Description:
DCU are now seeking to recruit a Senior Research Support Lead who will be responsible for coordinating support for research opportunities of strategic importance, reflecting the funding targets of the institutional research strategy and individual faculty and research centre funding strategies.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- In conjunction with the Research Development and Support Manager, develop and implement coordinated call strategies for larger scale, interdisciplinary and strategically significant research funding calls.
- Proactively identify and engage suitable candidates to create a pipeline of high-quality research proposals for prioritised research funding calls
- As required, lead internal project teams to support specific funding areas, playing a proactive and direct role in those activities.
- Build relationships both across the University and with external stakeholders, including research funders, to support and maximise engagement with strategic funding opportunities.
- Provide a full call management service to include:
- Awareness generation,
- Funder liaison,
- Provision of expert advice,
- Grant acceptance and contract management
- Develop innovative resources and training materials to support researchers at various stages of the research funding lifecycle, including the compliance aspects of meeting the obligations of research funding awards.
- Engage in research policy development as required, and provide content for both internal and external initiatives relating to research activity.
- Undertake duties and responsibilities as prioritised by the Research Development and Support Manager.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants for the Senior Research Support Lead must hold a primary degree or equivalent (NFQ Level 8) and have a minimum of five years’ relevant experience of working in an academic research support environment. In addition to the above, it is also desirable that candidates have a postgraduate qualification at Master’s or PhD level.
Essential Criteria
- Previous experience of developing and implementing funding call strategies for prioritized research opportunities in an academic environment
- Significant experience of managing funding calls from proposal to award stage, including funder liaison; expression of interest process; peer review and mock interview process; managing high volume calls; grant acceptance, contract management and compliance activities.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in engaging individuals to work collaboratively to achieve targets.
- Evidence of strategic development of research related initiatives.
- Highly developed understanding of the national and international research funding landscapes.
- Proven ability to communicate effectively at a high level with stakeholders especially researchers, professional support units and funding agencies.
- Ability to define priorities and work flexibly, professionally and effectively while under pressure to meet demanding deadlines.
- Ability to act on their own initiative and problem solve within their remit, in line with the senior level of the role