Research Grants Manager - FTC in Cambridge

ARUK is migrating to a new grants management system, Flexigrant, creating an exciting opportunity for a Research Grants Manager to act as the product owner for ARUK’s grant-making processes. This role will sit at the intersection of research funding, systems delivery, and stakeholder engagement. You will be responsible for configuring, embedding, and continuously improving Flexigrant to support ARUK’s grant-making activities across the full funding lifecycle — from scheme design and application, through peer review and funding decisions, to post-award management and reporting.

Working closely with colleagues across the Research Funding team, the wider Research Directorate, and external partners and providers, you will ensure that ARUK’s grant processes are robust, user-centred, efficient, and scalable. This role is vital to enabling ARUK to fund the best dementia research and to support and engage our funded research community. This role sits in the Research Directorate, an ambitious, supportive and friendly team funding world-class research to transform the lives of people affected by dementia. We’re looking for someone with research management experience, a good eye for detail and enthusiasm for improving systems and processes in a complex research funding environment. This is a 12-month FTC.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a subject matter expert and system owner for ARUK’s grants management system, Flexigrant.
• Lead the ongoing configuration, implementation and optimisation of Flexigrant, working closely with team across the Research Directorate to embed their funding schemes and workflows.
• Support the Senior Research Funding Manager to work in partnership with the external system provider to support system development, issue resolution and updates.
• Configure and open grant schemes, build application and review workflows, manage access and permissions, and create data exports to meet internal and external needs.
• Develop and maintain system guidance, documentation, and training materials for internal users and external stakeholders.
• Champion adoption of Flexigrant across the organisation, promoting best practice and continuous improvement.
• Support the operational delivery of ARUK’s grant-making activities, from scheme launch through peer review to funding decisions.
• Work with the Research Grants Manager (pre-award) to support the development and delivery of expert review processes, ensuring fair, transparent assessment in line with AMRC principles.
• Work with the Research Grants Manager (post-award) with award and post-award management, including monitoring research expenditure, milestone reporting, and post-award change requests.
• Maintain accurate, high-quality grant data and records, ensuring internal and external stakeholders have access to reliable and timely information.
• Act as a primary contact for internal teams requiring grant information or data from Flexigrant.
• Support applicants, reviewers, and grant holders by providing clear guidance throughout the application, assessment, and award lifecycle.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams such as Science Communications and Philanthropy to support effective communication of funding opportunities and grant outcomes.
• Represent the charity at relevant external meetings and events.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

• Degree in a life science, health-related, or relevant discipline.
• Experience of grant management or research funding administration within a charity, research organisation, university or funder, with experience supporting the full research funding lifecycle, including application, peer review, funding decisions, and post-award management.
• Practical experience of working with a grants management system or similar complex business system (e.g. Flexigrant, Grant Tracker, Salesforce, Worktribe, InfoEd, etc.) with experience of configuring or supporting funding schemes, workflows, or processes within a system or platform.
• Experience working collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including researchers, reviewers, and colleagues across multiple teams.
• Understanding of fair and transparent peer review processes and commitment to best practice (e.g. AMRC principles).
• Strong attention to detail, with experience managing accurate data, records, and reporting.
• Ability to take ownership of a system or process and drive continuous improvement. Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear guidance and explain complex processes to different audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• A proactive attitude and someone who can work independently.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a pragmatic and user-focused approach.
• Comfortable working in a changing environment and responding to evolving organisational needs.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in research funding and ways of working.

Additional Information:

As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa £44,000 per annum, plus benefits.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.