- Do you have experience co-ordinating, writing and securing large research grants?
- Do you have experience managing complex projects and of research, contract and budget management?
- Do you have experience working with academic partners and knowledge of UK and other research funding mechanisms
- Are you motivated by our vision of creating a world where every child doesn’t just survive, but thrives, and can go on to change the world?
If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!
About Us
We are Save the Children. Together, we fight for children every single day so that they can make their mark on the world and build a better future.
We stand side by side with children in the toughest places to be a child. We do whatever it takes to make sure they survive, get protection when they’re in danger, and have the chance to learn.
The Programme Quality and Impact (PQI) department works to ensure we deliver high-quality, evidence-based programmes and that we develop technical approaches to achieve positive sector-wide change for children. We work with partners and across the Save the Children movement to provide technical support to programme design and implementation, partnership development and in developing quality standards, technical approaches, and tools.
Job Purpose
You will work with colleagues across Programme Quality and Impact (PQI) to facilitate and support pre- and post-award activities. Core areas of activity will span new business development, award management, and knowledge management (focussing on evidence use and uptake both to inform programming and the development of future research priorities, including the development of systems for effective knowledge management across the research life cycle). You will be based in the Evidence and Learning team, but liaise with key teams in Programme Partnerships including business development and programme management.
Main Accountabilities
New Business Development
- Co-ordinate information sharing around pipeline and live opportunities across SCUK departments and with SCI country teams. Identify potential funding opportunities in priority countries which are in line with SCUK and country strategic plans, learning agendas, and thematic priorities.
- Maintain up-to-date and detailed knowledge of donor/funder requirements and ensure knowledge sharing (in respect of donor best practice on bids) across relevant teams, including developing guidance and lessons learned from unsuccessful bids.
- Project manage the proposal design and submission process – liaising closely with Programme Partnership and New Business Development teams, both in Save the Children UK and in country offices – for research funding opportunities, including but not limited to:
- o Coordinating appropriate technical input into design.
- o Ensure opportunities are effectively budgeted and demonstrate Value for Money.
- o Support identification of appropriate external research partners, maintain a list of these, and coordinate bid development across both internal and external partners.
- o Ensure effective approval processes (Go/No-Go) are followed, including leading coordination of responses to approval queries.
- o Author proposal sections as needed, and coordinate input from other team members. Coordinate timely review processes.
- Manage portfolio of institutional opportunities at varying stages of development.
Award Management
- Manage and oversee relevant SCUK-supported research projects, including identifying associated risks and managing uses. The portfolio will likely include a mix of research projects managed within programme funding, and research funded directly from external research grants.
- Support grant and contract management where needed, and oversee reporting requirements where required for donors and funding bodies. Ensure awards in portfolio are compliant with donor requirements and SC quality standards.
- Act as point of contact for COs to coordinate activities related to research deliverables, as well as other donor expectations.
- Ensure relevant quality assurance processes are completed so that research is conducted effectively and on time, and results in the right product for the right audiences (e.g. summaries, policy briefs…). Ensure all internal and external research ethics procedures and principles are adhered to, as applicable to the research. Ensure that awards management and other relevant information systems are up-do-date, and that global and internal processes are followed.
Knowledge Management
- Maintain records of SCUK research funding and partnership opportunities
- Explore solutions for more efficient management and synthesis of evidence and learning from SCUK supported – and external – research on a rolling/cumulative basis, in collaboration with Save the Children International Evidence and Learning team
Other
- Develop and deliver training and guidance as required to enable SCUK-supported research
Person Profile
Experience
- Experience co-ordinating, writing and securing large research grants
- Experience in one or more of the following: working with a range of academic research funders, industry-funded projects, or large trusts and foundations
- Experience managing complex projects
- Experience working with academic partners
- Experience of research, contract and budget management
- Experience giving advice on procedures and policies and influencing senior stakeholders in a sensitive manner
- Experience designing and delivering service support mechanisms (e.g. training materials and events)
Abilities
- A flexible and initiative-taking attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload
Aptitude
- Knowledge of UK and other research funding mechanisms
- A demonstrable commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion and their practical application and integration in the work environment
- A commitment to Save the Children UK’s aims and core values of accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity
PLEASE NOTE: We are hoping to schedule interviews for the 9th November.
Ways of Working:
Remote First – The majority of our roles can be performed remotely, however you may work from the office as often as you wish. Whilst you will be predominantly working from home, we may at times require you to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). Note: This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team. This is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
On-site – There are certain roles that cannot be performed remotely and so your role will be based in an office location and you may occasionally be able to work from home.
Flexible Working – We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview**.**
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be “Free to Be Me”. We are mot looking for just one type of person – we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences – of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability – help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.