Research and Innovation Officer (pre-award)

Research and Innovation: LSSJ

Do you have experience supporting research and/or innovation grants, with the ability to advise on research bids? Are you an excellent communicator, with strong motivational negotiating and relationship building skills, working well with people at all levels? 

If so, this role as Research & Innovation Officer (Pre-Award) may be ideal. 

As a member of the Research and Innovation Support (RIS) local delivery team, the Research and Innovation Officer (Pre-Award) helps to stimulate and support the Division’s research and innovation culture. This is an important and highly valued role that will be responsible for linking the expertise of academic colleagues with suitable funding opportunities and will provide support to maximise grant applications.

You will be expected to support the development of meaningful partnerships to generate research and innovation income and collaborations, as well as working closely with other teams within the RIS directorate and wider Divisions to ensure compliance with set policies and procedures.

While you will be assigned to a specific Division, you will be expected to work across others as necessary to ensure the success of cross-Divisional initiatives.

As a R&I Officer (Pre-Award) your duties will include:

• Identifying research and innovation funding opportunities from a variety of sources (commercial, charity and government) from online sources, contacts and funder events.
• Providing pre-award support with the aim of improving the success rate of applications.
• Engaging directly with research funders and businesses (commercial and public sector) in a proactive way in order to grow the University’s external profile and increase income generation or engagement opportunities.
• Maintaining an awareness of sector developments and share any learning internally through active participation in a Community of Practice.

The successful candidate will have/be:

• Educated to A-level with GCSE C/4 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.
• An understanding and empathy with the research environment of a University, and the significance of research for the University, the division, the researcher, students and community.
• Experience in supporting research and/or innovation grant administration in a higher education institute or research body, including experience in advising on or writing research bids and supporting/working with academics
• A demonstrable understanding of the funding system for research within the UK.

In return we can offer you:

An open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing, along with a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• An excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• On-campus cinema/theatre, sports facilities, library, nursery and food outlets, set among green, open space overlooking the Cathedral
• Study while you work discounts, cycle to work scheme, local business discounts
• On-site parking

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. If you require further information regarding the application process, please contact the People Services Team on peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting ref number RIS-056-24