Research Grants and Contracts Officer

Transformationunitgm; Greater London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A major NHS Trust in London seeks a detail-oriented Research Grants and Contracts Officer. You will manage research funding, provide expert advice on applications, and ensure compliance across projects. Ideal candidates have a degree level qualification and experience in healthcare research support. This role is pivotal for facilitating impactful research and innovation, with the opportunity for flexible working arrangements. Salary ranges from £46,419 to £55,046 pa pro-rata.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a healthcare research environment.
• Knowledge of research funding systems.
• Strong understanding of the UK clinical research landscape.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage research funding across the NHS Group.
• Provide expert guidance on funding applications.
• Negotiate and execute research contracts.

Skills

Healthcare research support experience

Strong communication skills

Project management

Education

Degree level qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Research finance tools (SOECAT, FEC)

Research management systems (EDGE, IRAS)

Job description

Employer St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Tooting Town London Salary £46,419 - £55,046 pa pro-rata incl HCAS (inner london) Salary period Yearly Closing 04/01/2026 23:59

Research Grants and Contracts Officer

Band 6

Job overview

We are looking for a detail-oriented and proactive R&I Grants and Contracts Officer to join our Research & Innovation team at the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh). This key role supports the coordination and management of research funding across the Group, providing expert advice on grant applications, overseeing contract negotiations, and ensuring financial compliance throughout the lifecycle of research projects. The successful candidate will work closely with internal teams and external partners, including funding bodies and research sponsors, to facilitate impactful research and innovation. The post-holder will be based at the Tooting site, but may have to work across any/all gesh sites. If you have experience in research finance, contracts, and project oversight within a healthcare or academic setting, and are passionate about enabling high-quality research, we encourage you to apply and contribute to our mission of advancing clinical excellence.

Main duties of the job

Ideally with previous experience, the role will support the coordination and management of research funding across the GESH NHS Group. Key responsibilities include providing expert guidance on grant applications, negotiating and executing research contracts, and ensuring financial oversight throughout the lifecycle of funded projects. The post-holder will liaise with internal teams and external partners, including funding bodies and sponsors, to ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations. They will maintain accurate records, monitor income and expenditure, and contribute to strategic initiatives that promote research excellence and innovation across the organisation.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on funding applications, ensuring proposals meet funder requirements and internal standards.
• Liaise with funding bodies, sponsors, and collaborators to manage funding calls and support impactful research.
• Identify new and innovative grant opportunities aligned with the Group’s strategic priorities.

Contract Management:

• Act as the first point of contact for grant-related enquiries.
• Prepare, negotiate, and execute research contracts and agreements, including MTAs, CTAs, and sub-contracts.
• Ensure contracts are signed by authorised signatories and stored appropriately.
• Support income and expenditure for grant-funded projects, flagging issues and ensuring timely fund transfers.
• Maintain accurate financial records and reporting systems to support post-award management.

Project Lifecycle Management:

• Track project timelines, deliverables, and compliance with Trust procedures.
• Support the Senior Management Team in monitoring contract delivery and ensuring amendments are processed efficiently.

Systems & Reporting:

• Maintain an electronic register of all contractual documentation and associated deadlines.
• Provide timely and accurate reports to internal stakeholders on funding flows and contract status.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build strong relationships with internal departments, external sponsors, and academic partnersli>
• Promote a culture of collaboration and research excellence across the organisation.

Compliance & Governance:

• Ensure all activities comply with relevant legislation, NHS policies, and research governance frameworks.
• Support the development and use of contract templates and guidance materials.

Person specification

Experience

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience in a similar role
• ICH-GCP
• Project Management

Experience

• experience of working in a healthcare research support environment and/or understanding of research funding systems, managing research projects and clinical trial logistics
• Strong knowledge of the UK Clinical Research landscape
• experience of research finance tools, such as SOECAT, FEC
• Experience of research contract templates, such as DTA, MTA, McNA. MCTA etc
• experience of finance systems
• research governance and legislative knowledge
• research management system experience such as EDGE, IRAS etc

Skills

• systems management including database, spreadsheets etc. to manage workload
• maintain accurate information
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Your recruitment team
The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:
E: [e-mail]

Your application
Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification , as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.

Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence
We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.

References
Please provide a minimum of 3 years’ employment and/or education history , including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.

Closing date
To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

Shortlisting
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.

Application feedback
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date , please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Safeguarding and DBS Checks
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.