School Research Strategy & Operations Manager

Salary: £47,389 to £50,253 with progression to £56,535 per annum. Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 08 April 2026

The Role

Newcastle University is seeking an experienced and motivated professional to join the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) as a School Research Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping and delivering the research strategy within one of the University’s dynamic academic Schools. Working closely with the Head of Faculty Research and Innovation, Director of Research, and Head of School Operations, you will support the development of a thriving and inclusive research environment and ensure the effective delivery of research support across the School.

As School Research Manager, you will act as the Professional Services lead for research within the School, providing strategic oversight and operational leadership for research support activities. You will lead a team supporting academic research across the full lifecycle—from proposal development and funding strategy through to impact, governance and national research assessments.

We are looking for a collaborative and strategic professional who is comfortable working in a complex research environment and influencing across organisational boundaries. You will be skilled in building effective partnerships with academic leaders, professional services colleagues and external stakeholders, and in translating strategic ambition into tangible, impactful outcomes.

For informal enquiries about the role, Kate McGill, Head of Faculty Research, would welcome requests for flexible working and depending on the needs of the role, blended working opportunities to work remotely as well as on campus may be considered. The hiring manager will discuss the requirements of the role, should you be invited to interview.

Please attach your CV and a cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria for the position, as outlined in the Person Specification of the Job Description. Any requested additional documents required as part of your application should be included within the same file as your cover letter. The total file size must not exceed 10MB.

Key Accountabilities

• A pivotal member of School Senior Management Team you will work closely with the Director of Research and Head of School Operations to develop and implement a strategic plan and aims for the unit aligning with overarching Faculty aims.
• To inspire and lead a visible, proactive and agile team of PS research colleagues to support academic research activities across the unit, line management of colleagues in the research team allocated to the School.
• To identify and implement mechanisms that support a thriving, inclusive and supportive research culture and environment for colleagues from all job families.
• To be the main contact point for all research related matters across the unit, including research at associated outstations. Provision of expert advice or signposting of colleagues to relevant support.
• Manage and provide agile and visible support for all research proposals across the unit, providing sound advice and guidance relating to all areas of costing and costing strategies (where relevant). Ensuring appropriate lead allocated for complex bids, effectively line managing and directing the Research Team and resource allocated to the unit where appropriate.
• To lead on all elements relating to all national assessments of research excellence (REF) for the unit, disseminating guidance and support and implementing internal and external quality assessments. Leading the unit to ensure that systems, processes and data collection are in place in a timely manner to ensure School-readiness for REF exercises.
• Work with the Director of Research and Innovation, and Faculty Research Colleagues to lead the development and delivery of a strategy for research impact that embeds impact at an early stage of research; ensuring a consistent approach across the unit that supports researchers to make developing impact an integral part of their research practice.
• Lead on research governance and ethics for the unit, ensuring that University and Faculty policies, processes and activities are effectively managed, and implemented.
• Responsible for the development, implementation, and promotion of all research internally and external to the university for the unit.
• Work closely with colleagues from Faculty Finance, Research Funding Development, Project Managers, Grants and Contracts, Contract Finance Management and NU Innovations to ensure that efficient and effective research support is available to researchers.
• Responsibility for appropriate provision of training and induction for all research colleagues within the Unit including the implementation of the Concordat for Researcher Development and the University's Developing Excellent Researchers Action Plan.
• Work with the Head of Faculty Research and with colleagues across other Faculties to ensure that opportunities to enhance and create a consistent approach to research support are optimised.
• The post holder will report directly to the Head of Faculty Research and on a day-to-day basis with the Head of School Operations, working on cross faculty initiatives where appropriate.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• A sound understanding and knowledge of the national and international research environment.
• A sound appreciation of the research lifecycle, including the conduct of research, its translation into policy, practice or product, and the role of different stakeholders in this process.
• Significant experience of working in a research-active environment.
• Experience of research administration either with a funding agency or higher education institution.
• Experience of evaluating research performance.
• A demonstrable understanding of how to build a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Effective collaboration, influencing and negotiation skills in an environment where resources may not be within their direct control.
• An ability to recognise and analyse the dynamics of problems and issues and provide innovative solutions.
• An ability to think strategically and comfortable working at a complex level including the management of conflicting priorities and demands.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Acts in a collaborative, inclusive, collegiate, transparent and open manner, acting with integrity and able to build trust with colleagues and partners.
• An energetic and 'can do' approach which will inspire and enthuse others, ready to take the lead in driving forward initiatives.
• A role model of the University values and guiding principles who promotes a culture of mutual respect.
• An articulate and confident communicator, able to deal with difficult situations and to challenge where necessary.
• An exceptional team player confident in working in partnership with others within and outside the organisation.
• An ability to act objectively in dealing with complex problems, issues and decision making.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level qualification and/or experience in a similar research related role.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population. At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme. In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.