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JOB PURPOSE

The Research Support Manager is responsible for the overall management and delivery of research support, grants and contracts in a defined Faculty Team, working across research grants development, costing and pricing, contractual negotiation, internal approvals, partnerships (both internal and external) and pre – to –post award financial handover.

The post holder with have responsibility for the approval of research grants (up to £0.5M) and contracts up to a value of £100,000 to Warwick, and as a member of the R&IS Senior Executive will make an important contribution to the overall leadership of the department. This will include leading on discrete departmental projects, as required, to support the ongoing development of research support services at the University.



DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Research Support Manager will be responsible for leading and managing the R&IS Faculty Teams, which consist of practitioner staff delivering pre-award research support, research development, and contracts, as outlined below:



Pre Award Research Support (Research Support Officers)

• Research costings, in line with University and funder rules and regulations;

• Liaison with partners, and co-ordination of partnership applications in large collaborative research applications;

• Technical advice and guidance specific to the funder and/or funding call;

• Internal institutional approval via Department, Provost, Finance Director, and PVC (Research);

• Re-submission, extension and/or amendment of existing awards when required;

• Accurate reporting of applications and awards within IDEATE (Research Management system) in a timely and effective fashion;

• Scrutiny of awarded grants prior to acceptance on behalf of the University;

• Advice and guidance to Senior Officers regarding proposed University investment on research grants, contractual terms & conditions, and other issues as may arise;

• Delivery of regular pre-award workshops and operational team meetings to research and finance support staff in all three faculties;

• Management of pre-to-post award handover, including development of new processes and procedures to support a more timely and effective approach;

• Re-negotiation of financial award with funders, when required.

Research Development (Research Development Officers)

• Development of large, strategic research applications with academic departments, , ensuring that internal and external partners are working effectively towards funder requirements and deadlines. Further, inputting advice and guidance as regards the drafting of the application;

• Support to academic colleagues on the development, and agreement, of key external partner relationships, as these pertain to research. Working in this regard as the administrative contact point to external partners, negotiating matters such as price, intellectual property terms and other issues pertinent to a new collaborative research relationship;

• Work closely with researchers, as well as the management and administration of academic departments, research centres, other offices of the University’s administration, , on the preparation and submission of research proposals to UK, EU and international funding agencies. Contribute where appropriate to proposal content to ensure it conforms to the evaluation criteria of the appropriate funding agency,

• Develop internal (between researchers and departments within faculties, and between faculties) and external relationships and collaborations (with public, private and third sector funding bodies, research partners, users of research, other agencies and stakeholders).

• Be proactive and creative in sourcing and publicising funding opportunities to the University’s research active staff.

• Feed in to policy consultations and other University discussions of strategic importance to the future direction of research.

• Support the work of internal committees, boards and groups associated with the development of research strategy, externally-funded research initiatives and application review procedures.

• Manage and ensure the smooth running of internal review procedures for specific funding calls.

Research Contracts & Sponsorship (Research Support Officers; Research Development Officers

• University signatory for research and research related contracts of up £100,000 in value.

• Ensure the delivery of a professional, comprehensive and timely research contracts negotiation, advice and management service, to Academics, Administrative colleagues, and external sponsor of research. Including:

• Management of a specialist contracts service, which provides advice to staff with respect to complex legal and contractual issues, pre and post award, and which drafts, and negotiates contracts for research and research collaborations;

• Provision of advice and guidance to Senior Officers regarding the acceptability and risk management of contractual terms and conditions on research grant;

• Development of a formal risk-based methodology for agreeing terms in order to facilitate the timely negotiation and conclusion of contracts;

• Development and implementation of University policies in relation to all issues relating to research contracts;

• Ensuring that contract templates are reviewed on a regular basis and updated in line with any changes in legislation and/or policy;

• Review and approval of the University’s sponsorship of clinical trials.
  

The Research Support Manager will have a small portfolio of grants and contracts, and will work with the Associate Director and Director (R&IS) on the development and delivery of cross-faculty projects, to continually evolve the University research support services.

In addition, they will have a budget for staff development and training, to allow for career progression and professional development within the teams.