Grants Compliance Manager

In the Crick's Research Operations Team.

Part of Crick Operations.

Deadline for applications has passed.

Key information

Job reference
R580
Salary
From £46,800 per annum with benefits, subject to skills and experience
Applications closed
25 January 2022, 23:59 GMT
Hours per week
36 (full time)
Posted 11 January 2022

Grants Compliance Manager

Reports to: Head of Grants Management

This is a full-time and permanent position on Crick terms & conditions of employment.

Summary

Since Crick’s inception in 2015, its external funding portfolio has steadily grown and diversified with funding now received from a broad range of national and international funding bodies, each with their own regulations, policies and conditions.  This leads to the creation of this new role, focussed on funder compliance and the corresponding underpinning operational processes. A key member of the Finance team, the Grants Compliance Manager will work across functions to provide guidance to colleagues in all aspects of grant funder compliance, covering both pre- and post-award grants management.  Where necessary they will be responsible for defining, implementing and communicating robust processes and controls to ensure continued adherence to funder terms and conditions.  They will also take responsibility for internal, external and funder-led audits arising from the grant portfolio.

The objectives of the role include: act as the primary institute contact for all matters related to external funding body compliance and regulatory requirements; maintain a broad and deep understanding of relevant funder policies, regulations and procedures; ensure that grants and contracts are managed in line with funder policies; maintain and disseminate comprehensive policy and guidance documentation to colleagues to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities; maintain a timetable of current and future audit activities and ensure that the institute is fully prepared meet any audit requirements.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

  • Provide specialist expertise in matters pertaining to grant compliance (e.g. funder specific terms & conditions, costing, internal recharging, HR, ethics and aspects of research contracts) and ensure that grant funded research is compliant
  • Develop and refine robust business and back-up processes and IT system controls to facilitate timely grant applications and effective contract management in line with funder requirements
  • Be responsible for the development and improvement of pre-award and post-award procedures, SOPs and systems to enable efficient and effective grant support
  • Proactively identify compliance risks throughout the current portfolio and advise scientific and operational colleagues on necessary actions
  • Work with colleagues to understand the forecasted funding pipeline and ensure the institute is prepared for evolving compliance requirements
  • Work with finance colleagues to coordinate the institute’s response to internal, external and grant funder-led audits
  • Develop knowledge, draft, maintain and disseminate funder specific guidance documentation to ensure that funder terms and conditions and individuals’ responsibilities in relation to them are well understood within the institute
  • In line with Charity Commission guidance, ensure that necessary funder due diligence activities are undertaken
  • Where multi-partner collaborations exist, ensure that all necessary compliance requirements are communicated and understood by all partners

Key experience and competencies

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, imaginative, open, dynamic and collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competencies:

  • Extensive knowledge of key grant funder terms and conditions, particularly those related to UKRI, UK charity and European Commission funding
  • Understand how to keep up-to-date with funders’ evolving regulations, policies and general good practices governing the administration of grants
  • Comprehensive understanding of pre- and post-award grants management processes and best practice
  • Able to analyse complex data, draw conclusions and produce reliable and accurate reports
  • Supportive and effective team member, able to work collaboratively with other administrative and scientific departments
  • Be open to change and demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach
  • Excellent numeracy skills and attention to detail

Desirable

Qualifications, experience and competencies:

  • Extensive knowledge of key grant funder terms and conditions, particularly those related to NIH funding
  • Experience drafting and reviewing research contracts and agreements
  • Previous experience working in a scientific environment, liaising and working effectively with a range of disciplines and levels of seniority
  • Proficiency in the use of IT systems to support and enhance the role
  • Previous experience of a grants management system
  • Diplomacy skills and ability to take initiative