Position Details
Contracts Policy and Compliance
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £45,585 to £54,395 with potential progression once in post to £61,198
Grade: 8
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 15th April 2024
Background
The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge. Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University’s resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence. Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University’s objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work.
Department Overview
The University has an exciting vision to build on the success of REF2021, by continuing to transform its research performance across outputs, income, impact, and policy influence. Central to this ambition is the Research Strategy & Services Division (RSSD), a new Professional Services department that has been established to provide a transformative and sector-leading approach to research strategy and support. The RSSD brings together into one connected eco-system professional staff that work within and across the following teams: Research Strategy & Development; Research Support (Grants & Contracts); Research Partnerships, Research Impact & Innovation; Research Policy & Environment; Research Systems & Data; Research Governance; Research Communications; Contract Policy & Compliance and Research Finance Accounting. An overview of the RSSD is provided in the organogram below.
Role Summary
Reporting to the Assistant Director RSSD, (Head of Contracts Policy & Compliance) and working closely with the RSSD College Hub Leadership Teams, the Strategic Contracts & Trusted Research Manager will provide support and guidance with regards to Export Control, the National Security & Investment Act, the Nagoya Protocol, data protection legislation, and strategic contracts.
This will involve working with senior colleagues to: develop a consistent framework of operation for contracts negotiation, regulatory compliance and adherence with funder terms and conditions; support the training and development of RSSD colleagues in matters relating to Contracts and Trusted Research; and support the delivery of the University’s control environment with regards to research regulatory matters.
This is a new post within the newly created Research Strategy & Services Division that will have an opportunity to work at a senior level to support and drive the next stage of our strategy and policies on trusted research agenda. In addition, the role holder will play a critical role in supporting our College Hub Teams on the negotiation of complex contracts, acting as an expert advisor to colleagues in pre-award research support.
Developing effective links across the University, with our five Colleges and with other central Professional Services teams will be key, including Birmingham Global, Development and Alumni Relations and Legal Services.
Being approachable and open to staff within the RSSD and the wider University is a key element of the role. Key internal stakeholders include researchers, senior academic leaders, and RSSD colleagues. The Strategic Contracts & Trusted Research Manager will also have the opportunity to develop relationships with partners, funders and HEIs from across the sector.
Developing staff in an inclusive environment that supports all colleagues to thrive is key to the RSSD culture and that of the wider University, and the successful candidate will be supported to continually develop their own professional practice.
The role will appeal to those with experience of working in a research governance, compliance, and/or legal environment. We are particularly keen to receive applicants from those with a legal background, that have experience of supporting research contracts at a University and can extend this across into the wider Trusted Research environment.
Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice and opinion across a range of activities and/or will lead and manage diverse team(s) and resources. You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent. Significant evaluation and independent thought is therefore required to resolve ambiguity. You will have wide discretion to decide on direction whilst ensuring activities are broadly consistent with operational policies. You will be able to influence policy through advising on the impact of policy change and implementation in your area of work. You will need to assess the impact of your activities across your area, with related areas and to ensure they fit with the broader objectives of the University.
Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below. You will be expected to take ownership for getting things done, including calling on or joining others to assist. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University