Overview
Senior Research Operations Officer – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
About us:
The Senior Research Operations Officer is a key position in the Department of Mathematics, within the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES), playing an important role in supporting research operations within the Department. Responsibilities include having oversight of allocated research activity including data collection and budget monitoring, web updates and ensuring that research staff and academics in the department receive high-quality support.
The post will report to the Research Operations Manager. The post will also work closely with the Faculty research team.
This is currently a hybrid role where the role holder would spend part of their working week on campus and part of the week working remotely. The department is located on the Strand Campus at the heart of central London.
Celebrating diversity and supporting staff is important to us and we offer a range of provision including flexible working, caring support (including a Parenting and Carers Fund and the Carer’s Career Development Fund), training, and a variety of diversity and inclusion networks. Staff can apply for flexible working to help them balance the demands of their professional and personal commitments and we offer comprehensive leave policies for parental, adoption, surrogacy, dependant, and shared leave.
About the role:
The post holder will provide research administration and support across the Department, with a particular focus on research funding applications, awards management and supporting the wider research environment. Working with academic staff, Research Development Managers and professional services colleagues, the role will support the preparation and submission of grant applications, and ensure applications meet funder and College requirements and deadlines.
The post holder will support research awards throughout their lifecycle, from initial set-up through to monitoring, reporting and closure. This will include preparing and monitoring budgets, providing advice to Principal Investigators on funding requirements, and assisting with audits and reporting. The role will also be a key point of contact for research management systems, including WorkTribe, PURE and funder portals.
Alongside funding and awards support, the role will contribute to the Department’s wider research activities and culture. This will include supporting ResearchFish and REF requirements, Open Access compliance, research committees, research facilities and resources, and the organisation of research events, seminars and colloquia. The post holder will help keep research information up to date across departmental webpages, SharePoint and PURE, and share research news and successes more widely.
The role will involve building effective working relationships with academic and professional services colleagues across the Department, Faculty and College. The post holder will also contribute to departmental research planning and strategy, provide data to support decision-making, and help develop and maintain departmental guidance and processes. There will be opportunities to contribute to wider College research networks and to develop expertise through relevant training and professional development.
This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30/11/2027
About you:
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
1. Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and appropriately with staff at all levels
2. Highly numerate and analytical with understanding of budgetary planning and procedures
3. Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively, and work to tight deadlines
4. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
5. Excellent IT skills, including experience of using and manipulating databases and other electronic resources
6. Ability to interpret complex ideas and communicate these effectively to others
Desirable criteria
1. Educated to first degree level or equivalent
2. Experience of supporting research activity within the Higher Education sector and an understanding of the research funding landscape
3. Experience of dealing with budgetary and financial procedures
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
