Funding Policy and Operations specialist

Location: London

Job Type: Permanent, hybrid working environment

Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.

About the role:

The Funding team at LifeArc has oversight of all grant funding activity across the organisation, including the continued development and maintenance of LifeArc’s funding policies and operating model as our funding offering continues to scale. We are looking for a senior colleague to join our team in a newly created role to lead on policy and operational aspects, and manage a team of funding administrators. The successful candidate will work closely with other key stakeholders internally to ensure a best practice operating model is in place across the full lifecycle for all of our funding initiatives, from pre‑award planning to award close out and beyond. Sitting alongside our skilled team of externally‑facing Funding Managers, this role requires an in depth knowledge of funding policy and process.

About you:

Responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with the Head of Funding, lead the ongoing development, operational delivery and integration of LifeArc’s Funding Framework, including policies, processes, documentation, systems and communications.
• Manage continuous improvement of the Framework, supporting the Head of Funding with communications to Exec Sponsors/ Internal Audit/ Exec and Trustee Committees as required.
• Build and embed collaborative ways of working between Funding and other key functions within LifeArc, such as Finance, Clin Dev, Insights, Alliance Management, BD and others.
• Oversee the centralised tracking, record keeping and internal reporting of LifeArc’s pre‑ and post‑award funding portfolios, ensuring organisation‑wide compliance.
• Line manage the Funding Operations/ administration team, and as such oversee all funding logistics and administrative resourcing.
• Lead the development and rollout of operational tools and training to support team and matrix colleagues’ consistency and capability.
• Act as a key enabler for the Funding function as it scales and evolves in line with organisational requirements.
• Lead complex internal initiatives and projects relating to Funding operations, including the identification and implementation of new tech systems.
• Manage external suppliers and the associated budget relevant to Funding Framework activity.

Essential experience required:

• Deep knowledge of Funding policies and processes, preferably within the charity and medical research sectors, and the ability to adapt and apply to optimise LifeArc’s funding model.
• Complex, high value portfolio management experience.
• Experience with change management in a matrix setting.
• Line management and leadership experience in high performing teams.
• Super‑user of funding management IT Systems; and demonstrated ability to lead the identification and implementation a new system, working closely with LifeArc’s Tech team.
• Experience of developing and successfully implementing best‑practice funding management processes and associated templates.
• Well‑developed stakeholder management and communication skills, with ability to explain complex concepts to internal and external stakeholders with credibility.
• Extensive knowledge of the external environment into which we fund.
• Consulting experience preferable.
• Experience in a senior role at a major funder of medical research, with a high value and complex funded portfolio.
• Experience of funding internationally, with an understanding of key similarities and differences between UK, EU, US and LMIC environments.

Education:

Degree educated, preferably in Life Sciences.

Skills & abilities:

• Proven leadership abilities in a complex, matric organisation.
• Highly organised.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities.
• A confident and effective communicator with all levels of seniority and personality types, adapting style as appropriate.
• Proactive and solutions‑focused.
• Well‑developed influencing skills, particularly influencing without authority in a matrix setting.

What we can offer you:

Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance and annual leave of 31 days plus bank holidays. LifeArc is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview to candidates with a disability or long‑term health condition who meet the essential criteria for the role.