CANDIDATE BRIEF

Research and Innovation Development Manager/Officer (EU/International),

Faculty of Engineering

Salary: Grade 7 (£32,004 – £38,183 p.a.) or 8 (£39,324 – £46,924 p.a.)

Appointment to a specific grade will be made dependent on skills and

experience

Reference: ENGFO1059

Research and Innovation Development Manager/Officer

(EU/International)

Engineering Research and Innovation Service (ERIS)

Are you an experienced and ambitious Research and Innovation Development Professional looking to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities? Do you have a background in developing and delivering high value and high quality funding applications that can help us deliver the University’s highly ambitious Strategic Plan (2014–2020) to grow research funding by 50% to £200M per annum by 2020?

We are looking for a professional and proactive individual to support the Manager of the Faculty of Engineering’s Research and Innovation Service (ERIS) to shape the Faculty’s strategic research direction, to maximise research impact and external income. You will identify new EU/International funding and impact opportunities and support academic staff to develop successful inter-disciplinary research proposals.

What does the role entail? As Research and Innovation Development Manager/Officer your main duties will include the following research funding and business development activities:

You will undertake capability analysis of Faculty research strengths and use your in-depth knowledge of European Union Horizon 2020 and International innovation and funding streams to ‘horizon’ scan and identify opportunities to exploit current research activity, including new intellectual property, and proactively influence the Faculty’s research strategy to align with such external opportunities;

You will identify, develop and maintain strategic relationships and networks with industrial, innovation and public funders, and liaise with key people in such funding bodies to develop awareness of new and ‘yet to be announced’ funding calls. You will work with key academics and research groups to respond to such calls. You will also work with the University’s Central and wider Research and Innovation development team members, and other relevant support staff across the University;

Working with academic staff, you will proactively contribute to, and project manage, the development of high quality, interdisciplinary research and innovation proposals and manage related projects to increase impact, innovation and commercialisation of research, ensuring delivery of agreed goals and alignment with partner/funding sponsor expectations. This will include: co-ordinating information gathering; facilitating sandpits and

workshops to identify potential projects; providing advice regarding proposal content; and, actively writing appropriate sections of the proposals;

You will work with central University departments to provide coordinated support across the full range of business development, finance, funding support, legal and commercialisation services, ensuring compliance with University policy and processes, as well as working with Faculty and University Marketing to promote the University’s research strengths and impact and innovation agenda;

As the role progresses, you may be required to gain line management responsibility for ERIS staff, as necessitated by business needs.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post. If you are appointed at University of Leeds grade 7, a personal development plan will be put in place, which is anticipated to run over a three-year timescale. On satisfactory completion of this plan, you will advance to University of Leeds grade 8.

What will you bring to the role? To be appointed at Grade 7, as Research and Innovation Development Officer, you will have:

Relevant research experience within Engineering or related sectors, gained via a PhD or equivalent research experience within industry/academia;

Excellent knowledge of the public research and innovation funding sectors with knowledge of the priorities and working of relevant funding bodies and funding schemes including: European Union Horizon 2020 Schemes, including European Research Council, Marie-Curie and Collaborative research; and, associated UK Government schemes such as the Newton Fund and the new Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), in additional to other relevant funding streams;

Knowledge of Official Development Assistance, and associated criteria for ODA funding (Newton and Global Challenge Research Fund), and experience of costing ODA-orientated proposals and of advising researchers who are unfamiliar with this source of funding;

Experience in supporting strategic proposals to access EU funding that allows for the incorporation of overseas, non-EU partners, and proven ability to identify and develop funding sources with overseas partners which are not eligible for Horizon 2020 or ODA funding;

Experience of working with academic researchers and research funders, including previous experience and understanding of the challenges in conducting research, and experience of facilitating collaborations for

collaborative/grand challenge/innovation funding bids;

Proven ability in identifying, managing and sustaining research and innovation relationships with national and international partners;

Experience of working with industry, with an awareness of the associated challenges and opportunities;

Excellent interpersonal, relationship building, influencing, negotiation and team working skills, with the ability to interact and communicate effectively and sensitively with individuals from a range of backgrounds and at all levels within a complex organisation and a proactive approach to customer service;

Evidence of excellent project management skills, especially of successful EU-funded projects, with a proven track record in delivering results;

Evidence of the ability to demonstrate a high level of initiative and adaptability, with strong analytical, creative and problem-solving skills;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

To be appointed at Grade 8, as Research and Innovation Development Manager, you will additionally have:

A proven track record of initiating and converting cutting edge research and innovation into successful new commercial innovation opportunities;

Extensive experience in assisting with large scale EU-funding or GCRF bids, or a detailed knowledge of how to assemble successful large scale collaborative bids;

A confident personal leadership style, as evidenced by a track-record of having successfully influenced strategy;

Proven effective people management skills;

Experience of facilitating workshops and sandpit-style events.

To be appointed at Grade 8 you may also have:

Experience of working for a research funding body or commercial organisation;

A Project Management qualification e.g. PRINCE2;

Extensive experience and knowledge of Higher Education research and/or innovation best practice.

How to apply

You can apply for this role online at https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/.

Contact information To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: Dr Karen Steenson, ERIS (Engineering Research & Innovation Service) Manager Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 2057 Email: k.a.steenson@leeds.ac.uk

Additional information Working at Leeds

You can find out more about our generous benefits package and more about what it

is like to work at the University and live in the Leeds area in our Working at Leeds

information.

Faculty Information

Further information is available on the research and teaching activities of the Faculty of Engineering. A diverse workforce

The Faculty of Engineering is proud to have been awarded the Athena Swan Silver

Award from the Equality Challenge Unit, the national body that promotes equality in

the higher education sector. Our equality and inclusion webpage provides more

information.

Candidates with disabilities

Information for candidates with disabilities, impairments or health conditions, including

requesting alternative formats, can be found in our Accessibility information or by

getting in touch with us at disclosure@leeds.ac.uk.

Criminal record information

A criminal record check is not required for this position, however, all applicants will

be required to declare if they have any ‘unspent’ criminal offences, including those

pending.

Any offer of appointment will be accordance with our Criminal Records policy. You

can find out more about required checks and declarations in our Criminal Records

information.