Senior Research Funding Development Manager

Newcastle City Library; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 50,000 - GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UK is seeking a Senior Research Funding Development Manager to lead the Faculty of Medical Sciences’ funding strategy. This role involves managing a dedicated team and ensuring high-quality proposals are submitted to maximise funding opportunities. Candidates should be knowledgeable about the national research funding landscape and have experience in leading complex application processes. This position offers a dynamic work environment and significant professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous holiday package

Pension schemes

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding of the research lifecycle for fundamental and translational research.
• Knowledge of the national research funding landscape relevant to higher education.
• Experience managing preparation of complex research funding applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Faculty of Medical Sciences research funding development team.
• Develop a research funding strategy in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Maximise research awards across the Faculty using strategic insights.
• Ensure high quality in research funding proposals to maximise success rates.
• Provide support for researchers in identifying funding for projects.
• Work with external bodies like NIHR and Newcastle Health Research Partnership.

Skills

Research lifecycle understanding

Knowledge of research funding agencies

Experience in managing complex applications

Interpersonal skills

Strategic perspective

Communication skills

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

PhD or research qualification (desirable)

Job description

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Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 19 February 2026

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to develop, manage and deliver the University’s research funding development strategy and service for the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University. You will lead and manage the Faculty’s Research Funding Development Team, part of Newcastle University’s Research and Innovation Service.

The Senior Research Funding Development Manager will manage and deliver the University’s research funding development strategy and service for the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS). The aim will be to maximise research funding from external funding bodies.

You will be based in the Faculty of Medical Sciences and will work with colleagues across the University to manage and deliver a high quality, seamless service to maximise research funding from external funding bodies.

You will have skills in the preparation of or support for complex applications for external research funding. You should have well-established knowledge of research funding agencies and funding streams, preferably in the medical sciences. You will need to have the ability to work effectively on complex, deadline-driven tasks with colleagues in a range of roles. You should have experience of line-management and preferably also team leadership.

Informal enquiries are welcome. Please contact Dr Johanna Gascoigne-Owens, Head of Research Funding Development ([e-mail] ), if you would like to discuss the position.

To apply please upload your CV and cover letter, evidencing how your skills and experience align to the person specification as outlined within job description.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and manage the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) research funding development team.
• The leadership element will involve: developing a research funding strategy for the Faculty of Medical Sciences, working collaboratively with the Faculty Dean of Research and Innovation, Institute Deans, Head of Faculty Research and members of the Faculty Research Funding Development Team; working with the FMS (and wider) Research Funding Development Team in a motivated and coordinated way to implement this strategy.
• The management element will involve: line management and professional development of the FMS Research Funding Development Team members; working with professional services colleagues in the Faculty, wider University, Newcastle Joint Research Office and NHS to ensure synergy and effective, ‘smart’ research services.
• Work with your team members and relevant stakeholders to maximise research awards across the Faculty of Medical Sciences, in fundamental research, experimental medicine and translational research. The research funding development service will involve: gathering and sharing funding information and intelligence; developing, maintaining and using relationships with key funders and other relevant bodies; developing and delivering funding information and training; hands-on work with applicants, including providing personalised support for large and complex applications; linking with other professional teams in the University and beyond, to ensure a seamless and smart service.
• Work with relevant stakeholders to identify areas where the University has competitive advantage and analyse/evaluate relevant funding streams. Strategically match these opportunities to relevant groups/individuals, ensuring best fit to deliver against the Faculty and University research agenda. This will include managing and running selection of appropriate proposals where needed (for example where limited numbers of applications are permitted by the funder).
• Work to ensure that research funding proposals are of the highest quality in order to maximise success rates. Activities in this area will include: interpreting and advising on funder, University and NHS policy and requirements; advising on proposal content and presentation; engaging with our research leaders for their support (for example in internal peer review); developing and delivering funding workshops, training and mock interviews; developing and sharing guidance documents and other resources; arranging visits to and from our key funders.
• Develop and provide support and assistance to researchers in the identification of funding for potential projects which comprise early stages of experimental medicine and translational development in order to move ideas and solutions a step nearer to the clinical environment and/or commercial use. Funding applications for these projects are often multi-organisation, multi-centre and/or multi-campus. They commonly involve work with clinicians, one or more NHS partner Trusts, industrial partners and several units across the University.
• Work in partnership with relevant bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Support Service, NIHR Research Delivery Network, Newcastle Health Research Partnership (NHRP) and Clinical Trials Units as appropriate.

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Comprehensive understanding of the research lifecycle for fundamental research, experimental medicine and translational research.
• Knowledge and experience of the national research funding landscape and strategy, as relevant to higher education and the NHS.
• Well-established knowledge of research funding agencies and funding streams, preferably in the medical sciences.
• Experience of managing the preparation of complex research funding applications involving a range of parties across multiple organisations, to tight deadlines.
• Experience of line-management of others and (desirable) team leadership.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to relate to, work effectively with, advise and persuade individuals from a wide range of backgrounds (including at senior levels) within the University and externally.
• Ability to build relationships with external funding bodies on behalf of the University.
• Proven ability to approach issues from a strategic perspective.
• Ability to recognise the range of skills present and needed in a team and to draw on these to deliver the best possible outcome.
• Able to communicate very effectively, both orally and in writing, in high pressure situations.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience within a professional setting.
• Significant administrative or management experience in a complex private or public environment demonstrating development through a series of progressively demanding roles.
• A PhD or other research qualification (desirable).

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a GoldAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.