Research Funding Specialist in Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Research Office, a team at the heart of university research support at the University of Edinburgh, is looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Research Funding Specialist. The postholder will facilitate, support and contribute to the submission and award of mainly externally funded research activity, in or led by a portfolio of schools or units.

As a Research Funding Specialist, you will proactively support budget preparation, provide expert guidance on administrative structures, and review and submit applications, as well as accept and set-up awards for research activity on behalf of the University. You will collaborate with staff across both the University of Edinburgh and a variety of external collaborators, including senior academics, researchers, and research support professionals. You will provide costings or work alongside a local research office within a school to provide these and ensure compliance and accuracy. You will provide expert guidance on areas such as funder requirements, legal contracting, and eligibility for those proposals in or led by your portfolio of schools or units. Your customers will mainly be the researchers and research support offices in the school or units within your portfolio.

You will be given opportunities to work agilely across a number of teams to support the delivery of business-critical objectives, for example: large/key projects; major deadlines; and other time-sensitive initiatives. Whilst participating in one of these initiatives you will be under matrix management.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• Process-driven, with great attention to detail and a strong problem-solving ability.
• Team player with good interpersonal skills, a collegial and customer-oriented approach to the delivery of services.
• Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, and diplomacy.
• Good time management, with a track record of meeting deadlines.
• Good customer service skills with proven ability to give clear advice to colleagues in a professional manner.
• Confident with figures, spreadsheets, and financial information.
• Demonstrable ability to analyse and summarise complex issues in research funding.
• Solid understanding of the EU and international funding landscape.

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We are a large University covering a wide range of activities and Edinburgh Research Office operates within the context of an ambitious and growing research agenda. In Professional Services, we support the University’s research and teaching and, as a Research Funding Specialist contributing to the submission and award of externally funded research activity, you will be able to make a difference, take on new challenges, grow your career, and be recognised for your contributions.

Be part of something bigger — where your work has real impact and your development matters. People have always been at the heart of our work. Our people are at the centre of the University community and everything we do. We value colleagues with drive, determination and a passion for what they do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right meaningful flexibility that works for you.

A career with us has a range of other benefits:

• Opportunities to develop new skills and broaden your experience.
• Variety every day.
• Responsibility and autonomy.
• Contributing to the work and purpose of the University.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working. Edinburgh Research Office expects colleagues to be on campus for a minimum of team anchor days, team meetings, all-ERO meetings and other in-person meetings and events required in your role.

How to apply:

Please carefully note the criteria for this post, in particular the Essential criteria and detail your experience and skills in relation to these criteria. Please ensure you include the following documents in your application and combine them into one PDF document before uploading: CV and a supporting statement outlining how you meet the criteria. Please note, applications without a supporting statement will not be progressed.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion: The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages. On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note:

The closing date for applications is 18 August 2026. Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser's local time zone.