Portfolio Manager – Research and Innovation Funding Delivery Swindon, Wiltshire, South West England, England
Job description
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Portfolio Managers – Research and Innovation Funding Delivery
Salary: £31,931 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE)
Contract Type: X2 Open Ended & X1 Fixed Term (12 Months)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
Grade: UKRI Band D
Closing date: 25 June 2023
Proposed Interview Dates: 10 July 2023
About the role
BBSRC provides a range of funding opportunities to enable individuals and groups to pursue world-class bioscience research and innovation. The Research and Innovation Funding Delivery (RIFD) Team is responsible for the management, peer review and awarding of BBSRC’s research and innovation grant applications, awards to students and research fellows and research infrastructure. The annual funding budget is ~£500 million.
As Portfolio Manager, you will manage the assessment of pioneering research applications from the academic community that help tackle major bioscience challenges.
A number of vacancies have arisen within the Research and Innovation Funding Delivery Team for Portfolio Managers. We are seeking an individual who has an understanding of Life Sciences and an interest in working with universities, research organisations and businesses in a UK and International context. You’ll work with some of the major advances in contemporary bioscience and interact with nationally and internationally recognised experts across all areas of bioscience.
Main Responsibilities
By developing and utilising knowledge on the work of BBSRC, and the research and innovation it supports, your main job roles will include:
- Collaborating with BBSRC colleagues on the development and creation of new funding calls
- Leading the grant application, assessment, and award processes for BBSRC’s funding activities; providing oversight on the external peer review of applications and managing expert assessment panels
- Using your knowledge of BBSRC’s funding programmes and policies to provide advice and guidance to the research and innovation community and internal colleagues on how to apply for grants, funding policies and peer review processes
- Organising and leading the delivery of peer review meetings throughout the UK, ensuring that all applications are assessed fairly and robustly
- Providing advice and outreach to the research and innovation community, and other stakeholders, on BBSRC’s funding programmes, processes, and policies
- Utilising your knowledge of BBSRC’s scientific portfolio and funding processes to contribute to the ongoing continuous improvement of funding application, assessment, and award processes
- Identifying ways to improve funding practice and processes within BBSRC for the benefit of bioscience research and innovation communities in the UK; and supporting the office and research community throughout the implementation of changes
- Providing line management, development, and support to staff within the team, providing support and mentoring to new members of staff and contributing to the development of individuals who are at the early stage of their career.
Shortlisting and Interview Criteria
Essential:
- A degree (or equivalent) in a Life Sciences subject or related subject, and a demonstrable knowledge of biological sciences and/or the broader natural sciences
- A demonstrable understanding of the bioscience research and innovation sphere, and the impact of scientific discoveries; including an awareness of how BBSRC works with the research community, other funders, government, and wider partners
- A proven ability to interpret scientific information within own science area and a readiness to develop a broader understanding of the science that BBSRC supports
- An ability to communicate complex information in a range of ways, with BBSRC’s stakeholders, including BBSRC’s scientific communities, internal colleagues, and colleagues from other parts of UKRI
- Experience of planning and prioritising own work to ensure that critical deadlines are met; as well as supporting others and a willingness to line manage up to 5 members of staff
- An ability to create strong working relationships with both colleagues and stakeholders
- A readiness to develop professionally, challenge effectiveness, contribute to ongoing improvements and provide leadership within the Research and Innovation Funding Delivery team.
Desirable:
- PhD in Life Sciences, or equivalent experience
- An understanding of peer review and the operational delivery of research and innovation funding programmes
- Experience of line management and/or mentoring.
About The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
The BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. We are the UK's largest public funder of research of the non-medical biosciences. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Funded by Government, we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. The research and the people that we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact, see: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/
For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes, see https://bbsrc.ukri.org/research/institutes/strategically-funded-institutes/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
