Pre-award Grants Manager

Pre-award Grants Manager

Reports to:

Olivier Stéphan, Head of Pre-award Grants & EU Innovation

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

Please submit a cover letter in addition to a CV.

Please note we start screening CVs and interviewing candidates from the start of a campaign. A successful candidate could progress to offer before the advertised closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in the role.

All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

Summary

Supporting scientists with specialist expertise on grant and fellowship applications, from the development, approval, submission of funding proposals to the activation of awards.

The Pre-award Grants & EU Innovation team is instrumental in the operational management of grant and fellowship applications development and submission, and in ensuring compliance with both funders’ and Crick’s internal policies.

The Grants Manager role provides support as required to the Head of Pre-award Grants & EU Innovation in aspects of grant management, and where necessary work closely with Crick staff associated with the development of proposals, and Finance staff following activation of awards. Where appropriate, they will also liaise with external funding bodies and HEI colleagues in all aspects of grant administration.

The objectives of the role include: engaging and working closely with Crick science community; advising staff seeking external funding for research and innovation projects; the timely sourcing and dissemination of grant funding opportunities; providing support in the development of the proposals; liaising with the Post-award team to ensure an accurate transfer of information between the Grants Management and Finance Systems.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

• Provide pro-active support and advice to scientists on funding opportunities and in the development, approval, submission of funding proposals and activation of awards;
• Provide specialist expertise with respect to research application processes (including funder specific terms & conditions, costing, ethics and aspects of research contracts);
• Draft (non-scientific) elements of the proposal as required such as justification of resources;
• Coordinating grant proposal costing and budgeting, considering the funder specific eligible cost rules and Crick costing practices, using the Crick grants costing management system. Ensure that budgets are approved by the relevant person prior to submission of the proposal;
• Review, draft and provide input into negotiations for grant and grant-related agreements (liaising with the Legal department if needed)
• Working closely with other colleagues Operations, especially the post-award team members to ensure smooth activation of the grant and quick recruitment or allocation process with HR.
• Providing a first-line help desk for queries about the Grant Management System and liaison with funders regarding issues;
• Contributing to the review, development and improvement of pre-award procedures and systems to facilitate efficient and effective pre-award support.

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:

• Previous experience (> 2 years) of working within a grants team;
• Able to keep up-to-date with funders’ regulations, policies and general good practices governing the administration of grants;
• Able to work independently and meet deadlines;
• Supportive and effective team member, able to work collaboratively with other administrative and scientific departments;
• Excellent numeracy skills and attention to detail.

Desirable

Qualifications, experience and competencies:

• Postgraduate qualification in a biomedical sciences field;
• Previous experience working in a scientific environment, liaising and working effectively with a range of disciplines and levels of seniority;
• Good knowledge of the International and UK Biomedical funding landscape;
• Proficiency in the use of IT systems to support and enhance the role;