funder and programmes led by its own team of scientists. Further information can be found at www.nc3rs.org.uk.

We provide a range of funding mechanisms to support projects, infrastructure, and training and career development. The awards we make deliver 3Rs benefits, as well as advancing the scientific field across a breadth of subjects such as improving the understanding of human diseases, developing efficacious and safe medicines, and protecting the environment. We are the main funder of 3Rs research in the UK, with over £80 million committed through our funding schemes since the Centre’s establishment in 2004. Further information on the awards we have made to-date can be found at https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/our-science.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found atwww.ukri.org

MRC - 3
London
£40,016- £46,643 (plus London allowances if applicable)
Fixed Term
Science
Full Time
12 months

The role of the Research Funding Programme Manager offers a unique opportunity to work with researchers at all career stages to stimulate change and inspire innovation to advance the 3Rs and the research base.

In addition to having responsibility for the annual funding calls which aim to drive the creation of 3Rs approaches and technologies and to support the adoption of 3Rs tools, technologies and skills within routine research practice, this role also involves identifying opportunities to maximise the 3Rs impact and outputs of the Centre’s portfolio of research grants.

Key responsibilities

  • Support the funding schemes’ application process including providing guidance to applicants, presenting at applicant workshops, selecting referees, allocating applications to Panel members and compiling applicant feedback.
  • Review the portfolio of research grants including monitoring the progress of awards and collating outcomes and impacts reported on visits and Researchfish to produce evaluation reports, scheme reviews and to monitor scheme performance.
  • Promote the Centre's funding schemes through institutional visits, webinars and presentations.
  • Maximise dissemination and uptake of 3Rs advances arising from research grants by building collaborative relationships with grant holders through online/ face-to-face meetings, focused workshops and the NC3Rs gateway.
  • Work with grant holders to ensure that the methodologies developed as part of their NC3Rs grants are published in enough detail to facilitate adoption and have a clearly described 3Rs impact, on a freely accessible platform such as the NC3Rs gateway.
  • Work with the NC3Rs Communications team to produce case studies, news items, award announcements and other materials aimed at both scientific and lay audiences.
  • Identify opportunities to work with other research funders on areas of mutual strategic importance to build capacity in the 3Rs.
  • Represent the NC3Rs in a variety of collaborations and networks.
  • Build and sustain relationships with key external stakeholders, including Panel members.
  • Contribute to evolution of the NC3Rs research funding strategy, schemes and policies.
  • The Programme Manager will also contribute to other activities where appropriate

Education, qualifications, training

  • PhD in a biological science (in vivo experience is desirable)

Knowledge and experience

  • An understanding of the issues around the use of animals in research and a demonstrable commitment to the 3Rs
  • Ability to engage in scientific issues, with credibility at all levels
  • Experience of managing a varied workload and delivering work to deadlines
  • Ability to think creatively and develop novel solutions to specific challenges
  • Strong organisational and planning skills
  • Experience of analysing and summarising research outputs and impacts
  • Experience of organising meetings, workshops or events
  • Experience of developing, influencing and maintaining excellent relationships
  • Funding organisation experience (is desirable)
  • Experience as a post-doctoral researcher (is desirable)
  • Excellent IT skills and an ability to use and interrogate computerised systems, including databases (is desirable)

Personal skills, behaviours, qualities

  • Excellent communicator both orally and in writing
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to work as part of a dynamic team
  • Keen interest to be involved in ad-hoc project work and in wider team initiatives
  • Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work well as part of a team

­The Programme Manager – Research Funding will report to Dr Katie Bates, Head of Research Funding.

Salary will be in the range of £40,016 – £46,643 (plus London allowances if applicable) depending on skills and experience.

The successful candidate will be subject to security checks.

The closing date for applications is 24 February 2023.

Please ensure to submit a CV and covering letter. Your cover letter should clearly outline how you fulfill the criteria listed in the personal specification and your motivation for applying for this role. Please note failure to address the criteria or submit a covering letter may result in your application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV. 

Interviews are due to take place in March 2023.

The NC3Rs is an autonomous body responsible for setting and delivering its strategy and managing its resources. It is not an independent public bodyand for this reason it operates under the umbrella of the Medical Research Council (MRC), using some of the MRC administrative systems. A service agreement exists between the NC3Rs and the MRC. NC3Rs staff are appointed to the appropriate MRC Band and immediately seconded to the NC3Rs.

Choosing to come to work at the NC3Rs (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the NC3Rs and UKRI on your CV in the future.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As"Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.  The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

This opportunity is closed to applications.