View Vacancy -- Science Manager – Research Funding (maternity cover) – NC3Rs 2103

Open Date
14/03/2023, 00:00
Close Date
10/04/2023, 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 - 4
London
£32,005 – £35,143 (plus London allowances if applicable)
Fixed Term
Science
Full Time
12 months

The Science Manager will primarily provide support for the annual funding calls for the Project grant and Skills and Knowledge Transfer schemes, 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 respectively, this role also involves helping to disseminate the 3Rs impact and outputs of the Centre’s portfolio of research grants.

The main elements of this role are outlined below: 

  • Preparing promotional materials for annual funding calls.
  • Supporting the funding schemes’ application process including answering applicant queries, selecting referees, identifying conflicts of interest, allocating applications to Panel members for assessment, helping with the preparation of Panel documents, assisting at Panel meetings, compiling applicant feedback.
  • Assisting with the transition to the new funding service and updating funding schemes and grant webpages.
  • Responding to routine NC3Rs grant holder queries, including extensions and suspensions, and during the annual Researchfish submission period.
  • Helping with the annual Panel member recruitment process and induction meeting.
  • Helping collate and analyse metrics on impacts arising from NC3Rs funded awards using data reported at progress meetings and on Researchfish.
  • Working with the Funding and Communications teams to promote the outcomes and impacts arising from the portfolio of NC3Rs funded grants, including case studies, social media posts, news articles, award announcements and other materials aimed at both scientific and lay audiences.
  • Helping to support the Funding team with the NC3Rs gateway, a freely accessible publishing platform for NC3Rs grant holders to showcase their 3Rs methodologies. Tasks will include updating guidance for authors, helping with open calls for articles, checking the completeness of draft manuscripts when they are received by the Office, and assisting the internal review of draft manuscripts to ensure the methodologies are written in sufficient detail to facilitate adoption and that the 3Rs impacts are clearly described.
  • Providing ad-hoc support to other NC3Rs programmes where appropriate.

Education, qualifications and training

  • PhD in a biological science (in vivo experience is desirable)
  • Experience of writing a variety of content for scientific audiences is essential.

Knowledge and experience

  • Ability to identify, analyse and propose solutions to varied problems.
  • The ability to handle, analyse and present complex information.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage a varied workload.
  • Ability to plan and deliver multiple projects, often with conflicting deadlines.
  • Experience of using Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook.

Personal skills, behaviours and qualities

  • An awareness of the use of animals in research and the 3Rs.
  • Excellent communicator both orally and in writing.
  • Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work well as part of a dynamics team.
  • Ability to adapt to new systems and processes and modify procedures in response to changing work needs.
  • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

The Science Manager - Research Funding will be part of the Research Funding team and will report to Dr Katie Bates, Head of Research Funding.

The salary will be in the range of £32,005 – £35,143 per annum (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 10 April 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 likely to take place in late April/ early May 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.