Translational Research Manager

Job description

Under Innovation@King’s, which brings together the Translational Research Office, Industry Partnerships and the innovation support functions of Intellectual Property & Licensing as a single team, King’s College London is seeking a Translational Research Manager for the Health Faculties.  

The Translational Research Manager will join an established team in the Translational Research Office to work with academic staff to enhance translational research activity within the Health Faculties at King’s, in close partnership with the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre.  They will work with academic staff to increase translational research funding and successful delivery of programmes, and will also design and deliver training in translational research to academics looking to expand their research into this area.

The Translational Research Manager will act as subject area expert in translational research, particularly with respect to the development of funding applications, providing advice and support to academic staff, and contribution to activities that enhance the research environment (including internal funding schemes, relationships with funding bodies, and analysis of research performance).

The role will form part of a high-performing research development team, working alongside world-class academic researchers.

The ideal candidate will bring significant experience of translational research (funding) along with a background of research in a relevant health/biomedical field.  He/she will combine strong strategic and project management capabilities with diplomacy, negotiation skills and an ability to work well across functions and academic disciplines.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract 

This is a full-time  - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• To increase translational research funding from key sources, primarily UK Research Councils/UKRI, major charities, the National Institute for Health Research and industry. 
• To provide advice and support for academic staff with respect to translational research funding, and to initiate and deliver support programmes aimed at particular high-priority opportunities.  This will include advising on technical and regulatory aspects of programmes. 
• To design and deliver high-profile training activities for academics interested in becoming more active in translational research, in partnership with our Biomedical Research Centre; to assess and adapt policies and processes in support of this. 
• To coordinate internal and external services and resources, as required for optimal design and delivery of translational programmes, including negotiation of contracted-out services. 
• To contribute to the running of internal funding schemes, triage processes etc. as necessary, including preparation of operational and financial reports. 
• To develop relationships with key sector funders and their personnel, in order to understand their goals and their strategies for reaching them (including funding programmes), and organise visits to the university. 
• To provide forward intelligence of new funding opportunities and funding themes, to relate these to the research expertise within Health Faculties and King’s Health Partners (KHP), and to stimulate high quality proposals. 
• To build relationships with senior academics across the Health Faculties and KHP. 
• To carry out such other duties consistent with the post as directed by the Director of Translation 

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1. PhD or an equivalent level of experience in a subject relevant to health sciences; 
2. Good understanding of the translational research pathway and detailed knowledge and experience of academic life sciences innovation funding landscape in UK; 
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with significant experience of report writing for senior management level and demonstrable presentation skills; 
4. High level of numerical and data analytical skills, including spreadsheets and databases with demonstrable proficiency in use of MS packages (e.g. able to design complex spreadsheets); 
5. Significant experience of developing successful grant applications and business cases to support novel therapeutics or diagnostics/ biomarker development as well as experience in supporting and advising/collaboratively working with others to develop business cases and applications;  
6. Well-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams and the ability to manage through influence and negotiation in a complex environment; 
7. High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude, possessing resilience, determination and diplomacy; 
8. Comfortable working independently and able to build professional networks to support research planning and funding applications. 

Desirable criteria

1. Industry-recognised qualifications in project/programme management, e.g. PRINCE2.  
2. Industry experience gained in pharmaceutical / biotechnology sector 

Further information

The selection process will include a panel interview and a presentation.