Research & Knowledge Transfer Facilitator (CoSS)

Job Purpose

Sitting within the College Research Support Office (CRSO) in the College of Social Sciences, and as part of the wider research support infrastructure of Research and Innovation Services (RIS) at the University of Birmingham, the Research and Knowledge Transfer Facilitator (R&KTF) post is an integral part of delivering research support to academics within the College of Social Sciences.
Research and Innovation Services (RIS) is a unit of the wider Finance Office and supports research across the University through local teams based in the Colleges (CRSOs) and specialist teams based at the Research Park (focusing on aspects such as EU, International, Regional and Innovation funding sources). RIS, alongside the Research Support Group and functions based in Strategic Planning and Library Services, form part of the wider research support ecosystem of the University.

The post holder will be responsible for identifying and developing funding opportunities for the academics within their portfolio area and more widely through interdisciplinary opportunities across the College and the University.

The post holder will encourage application activity in their specific discipline portfolio, offering a strategic level of input to individual, Department and School research and knowledge transfer initiatives. To achieve these objectives the post holder will need to pro-actively engage with academic colleagues, and deliver excellent customer service to facilitate engagement with opportunities.

Person Specification

Essential

• • First degree, preferably in a discipline relevant to the Social Sciences.
• • Proven track record in providing support to successful proposals in either an academic or non-academic context.
• • Proven commitment to the delivery of exceptional customer service.
• • Strong and persuasive communication skills (written and oral) including the ability to handle negotiations with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• • Proven ability to enhance the quality of proposals through critical review.
• • Understanding and experience of the development of budgets for proposals.
• • Proven analytical skills (financial, situational and organisational) including the ability to effectively identify and assess risks.
• • Applying a significant amount of professional and independent judgement.
• • Developed ICT skills, including advanced use of Word and Excel.
• • Ability to work well as part of a team.
• • Knowledge and experience of competitive tendering procedures, with a proven track record of working on winning bids in either an academic or non-academic context.
• • Excellent attention to detail.

Desirable

• • Experience of working in an academic /public-sector or commercial research/ project environment.
• • Translating strategy into operational plans with measurable outcomes; in a large and complex, devolved organisation.
• • Experience of supporting research in a discipline relevant to the College.
• • Knowledge of UK research funder agendas.