Research Funding Officer

Summary

To deliver our research strategy goals and continue to fund exciting and life changing diabetes research, we are looking for a Research Funding Officer to join our research funding team within the Research Directorate. You will join a friendly, supportive and busy team with a strong reputation for rigorous grant funding processes, ensuring that gold standard governance processes for funding are implemented. These roles are critical to warrant that the research which Diabetes UK funds is relevant to people affected with diabetes and has the potential to make a difference to their lives.

We have a friendly and inclusive working environment here at Diabetes UK and are proud of our hybrid approach which allows great flexibility in the way that we work. This means that you can balance your working time between home and the office, subject to the needs of your role.

Interview(s) date: 2nd and 4th December 2024

Package

What we can offer you:

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time)
• A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments)
• Early finish Friday and flexible working as part of our approach to activity based working (not applicable to roles with fixed shift patterns)
• 2 Days TOIL in recognition of fixed shift patterns (pro-rata for part-time)
• Discounts on gym membership
• Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life
• Annual season ticket loan (on completion of your probation period and if contract is permanent or longer than 12 months)
• Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities
• Generous pension provision, life assurance and income protection insurance
• Cycle to work scheme (eligible for scheme if contract is permanent or longer than 12 months)

Some benefits aren't available until you've passed your probation period and are dependent on the length of contract.

Main Responsibilities

Together, the Research Funding Officers will administer and manage the entire grants management life cycle, both pre- and post-award. The charity has a number of grant funding schemes, including career awards, larger project grants and strategic research, and you will be central in the delivery of these. You will be the primary point of contact for applicants and other stakeholders throughout the grant management process, ensuring that they are supported and any support is managed in a professional and timely manner, including communicating feedback to applicants on funding proposals. As part of the grant management process, you will become proficient in using the grant management system which will involve building application forms, setting up funding rounds and review panels and troubleshooting when required. You will be responsible for the involvement of people affected by diabetes in the various funding schemes. You will also be involved in the organisation and delivery of our annual networking events for our PhD funded students and fellows.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for an individual who is interested in developing or expanding their career in research grants management within a growing grant-making charity. You will have a BSc in biomedical sciences or life sciences. You will also have:
A strong interest in scientific and clinical research. An understanding of research funding processes is desirable.
Excellent organisational and time management skills, and the ability to deliver rigorous processes, work proactively, independently and in a team are essential.
You will be an excellent communicator, able to build confident working relationships at all levels - an ability to network and liaise with scientific, clinical, research and expert by experience communities will be key to this role.