At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead grants operations for a major digitisation programme and manage stakeholder engagement.
- Company: Join the DiSSCo UK team, part of a £155.6 million national infrastructure initiative.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, travel opportunities, and professional development.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for international travel and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in natural science digitisation while collaborating with top institutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in grant management and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 46743 - 46743 £ per year.
Salary: £46,743 per annum. Band: UKRI Band E. Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE). Contract Type: 3 years Fixed Term. Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire. Closing Date: Sunday 28 June 2026.
About the Role
The Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK (DiSSCo UK) is a £155.6 million investment for a national infrastructure programme to digitise 37 million natural science specimens. To deliver this exciting new programme, AHRC, alongside their delivery partner the Natural History Museum (NHM), are developing a DiSSCo UK delivery team to manage the programme on a day-to-day basis.
Purpose
The role will oversee the direct awards to the Natural History Museum for delivering the programme and for the digitisation grants awarded to the wider consortium. The role will report into the DiSSCo UK Team Head and will liaise with all members of the team. The role offers opportunities for travel, professional development, and the chance to build knowledge of stakeholder engagement and programme level communications. As this role will involve interaction with grant holders and stakeholders, as well as attendance at events and conferences, the role will involve regular travel, including overnight and international travel.
Your Responsibilities
- Oversee the grants funded through the DiSSCo UK funding calls, being the strategic lead for all funding opportunities.
- Support the Impact and Engagement Manager with complex grant holder queries.
- Work collaboratively and effectively with DiSSCo UK colleagues at NHM, adapting and communicating to ensure shared goals are met and staff feel supported.
- Manage the DiSSCo UK project risk register, including reporting on risk to the DiSSCo UK Programme Board.
- Develop and maintain close working and strategic relationships with colleagues across AHRC and UKRI to align activities and priorities, and to ensure UKRI financial, grant management and recruitment processes are followed.
- Be involved in cross-team working with delivery partners NHM, and the Research and Innovation Infrastructure Team on related portfolios.
- Work collaboratively with NHM colleagues to support the work of the DiSSCo EU European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
- Line management of the Investment Manager, providing line and task management, and supporting their professional development.
Person Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S identifying, communicating, and mitigating risk in projects (S
DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager employer: Research England
At DiSSCo UK, based in the vibrant Polaris House in Swindon, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions professional growth and a collaborative work culture. Our commitment to digitising natural science specimens not only contributes to significant scientific advancements but also offers our employees unique opportunities for travel and engagement with diverse stakeholders. Join us to be part of a pioneering initiative where your contributions will make a meaningful impact in the world of science and research.
