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- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver top-notch research support for world-class faculty.
- Company: Join the London Business School, a hub of academic excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, generous pension, and free gym access.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in research while supporting faculty's goals.
- Qualifications: Experience in higher education research support and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model with a focus on wellbeing and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Are you able to deliver an outstanding research support service to world-class faculty? The Research and Faculty Office plays a vital role in enabling excellence in teaching and research. We are seeking an Assistant Director, Research Support to lead the delivery of a comprehensive, high-quality research support service. In this role, you will manage a small team and oversee key areas including internal and external research funding, research ethics, compliance, and research support operations. You will work closely with faculty to understand and support their research needs, while collaborating with colleagues across departments such as Finance, IT, and the Library to ensure a seamless and effective service. This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive leader with strong stakeholder management skills and experience in research support within a higher education environment, who is committed to continuous improvement and service excellence.
Responsibilities
- Line manage the Research Support team
- Oversee the management of internal research funds
- Support faculty with the management of external research funds
- Manage the research lab services and research ethics applications
- Ensure compliance with all legal requirements including GDPR, NDAs and research ethics
- Manage relevant research committees
- Manage the School's REF submission and the annual review of research performance
Qualifications
- Professional qualification or equivalent experience.
- Significant experience of the HE social science research environment, and in particular pre-award research grant administration and management
- Experience with externally funded grant application systems, e.g. JeS
- Sound working knowledge of policies, regulations and legislation in area of specialism.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage a variety of audiences.
- Excellent customer service attitude and skills
- An ability to empathise with faculty and their research goals and aspirations
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to prioritise and focus on material issues.
- Experience of leading projects.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave of 27 days plus extra between Christmas and New Year
- Generous pension package, 14.5% employer contribution (in return for employee enrolment and contribution)
- Free onsite gym and swimming pool
- Amazing range of professional development to support your career path
- Enhanced cycle to work scheme
- Wellbeing offering to support your physical, mental and financial health
- Up to 5 days paid emergency leave for staff who have caring responsibilities for a family member, dependent or friend who is ill.
Work Arrangements
At London Business School, we support Smart Working - a hybrid approach designed to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance while delivering the best outcomes for your role and the needs of our customers. All roles require a minimum of two days on campus each week to foster a vibrant, collaborative community. For this role specifically, you will be expected to be on campus at least 2 days per week with the need for flexibility based on business needs. We operate with 'core hours' - 10:00-15:00 - to maximise opportunities for connection and collaboration across teams during the working day. Outside of these hours, you may still be required for meetings or collaboration based on your role and customer needs. Additionally, we offer Protected Time - a flexible, one-hour slot, within the working week dedicated to your learning and development, wellbeing, or focused, quiet work.
Additional Information
We are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone in our community feels they belong and thrive. This is a key school priority, and we want everyone who joins LBS to feel respected, welcomed, and heard. Candidates needing sponsorship should assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by evaluating their circumstances against the relevant criteria before applying. Please note we start screening CVs and interviewing candidates from the start of a campaign. A successful candidate could progress to offer before the advertised closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in any roles.
Assistant Director, Research Support in City of Westminster employer: London Business School
Contact Detail:
London Business School Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director, Research Support in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at the institution or similar organisations. A friendly chat can give us insider info on what they value in candidates and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in research support and higher education. We want to show that we’re not just familiar with the basics but also passionate about the field and ready to contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice our responses to common interview questions, especially those around stakeholder management and compliance. We need to demonstrate our problem-solving skills and how we can empathise with faculty needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email can keep us fresh in their minds and shows our enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why we’re the perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director, Research Support in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in research support and stakeholder management. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Assistant Director, Research Support.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves managing a team, don’t forget to mention any leadership experiences you have. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and guide others, so share examples of how you've done this in the past.
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Compliance: Given the importance of compliance in this role, make sure to highlight your knowledge of relevant policies and regulations. We want to know that you can navigate the complexities of research ethics and legal requirements.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at London Business School
✨Know Your Research Support Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the key areas of research support mentioned in the job description. Familiarise yourself with internal and external funding processes, research ethics, and compliance requirements. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Assistant Director, you'll be managing a team, so be prepared to discuss your leadership style and experiences. Think of specific examples where you've successfully led projects or managed teams, especially in a higher education context. Highlight how you’ve motivated others and achieved results through collaboration.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Stakeholder management is crucial for this role. Prepare to talk about your experience working with various departments like Finance, IT, and the Library. Share examples of how you've built relationships and collaborated effectively to meet research needs. This will show that you can navigate complex environments and prioritise stakeholder engagement.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The job calls for a commitment to service excellence and continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss how you've identified areas for improvement in past roles and the steps you took to implement changes. This could include streamlining processes or enhancing service delivery, which will resonate well with the interviewers.