Head of Senior Fellowships
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Job Scope
The Head of Senior Fellowships (SF) will be part of the Royal Society Grants Senior Leadership Team (SLT), comprised of five Heads and the Director of Grants and will shape the Royal Society's funding schemes and programmes and will oversee delivery of the Society's senior fellowship programmes including the new Faraday Discovery Fellowships and the Prestigious Royal Society Research Professorships.
The role holder will be responsible for managing relationships with partner organisations and key stakeholders, including Government departments such as DSIT, other funders, philanthropic supporters, senior staff within university departments and the Royal Society's research fellows.
The role holder will work with partners, and build influential networks, to deliver collaborative programmes, identify new opportunities, ensure good practice and ensure that the Society responds to changes in the funding environment and research sector landscape. The Head Grants - SF will be responsible for leading the Society's mid-career and senior fellowship programmes working closely with the other members of the Grants Senior Leadership Team.
Reports to: Director of Grants
Line manages: Senior Managers
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus hybrid remote working
Pay Band: G
Salary: £70,000 to £74,000
Contract type: Permanent
The application closing date is 14 June 2024 at 23:59.
The interview will take place on 27 June 2024
Responsibilities
Strategy
To work with Fellows of the Royal Society, the Director of Grants, members of the Grants SLT and other senior staff in the development and delivery of the RS Grants Strategy.
Grants Administration and Management
To lead the development and oversee the delivery of the Royal Society's grants programmes for mid-career and senior researchers. Including designing programmes for funding and ensuring the quality of delivery of the schemes and programmes and adherence to good practice.
Engaging our researchers
To work closely with the Society's lead on researcher engagement to oversee the development of a programme of high-quality training and mentoring for mid-career researchers, and to develop new engagement opportunities with the established researchers funded by the Royal Society. This will include regular site visits to develop working relationships with funded researchers.
Working with partners
To develop and maintain strong relationships with funding partners where appropriate, and build influential networks, to deliver collaborative programmes, identify and negotiate new opportunities, ensure good practice and ensure that the Society responds to changes in the funding environment and research sector landscape.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion
To support activities within the Grants team aimed at increasing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion including encouraging participation from under-represented groups and supporting the development and maintenance of policies and practices to foster greater inclusivity and to ensure that those who have followed a non-standard career path are encouraged to apply.
Financial Management
To work closely with the Head of Grants Funding and Assurance on the management of the associated grants budgets and on ensuring appropriate financial management of the RS grants schemes and programmes.
Staff Management and Development
To provide leadership to the Grants team as part of the Grants Senior Leadership Team. To lead within SLT on staff training and development ensuring that members of the team are provided with an inclusive and supportive environment and opportunities to help them in realising their potential and develop new skills and knowledge. To role model behaviours in line with the Grants Team Charter.
Management of the work of the Section
To support the wider work of the section including but not limited improving working practices, maintaining an annual planning cycle for the Mid-Career and Senior fellowships, contributing to improving internal and external communications, supporting the evaluation programme and demonstrating the impact of RS funded grants and other activities as required by the Director of Grants.
Key Knowledge and Skills Required
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE Educated to degree standard or equivalentEssentialA good understanding of academic and/or research activities in scienceEssentialA good understanding of procedures and best practice in research funding EssentialScience degreeDesirable SKILLS Skilled team leader and team workerEssentialExcellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skillsEssentialExcellent organisational skillsEssentialGood IT skillsDesirableExcellent presentational skillsDesirableExcellent influencing and negotiation skills Desirable EXPERIENCE Experience of developing and implementing policies and strategiesEssentialExperience of administration, at a senior level, within a scientific environmentDesirable Proven experience in a similar roleDesirableExperience of managing staffEssential Experience of funding research DesirableExperience of working across teams and departments DesirableExperience of managing meetings and events with external participants in senior positions EssentialExperience of planning and managing projectsDesirableExperience of anticipating and handling customer requirementsDesirable
Competencies
Self-management
• Identifies difficult situations
• Recognises stress in others and takes steps to reduce it
• Controls pressurised situations
• Effectively enthuses those in the team
• Proactively sets goals and targets for own work
Working with others
• Actively seeks ideas and criticisms from within the team
• Resolves conflicts within and between teams
• Embeds feedback processes within the team
• Seeks out new networks that will create opportunity for the Society
• Able to present complex issues simply
• Uses discretion, tact and empathy when negotiating with and/or seeking to influence others
• Understands the need to manage expectations and to only promise what is deliverable
Resource management
• Determines strategy and deployment of resources, balancing cost and benefit; risk and potential for maximum impact across significant business areas
• Manages complex cross-cutting projects to time, budget and specification
• Ensures others accept responsibility towards results or quality
• Sets the quality standards for own business areas in accordance with strategy and contributes to the formulation of quality standards across the Society
• Sets and monitors priorities
• Identifies and manages risk effectively
Critical thinking
• Uses questioning, analytical and probing skills to 'dig deeper'
• Knows when enough information has been obtained and adapts presentation of information to the needs of the audience
• Evaluates the benefits, practicalities and value for money of ideas and obtains feedback
• Makes sound decisions in a complex or ambiguous environment and is able to gain support and manage challenges confidently
Adaptability
• Actively seeks the input and opinions of others, often outside his/her section and accommodates and incorporates this thinking into any output.
• Actively seeks new challenges and projects; leads discussions surrounding new ideas, approaches and projects
• Anticipates need for innovation and seeks new ideas, approaches and solutions
Managing people and relationships
• Sets expectations of others and ensures they deliver
• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards work, celebrating success and instilling confidence, which encourages the same from others
• Encourages others to share ideas and participate in the discussion and decisions of the team
• Assesses needs of clients/stakeholders/staff and makes plans to meet these needs