Head of Research Operations – Research Strategy and Services – 100823 – Grade 9

Overview

In this role you will lead the College Hub Research Support team within RSSD, shaping how pre-award research support, contracts and compliance are delivered to enable high-quality research. You will build strong internal and external partnerships to drive efficiency, risk-aware contracting, and end-to-end research support. The position offers strategic influence across CMH and the wider University, with a focus on people development and continuous service improvement. You will play a pivotal role in supporting Birmingham’s bold research ambitions and the 2030 framework.

Pay / Benefits

• 40 days paid holiday
• one paid volunteering day per year
• pension scheme
• flexible working arrangements
• subsidised nurseries
• on-site facilities and campus amenities

Responsibilities

• Lead a ~25-strong Research Support Team across pre-award activities including research development, proposal drafting, budgeting, compliance, and contract negotiations.
• Monitor and report KPIs on grants, awards, and contracts; drive innovations to improve performance and service impact.
• Act as contracts signatory, developing and maintaining a negotiating framework safeguarding IP, data protection, publications, and funding recovery.
• Mentor and develop staff; provide hands-on guidance and foster continuous professional development and EDI leadership.
• Build external networks with Russell Group, funders, and sector partners to promote best practice and influence research funding decisions.
• Foster a collaborative, data-sharing culture to deliver agile, customer-focused support for researchers and partners.
• Oversee HR matters, recruitment and retention, and implement career development plans for the team.
• Lead change programmes and embed best practices across RSSD hubs and the wider division.
• Represent the University in high-level delegations to funders and partners, nurturing strategic collaborations for research income and impact.
• Develop policies and processes that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion across the team and department.
• Take on additional duties commensurate with grade and contribute to strategic planning and policy development.

Key requirements

• Degree-level education (or equivalent) with substantial managerial experience.
• Experience drafting and reviewing complex research agreements with a pragmatic, risk-based approach.
• Ability to exercise significant independent professional responsibility and discretion.
• Proven leadership of diverse teams through intermediate managers.
• Strong knowledge of national/international research policy and operations.
• Ability to develop partnerships with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Extensive experience providing senior practitioner support on research contracts, funder terms, compliance, and governance.
• Experience leading/co-ordinating large, strategic partnerships involving universities, public bodies, policy organisations, and industry.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with ability to tailor to different audiences and analyze complex data.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and using data to address related issues.

• leadership and people management
• collaboration and teamwork
• excellent communication
• contract drafting and negotiation
• budgeting and costing for grants
• funder terms compliance

…