Research Grants Officer / Research Development Manager / Research Ethics Coordinator

Role Description

Support high-quality research through effective funding administration, proposal development, or research ethics coordination. Work with researchers, institutional teams, funders, and review committees to facilitate well-managed research that meets institutional and applicable external requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to researchers on relevant funding opportunities, application procedures, institutional policies, and submission requirements.
• Coordinate proposal submissions, supporting documentation, internal reviews, and approvals.
• Maintain accurate records of applications, awards, ethics submissions, decisions, and reporting deadlines within the assigned remit.
• Develop guidance materials and deliver briefings or training for researchers and administrative staff.
• Liaise with finance, legal, research teams, and external stakeholders to resolve queries and coordinate activities.
• Prepare reports on funding activity, research development, or ethics review performance.
• Handle confidential proposals, participant information, and committee records securely.
• Identify opportunities to improve research support processes and systems.

Role-Specific Responsibilities

• Research Grants Officer: Review application eligibility and budgets, coordinate award acceptance, track grant conditions and reporting milestones, and support amendments and project closeout.
• Research Development Manager: Identify strategic funding opportunities, develop interdisciplinary collaborations, coordinate major bids, and strengthen proposals through structured feedback and researcher development.
• Research Ethics Coordinator: Screen submissions for completeness, coordinate committee reviews and meetings, communicate decisions, and track amendments, renewals, and required reports. Refer substantive ethical questions to authorized reviewers or committees.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in research administration, grants management, research development, ethics administration, or a related field.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing complex documentation and deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain requirements to varied audiences.
• Ability to interpret funding guidelines, institutional policies, and procedural requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with researchers and professional services teams.
• Proficiency in office productivity tools and familiarity with databases or workflow systems.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and commitment to research integrity.
• A degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a university, research institute, healthcare organization, or funding body.
• Familiarity with research management, grant submission, or ethics review platforms.
• Research Grants Officer: Knowledge of grant budgeting, eligible expenditure, award conditions, and financial reporting.
• Research Development Manager: Experience supporting competitive funding bids, research partnerships, and strategic research initiatives; postgraduate research experience may be beneficial.
• Research Ethics Coordinator: Knowledge of informed consent, participant protection, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and ethics review procedures.

Scope by Role

• Research Grants Officer: Coordinates the funding lifecycle from application through award administration and closeout.
• Research Development Manager: Leads funding development activities and supports researchers in building competitive proposals and collaborations.
• Research Ethics Coordinator: Administers the ethics review process and supports researchers and committees in fulfilling their responsibilities.