Research Manager; Milton Keynes, ENG, GB, MKAA

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About the Role

We have 2 full-time, permanent Research Manager roles available.

As a Manager within Research and Innovation Services, you will support research grant development, and the management of awarded projects, providing strong funding advice to meet The Open University’s research ambitions. This exciting role will be part of a new vibrant cross-university RKE Operations team, whose primary aim is to support the development of high-quality bids and administration of awards to grow research income and ensure successful and compliant delivery.

Specifically, you will support the development of research and knowledge exchange (RKE) funding applications to a wide range of statutory and philanthropic funders, and of RKE awards. You will develop and share strong funder knowledge through communities of practice, build research capacities, and be a liaison point for a Faculty. You will contribute to the identification, dissemination, and implementation of good practice in research bid development and administration.

You will interact with academics, professional service colleagues, and UK-based and global funding bodies, partners and collaborators to deliver high-quality pre- and post-award research support.

We are looking for someone with strong organisational, communication, interpersonal and negotiating skills, with openness to learning, and the ability to work flexibly and to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. You will bring directly relevant operational, administrative and project management knowledge and experience (including in budgeting/budget management), that will enable you to identify funding opportunities, understand the research funding environment, develop high-quality research funding applications, and manage approved projects with attention to detail and to fast-evolving funder priorities and requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with academic and professional services colleagues in the service and across the wider University you will be responsible for:

Operations and Finance

• Managing operations and compliance-related activity, providing advice and guidance, and being the main point of contact between the Service, Faculties, Schools, and other relevant central professional departments. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Supporting Researchers to manage projects that involve sensitive, classified or restricted research activity.
• Undertaking due diligence on organisations and some projects, advising academics on mitigation of identified risks
• Identifying projects or research groupings that have export control implications, provide advice and support them in obtaining, using and reporting on an export control licence.
• Review of visiting academics to ensure Trusted Research compliance.
• Provide research security advice to academics traveling overseas for research to ensure their research remains safe.
• Acting as the main administrative/operational link between academics, other areas of the University and external organisations.
• Establishing strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the Faculties, across the University and externally.
• Providing expert advice and practical support to academics on relevant Service, Faculty, institutional and funder frameworks, policies, and processes.
• As required, contributing to the preparation of relevant business cases, resource bids and costings on behalf of Research and Innovation Services
• Supporting the management of budgets including reconciling budget management spreadsheets, preparing forecasts and financial returns, ensuring optimum use of available budgets. Ensuring that correct financial procedures are being followed and highlighting and addressing any concerns or training…