Senior Funding Manager in London

This is an exciting new role within HFF Science Team and would suit an individual looking to apply their demonstrable experience of research funding processes, and their knowledge of the research environment and funding landscape. If you’re organised, adaptable and keen to make a positive impact on world-class research, we’d love to hear from you.

ABOUT THE HUO FAMILY FOUNDATION AND ITS SCIENCE PROGRAMME

HFF is a grant-giving foundation based in London. Its mission is to support education, communities and the pursuit of knowledge. The Foundation’s current focus is in three main areas: education; the arts; and science. Since its inception in 2009, it has pledged over $100M to impactful projects in the UK, US and China.

The rapid rise and use of digital technology have permeated much of society and transformed the way many humans interact. There has been a broad array of research efforts, but the full implications - both positive and negative - on human physiology, psychology, behaviour, well-being and mental health remain unclear. We believe there is an opportunity to help advance the research and the field of knowledge in this area. To this end, since mid-2024, HFF has established and will continue to grow a multi-year research portfolio in the UK and the US on the Effects of the Usage of Digital Technology on Brain Development, Social Behaviours and Mental Health in Children and Young People.

SUMMARY PURPOSE - WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING AND ACHIEVING

The Senior Funding Manager is a newly created role in the HFF Science Team. You will work with the Director of Research and the Senior Programme Officer to administer the Foundation’s science portfolio of grants schemes, awarded grants and associated activities. You will manage and deliver the end-to-end grant application, review and award processes. You will act as a key point of contact for external liaison relating to the schemes. Working with the rest of the team, you will also help to develop and deliver events for Foundation grant holders. The role may require some domestic and international travel, including to meet grant holders for horizon scanning, monitoring and impact assessment purposes.

IS THIS JOB FOR ME?

This is an exciting new role within HFF Science Team and would suit an individual looking to apply their demonstrable experience of research funding processes, and their knowledge of the research environment and funding landscape. You will lead and deliver the full funding cycle with its complex priorities with confidence. Strong communication, analytical skills and attention to detail are essential, along with the ability to build trusted relationships and work collaboratively. You will be part of a small team, so a pro-active and ‘hands on’ approach to all tasks will be necessary; collaboration and a willingness to support others are essential to success in this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take a leading role on managing a diverse grant portfolio from pre-application to post-award, ensuring robust due diligence, clear communication with applicants, high-quality committee preparation, supporting good governance and decision-making, and smooth implementation of funding decisions.
• Provide proactive and collaborative funding operations support to the Science Team and other HFF colleagues.
• Lead, coordinate and deliver funding schemes and calls, setting timelines and workflows, and managing all aspects of associated funding committees to enable efficient, well governed decision making.
• Act as a trusted advisor, offering guidance to applicants and colleagues on funding policies, applicant eligibility, assessment processes, allowable costs and best practice.
• Oversee, coordinate and deliver high quality peer review and governance, selecting appropriate expert reviewers, managing conflicts of interest, ensuring timely and transparent assessments.
• Ensure effective post award grant management and continuous improvement, resolving complex queries, assessing change requests, monitoring compliance and progress, and contributing to process enhancements that support high quality funding operations.
• Partake in monitoring and impact assessment purposes – annual reports, end of grant reports, etc.
• Liaise with other funding organisations, as appropriate, for example, on the operation of joint funding schemes.
• Contribute to the HFF Science’s wider activities, which may include developing and delivering events for HFF grant holders such as a mini conference or workshop. This may require some domestic and international travel.
• Contribute to the Foundation’s wider portfolio of work, including drafting and providing information for papers for meetings of the HFF Trustees.
• Perform any other duties that might be reasonably expected, and which are commensurate with this level of post.

KEY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

Education/Qualifications/Knowledge (essential)

• Educated to Bachelor’s degree standard (or equivalent) in a relevant science or public health subject
• A strong understanding of academic research activities in science
• An excellent understanding of procedures and best practice in research funding

Skills (essential)

• Skilled team worker
• Highly numerate with strong analytical skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills
• Good IT (e.g. Microsoft suite, ChatGPT, and online databases) and presentation skills
• Robust stakeholder management skills – ability to quickly build and maintain the trust of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority

Experience (essential)

• Proven experience (at least five years) as a funding manager or similar role
• Experience of delivering research funding processes
• Extensive experience of using a grants management system
• Experience of planning, leading and delivering projects
• Connections and links to other funders and peers across the sector

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit by the deadline via email an up-to-date CV, including information on your notice period for your current job, and answer the two application questions below to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Minimum Criteria

• Experience of academic research environments and educated to at least degree level in a relevant science or public health subject.
• Previous experience as a funding manager or equivalent role in a research funding organisation.
• Extensive experience of using a grants management system.
• In relation to the funding of research, excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage large workloads, and work to deadlines.
• In relation to the funding of research, strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to summarise complex information, and tailor it for specific audiences.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills - ability to quickly build the trust of internal and external stakeholders.