Research & Innovation Development Manager

University of Leeds; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research-intensive university in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced Research and Innovation Professional for a maternity cover role lasting 13 months. The candidate will help develop funding applications, build partnerships, and provide coordinated services in health and life sciences. This position offers a hybrid working model, competitive holiday entitlement, and various personal development opportunities within a dynamic team environment.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays

Discounted gym membership

Access to on-site childcare and shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and delivering funding applications.
• Background in health and life sciences.
• Capable of developing research proposals in complex organisations.

Responsibilities

• Forge relationships with key researchers across the university.
• Provide coordinated service across research and funding activities.
• Interpret government priorities relevant to research and innovation.

Skills

Project management skills

Ability to build performance-based partnerships

Strong relationship-building skills

Job description

This role will be based on the university campus with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you an experienced and enthusiastic Research and Innovation Professional looking to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive Universities? Do you have a background in developing and delivering high value and high-quality funding applications? Are you keen to help progress research and innovation in Health and Lifesciences disciplines through? building excellent working relationships with academics, policymakers, and colleagues in industry/NHS bodies?

We have two roles for maternity cover in the UK Research Development Team lasting for 13 months, with a start date in April 2026. These roles will be appointed at Grade 8.

You will need to quickly establish a University-wide profile, forge strong links with key researchers, build networks across the University and work in partnership with other Research and Innovation Development professionals within the Research and Innovation Service. You will need to work as part of multiple dynamic teams that can operate effectively in a complex and changing environment.

You will work with colleagues from across the University to provide a coordinated service across the full range of research and innovation activity including provision of support across the UK Research Councils, government departments, international funders and charities and institutionally held Impact Acceleration Accounts. You will monitor, interpret and communicate government priorities relevant to R&I in the health and life sciences, and initiate internal R&I activity based on external drivers.

Successful candidates will have the capability to develop research and innovation proposals in complex organisations. They will have excellent project management skills and the ability to build performance-based partnerships alongside experience of working with interdisciplinary academic teams in the development of successful external funding applications.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Lee Mason, Head of Research Development