As a Funding Manager, you will:

• Provide proactive and collaborative funding operations advice to Strategic Programmes, working closely with colleagues across Wellcome – including Legal and Finance – to guide and deliver Directed Funding processes such as Discretionary Awards and funding calls.
• Build strong, positive stakeholder relationships, communicating clearly and inclusively, and influencing colleagues at all levels to ensure effective programme and funding delivery to a high standard.
• Lead and coordinate funding schemes and calls, setting timelines and workflows, and coordinating plans and communications with the team.
• For funding calls that you are leading, you will manage all aspects of the advisory committees, acting as the Committee Manager, and enabling efficient, well-governed decision-making on applications for that call.
• Manage and deliver a diverse grant portfolio from application to award, ensuring robust due diligence and cost challenge, clear communication with applicants, high-quality committee preparation, and smooth, timely implementation of funding decisions.
• Oversee high-quality peer review and governance, selecting appropriate expert reviewers, ensuring timely and transparent assessments, and providing accessible guidance on funding policies, assessment processes, and allowable costs.
• Ensure effective post-award grant management and continuous improvement, resolving complex queries, assessing change requests, monitoring compliance, mentoring colleagues, and contributing to process enhancements that support inclusive, high-quality funding operations.

Is this job for me?

The ideal candidate should have:

• Excellent knowledge of grant funding processes and policies.
• A degree/equivalent level in a relevant life science subject.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to adapt your approach to internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
• Initiative and good judgment to know when processes need to be flexibly adapted, recognizing when discussions need to be escalated and clearly communicated to Research Funding leadership.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and explore key considerations to produce well-rationalised recommendations for a senior audience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex information and tailor it for specific audiences.

Minimum Criteria:

• Educated to at least degree/equivalent level in a life science subject.
• Previous experience as a Funding Manager or equivalent role and experience of the academic research environment.
• Evidence of robust stakeholder management skills – ability to quickly build and pro-actively maintain the trust of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
• Evidence of strong verbal and written communication and collaboration skills across a range of internal and external audiences.
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise and manage large workloads and work to deadlines.

Applications Questions:

Using examples please provide evidence to demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as outlined in the job description? (Up to 500 words)

Using short summaries please provide specific details of up to two different initiatives or projects you have been directly involved in that are relevant to this role. For each initiative or project please use up to 250 words to describe your role (e.g., team leader, team member), the purpose of the activity (i.e., its aims), and the major contributions you personally made.

You can view the full job description on our website.

You can read more about the benefits we offer our employees on our website.

Our Hybrid Way of Working

We understand that our colleagues have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to build a flexible working environment, in which people can perform at their best.

At Wellcome we have a hybrid way of working which is 3 days in our Euston Road offices (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) with the remaining 2 days working either remotely or in the office.

Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at Wellcome. We are committed to cultivating a fair and inclusive environment, where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition. Please visit our website for more information on adjustments and accessibility, or contact us at jobs@wellcome.org.

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