Research Funding Manager

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Summary

Reports to: Director Research Business Development

Team: Business Development

Salary range: £45,000-55,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience).

Location: London, Hybrid (min. two days a week)

Contract: Full-time Permanent

About RUSI

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is one of the world's leading research think-tanks in the field of defence, security, and geopolitics. The Research Business Development team was established in 2023 to support RUSI's nine research groups to meet their annual funding targets by responding to competitive bids, proactively identifying new funding opportunities, and sharing best practice across the organisation.

Team values:

• Pragmatism - we solve problems and find solutions to complex issues. Action oriented.
• Drive - we are constantly learning and trying to improve, working to move the organisation forwards. Proactive and independent.
• Professionalism - we treat people with respect and assume good intentions to build strong relationships with our colleagues and other stakeholders. We deliver on our promises and communicate clearly.
• Positivity - we set an optimistic tone and focus on what we can reasonably do to make a positive difference to the organisation.
• Outcome-led - we want to see results from our work and care about making a tangible difference.
• Curious - we keep an open mind, seek to understand, and bring a diverse set of experiences to the table.
• Sustainability - we think of the long-term, taking the time to fix issues so they don't arise again and ensuring that our working patterns are healthy and productive.

Main purpose of the post

We are seeking to appoint a Research Funding Manager with experience in managing the development and submissions process for successful research bids, to be part of a wider team that spearheads RUSI's research fundraising efforts. Reporting to the Director, Research Business Development, the successful candidate will lead the process for preparing high-value bids, including drafting sections of the narrative and reviewing budgets, and be responsible for building central resources to improve and facilitate effective business development operations. This is a highly collaborative role that involves building very strong internal relationships at all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders and skilfully managing competing priorities, personalities, and deadlines. We are seeking a team player with a pragmatic and positive attitude, who will enjoy learning about RUSI's research areas and building stronger systems and processes to help us to make Business Development more efficient and successful.

Key tasks

• For UK Government, US Government, EU and Canadian Government bids, and bids over £100,000 value to RUSI:
• End-to-end project management of high-quality bids, including tender responses, funding applications and requests to participate.
• Manage internal and external communications to ensure that the RUSI team, and partners, are aware of evaluation criteria, key themes, deadlines, and other critical information. Agree roles, responsibilities and timelines between key stakeholders.
• Compile and arrange high-quality and compelling bid language working with subject matter experts, draft responses to institutional questions, and offer quality assurance ahead of submission.
• Review project budgets to be signed off by RUSI's COO, ensuring that they are prepared consistently and in line with RUSI policies and funder requirements, working with RUSI research teams to achieve this.
• Serve as the institutional point of contact for the key funders listed above - attend Early Market Engagements/supplier events, funder events, webinars, to ensure you are up to date on their priorities and RUSI is competitive with our bids. Maintain a centralised database and disseminate up-to-date information on each funder's practices, key dates, preferences, upcoming opportunities etc.
• For all other bids, review budgets for accuracy, competitiveness and to ensure costs are in line with RUSI's policies and previous submissions, and, once finalised, seek approval from the COO.
• Work with the Director for Research Business Development, Research Directors and the Deputy Director General to identify and cultivate new relationships within each of the key funders, ensuring that we have good awareness of upcoming plans, expectations and priorities.
• Facilitate links to partner organisations (primes) and build and manage consortia-based relationships to ensure we have oversight of upcoming opportunities and are able to negotiate successful partnerships.
• Ensure use of best practice across research groups in our approach to bids and budgets, and that key documents, outcomes, research impact, and decisions are saved centrally for future use.
• With support from the BD team, develop and execute a plan to inform, train and mentor research and central services colleagues on best practice for bids, including a focus on wider business awareness.
• Respond to due diligence requests received by RUSI from research funders, ensure we have a central database of up-to-date policies and documents required to respond successfully and quickly.
• Work with the Business Development team to build organisational systems and processes for effective BD, collaborate with BD colleagues to share feedback and ideas, support each other, and develop central projects to improve BD across the organisation.
• Attend Business Development meetings with research groups and build strong relationships with project managers and project officers, capturing feedback and seeking input to BD processes and practices.
• Manage the process for new funder approvals with the Deputy Director General.
• Be a member of RUSI's Research Committee and report on bid statuses and other relevant information when needed.

The above list of duties is not exhaustive. The post holder will be required to undertake such duties that may reasonably be expected within the scope and grade of the role.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience:

• An extensive track record of submitting high-quality research project proposals to the funders listed above, with a demonstrable success rate.
• Able to produce clear, accurate and insightful written output, setting high standards and enhancing our external reputation through the production of strong bids.
• Skilled at dealing with high-pressured situations with sensitivity and in a calm manner.
• A track record of producing and reviewing small, medium, and large project budgets, often with specific funder requirements, and an understanding of how to develop competitive financial bids.
• Strong knowledge and awareness of common requirements for bid submissions, including statements on duty of care, quality assurance, supply chain management, gender, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Outstanding time management skills and a willingness to work flexibly, juggling shifting priorities and competing deadlines, while managing people's expectations effectively with the support of the Director of Research Business Development.
• A good understanding of contractual matters and experience in resolving them.
• Experience in training colleagues on best practice and developing associated materials.
• Strong IT and Microsoft skills (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Project management certification such as Prince 2.

Desirable Criteria:

• An interest in, and knowledge of, defence, security and geopolitics.
• Experience in a Think Tank/Charity sector

Our expectations

We expect all staff to abide by and promote our RUSI's Vision and Values https://rusi.org/content/values and Equal Opportunities Statement.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service)
• Additional days off during Christmas -RUSI Christmas closure days
• Generous pension contributions at 6% employer contribution,
• Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Season ticket loan
• Access to free access to RUSI's world leading programme of events and conferences, research materials and library
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders
• *Enhanced sick pay
• *Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

*Depending on length of service

Application Process

To apply, please click on the apply button and follow the instructions.

You will be asked to include:

• your CV
• a Cover letter of no more than one page.

Closing date: 16thJune 2024 at 23:59pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the closing date brought forward if needed. Early application is encouraged. Only shortlisted applicant will be contacted.

Equal Opportunity and Values

At RUSI you will be appreciated and valued. Our stakeholders, transactions, and projects are international and diverse, so we work hard to create inclusive teams that support our efforts and each other. We are committed in promoting equality and diversity in our workforce and make it as diverse as the communities we serve. Our recruitment data helps us monitor the effectiveness of our recruitment practices in order that we can continue to improve on creating a more diverse workforce.

We're aware that the questionnaire may not capture the rich complexities of our backgrounds and identities, so we apologise if these are not best described. Please note that this data will be kept confidential and separated from your job application. If you are uncomfortable sharing, choose "Prefer not to say" or skip the questions entirely.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]