The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Research Funding Manager (Fellowships) to join our Research Funding Team to be responsible for the oversight and delivery of the funding schemes that offer Fellowships and Talent Development Awards to researchers.

ROLE PURPOSE / OVERVIEW

The Research Funding Manager (Fellowships) works closely with the other members of the Research Funding Team but has specific responsibility for leading a group of four Research Funding Officers and a Research Funding Assistant to administer the Fellowships schemes offered by the Academy as well as the Talent Development Awards which sit alongside them.

The role is responsible for the efficient and effective management of the team members who lead on the delivery of the Postdoctoral Fellowships, the Mid-Career Fellowships, the Senior Research Fellowships, the Innovation Fellowships schemes and the Talent Development Awards.  The post-holder is integral to the smooth operation of these schemes and the professional development of the team to ensure that competitions are opened, closed, assessed and awarded to a high-quality standard.  Success in this role would provide good levels of satisfaction for the applicants, the award-holders, the assessors and the research administration personnel in institutions. 

The role works closely with the Head of Research Funding (HORF), the Deputy Head of Research Funding (DHORF) and the Research Funding Manager (Grants) to ensure that the funding portfolio operated by the Research Funding team is delivered to a high-quality standard and the individual team members are supported and managed to work effectively in a collaborative manner.

OFFICE LOCATION - 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1Y 5AH

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Providing leadership and management for the Fellowships team and the wider Research Funding Team

• Ensuring that each team member has objectives mapped to their job descriptions, that their performance against these is regularly reviewed, and each one has access to the advice, support and guidance to deliver their roles

• Ensuring that training requirements and development opportunities are identified and agreed with each team member

• Encouraging each team member to build their knowledge and skills on the schemes that they lead on but also the other Fellowships schemes

• Providing support and advice to other members of the Research Funding team including the HORF and the DHORF and the Research Funding Manager (Grants) as well as colleagues across the Academy including those in the Policy, Development and Communications Directorates.

 Providing planning, development and oversight of the delivery of the Fellowships schemes

• Contributing to the efficient and effective working systems, policies and processes for the Fellowships schemes

• Maintaining and reviewing assessment, reporting, payment and award-making processes across the Fellowships schemes

• Double-checking the awards list before they are offered to individuals

• Ensuring grant manuals for the Fellowships schemes are kept up-to-date and relevant with examples of good practice and troubleshooting

• Ensuring that any issues and problems with Flexi-Grant the online grants management system are identified and escalated to the HORF and Fluent the systems operator, enable their resolution wherever possible and avoid any operational delays

• Ensuring that the relevant paperwork for the meetings of the Research Awards Committee (RAC) is produced across the Research Funding team, signed off by the HORF or DHORF, and issued to the members of RAC in time for their review and feedback.

Maintaining and reviewing efficient and effective financial and budgetary management systems

• Providing tools and systems to enable each team member to track and monitor expenditure for the schemes which they lead on

• Offering advice, support and guidance on any financial issues that may arise on the award-making process and for any researcher throughout their award

• Providing support where necessary for any queries arising from award-holder reports which may impact the authorisation of payments

• Ensuring financial forecasts of expenditure and inherited commitment figures are up-to-date and accurate before sharing with the HORF and the Finance Teams.

 Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders

• Maintaining a positive collaborative working arrangement with the Development Directorate, particularly the Stewardship team members to support the Academy’s relationships with key private funders including the Leverhulme Trust

• Maintaining a good working relationship with colleagues in the Communications Directorate to support the publication of results from the competition and raise the profile of the diversity of research funding by the Academy

• Maintaining good working relationships with colleagues in the Research Directorate including those in the Early Career Researcher Network to ensure appropriate collaboration and joint working where necessary

• Representing the Academy at appropriate meetings and events including giving formal presentations.

 KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

• Director of Research

• Head of Research Funding

• Deputy Head of Research Funding

• Colleagues across the Research Directorate

• Monitoring and Evaluation Team

• ECRN Team

• Development Team

• Communications Team

External

• FBAs and specifically the Vice-President for Research & Higher Education Policy, the Chair and the members of the Research Awards Committee

• BIRI Staff and volunteers

• Representatives from the Leverhulme Trust and other private funders

• Senior Personnel and Research Funding staff from institutions and IROs (Independent Research Organisations

• Staff from other Academies

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Works and communicates effectively

• Is proactive in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with others internally and externally

• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards helping others by providing appropriate support, using initiative and not waiting to be asked

• Adopts a communication style appropriate to the situation and the audience, understanding that communication is two-way

• Is sensitive to different working styles and views, adapting where appropriate

• Is willing and able to compromise and negotiate, including to resolve possible conflicts

• Handles difficult situations with sensitivity & respect

• Communicates effectively with staff across departments

• Promotes a positive impression of the Academy both internally and externally

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Demonstrates and develops appropriate knowledge and skills

• Demonstrates knowledge around the work the British Academy does

• Is receptive to new ideas and change, adapting own ways of working as appropriate

• Proactively makes suggestions for improving processes and policies

• Is aware of own strengths and weaknesses and capabilities.

• Seeks and uses opportunities to learn and develop, and is quick in picking up new tasks

• Shares knowledge and skillset with others

PROACTIVITY AND PLANNING

Manages time and resources effectively in order to achieve own and organisational objectives

• Keeps relevant colleagues up to date with workload and tasks. Seeks input where needed.

• Can prioritise tasks to meet deadlines, and managed conflicting priorities

• Takes ownership of tasks, including delegating effectively where appropriate

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Ensures good decisions are made through a rational and methodical approach

• Approaches tasks with a positive attitude and is not afraid to ask for help when needed.

• Identifies problems early on and acts on them

• Anticipate conflict and thinks ahead to resolve them quickly

• Takes a flexible approach to their work, happy to take on different responsibilities in the interests of the Academy

LEADERSHIP

Gives a clear sense of direction while inspiring others with vision and actions

• Is happy to support other team members during busy periods, whilst not compromising your own workload

• Treats other staff members and stake holders with respect and honesty.

• Sets the right balance between referring decisions to the appropriate level and taking things forward without referral

BRITISH ACADEMY WORKPLACE VALUES

The Academy’s workplace values and supporting text are set out below. We share these core values with each other. They guide how we work together and with others. We demonstrate them through our behaviours.

COLLABORATION- We consistently work together to a common purpose, supporting each other, communicating openly and sharing knowledge. We are flexible and adaptable, receiving feedback constructively

CREATIVITY - We bring imagination and curiosity to our work, valuing learning, diverse thinking, and innovation. We are open-minded, receptive, and responsive, taking account of alternative perspectives

EMPATHY-We are understanding, sensitive, compassionate, and considerate, mindful of our own wellbeing alongside that of others

EXCELLENCE - We always do our best, without striving to be perfect, applying our expertise and experience to develop and grow

INTEGRITY - We are open and honest with each other, accepting personal responsibility and demonstrating loyalty. We are reliable and dependable, having belief that we will be transparent and clear

RESILIENCE - We are confident, bold, and tenacious, knowing when to listen as well as when to speak up. We respond positively to challenges and overcome problems

RESPECT - We are inclusive in our regard for each other, showing courtesy and appreciation. We treat people fairly and equally, welcoming everyone’s contribution and difference

APPLICATION PROCESS

We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview and may involve a task component.

Please note that you may be asked to reference any literature that you may refer to, as applications that are highly plagiarised and not your own work. e.g. ChatGPT, will be declined.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 20 February 2024 but this may be subject to change.