The Role and Department The Senior Research Contracts Manager will provide expert leadership in the negotiation, drafting and management of research agreements, ensuring that the University's interests are protected while enabling high quality research activity to proceed efficiently. Acting as a senior point of escalation for complex or high risk contractual matters, the post holder will offer authoritative advice on contractual terms, governance requirements and compliance obligations across a diverse range of funders and partners. The role will involve drafting and negotiating a wide variety of research agreements, including collaboration agreements, contract research agreements, framework agreements, subcontracts, sub awards and studentships, working with a broad range of UK and international sponsors and collaborators. The post holder will also contribute to the smooth running of the research contract's function, including co ordinating the development of standard agreements and supporting the design and implementation of robust internal contracting processes and workflows, ensuring continuous enhancement of research contracting across the institution. You will work alongside two otherSenior Research Contracts Managers who provide leadership and oversight for the University's research contracting function, ensuring consistent practice, effective workload management and a coordinated, high quality service. The post holder will build strong working relationships with academic colleagues, Professional Services teams and external partners, providing clear guidance and negotiation leadership that balances institutional risk with enabling research activity. This role is central to ensuring contractual readiness, robust risk management and the effective transition of projects into delivery. A thorough understanding of the UK HEI research funding landscape is essential. Reporting to the Head of Research Operations, you will be a key member of the Senior Management Team. The post holder must be highly organised, detail focused and proactive in solving problems, with the ability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied workload. You will be comfortable working across multiple concurrent projects at different stages of development. As a confident communicator, you will form close working relationships with colleagues across the Operations Team, the Research Development Team, Faculty Offices, Heads of Department, Directors of Research, Department Managers and other Professional Support Staff. Subject to business need, the working pattern can be arranged to suit the successful applicant. Dependent on experience, the successful applicant may need to work on campus for the majority of the time for the first three months Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
Apr 04, 2026
Full time
The Role and Department The Senior Research Contracts Manager will provide expert leadership in the negotiation, drafting and management of research agreements, ensuring that the University's interests are protected while enabling high quality research activity to proceed efficiently. Acting as a senior point of escalation for complex or high risk contractual matters, the post holder will offer authoritative advice on contractual terms, governance requirements and compliance obligations across a diverse range of funders and partners. The role will involve drafting and negotiating a wide variety of research agreements, including collaboration agreements, contract research agreements, framework agreements, subcontracts, sub awards and studentships, working with a broad range of UK and international sponsors and collaborators. The post holder will also contribute to the smooth running of the research contract's function, including co ordinating the development of standard agreements and supporting the design and implementation of robust internal contracting processes and workflows, ensuring continuous enhancement of research contracting across the institution. You will work alongside two otherSenior Research Contracts Managers who provide leadership and oversight for the University's research contracting function, ensuring consistent practice, effective workload management and a coordinated, high quality service. The post holder will build strong working relationships with academic colleagues, Professional Services teams and external partners, providing clear guidance and negotiation leadership that balances institutional risk with enabling research activity. This role is central to ensuring contractual readiness, robust risk management and the effective transition of projects into delivery. A thorough understanding of the UK HEI research funding landscape is essential. Reporting to the Head of Research Operations, you will be a key member of the Senior Management Team. The post holder must be highly organised, detail focused and proactive in solving problems, with the ability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied workload. You will be comfortable working across multiple concurrent projects at different stages of development. As a confident communicator, you will form close working relationships with colleagues across the Operations Team, the Research Development Team, Faculty Offices, Heads of Department, Directors of Research, Department Managers and other Professional Support Staff. Subject to business need, the working pattern can be arranged to suit the successful applicant. Dependent on experience, the successful applicant may need to work on campus for the majority of the time for the first three months Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
Organisation: Cranfield University Faculty or Department: Commercial Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered. Contract type: Fixed term contract Fixed Term Period: For 3 years Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,897 to £45,580 per annum, with potential progression up to £52,067 per annum Apply by: 12/04/2026 Role Description The Cranfield University Commercial Team welcomes applications for the Project Leadership Programme. We are seeking candidates with substantial Programme Management experience within and Executive or Higher Education environment, particularly those with a strong track record of working with public sector clients. About the Role The Programme contract requires the delivery of consistently high standards of customer service to programme delegates, our client and partners, alongside effective support for internal stakeholders (primarily Faculty members and Associates delivering the Programme). In this role, the successful candidate will provide efficient, accurate and proactive programme support to delegates on the Project Leadership Programme, while also promoting their wellbeing throughout their time at Cranfield. The successful candidate will work specifically on this contract, focused on providing a fully integrated, cost-effective and progressive service in support of the Project Leadership Programme (PLP), aligned to the SLAs set out in the contract. They will work aligned with the PLP Programme Director and delivery team to build and maintain relationships with the key client, whilst ensuring all events are delivered on time and to a high standard. About You With prior experience of working in service delivery roles, you will be able to demonstrate a track record of devising and delivering relevant, well-planned, engaging and innovative events. You will have significant and relevant work experience in client-facing roles and will also be able to demonstrate your ability to lead and manage a team. Fully conversant with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, you will also be experienced in using large customer contact databases and working with web software. Professional and credible, with a passion for delivering excellent customer service, you will also be able to demonstrate that you are able to work with a high level of accuracy to deliver our programmes on time and to the standards required. A background in Higher Education would be an advantage. About Us As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield's world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here . Our Values and Commitments Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here . We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here . Working Arrangements Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners. How to apply For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Louise Gardener, Acting Head of Business Operations, on (E): , or Krystle Coles, Apprenticeship Operations Manager, on (E): Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: . Please quote reference number 5260. Closing date for receipt of applications: 12 April 2026
Apr 02, 2026
Full time
Organisation: Cranfield University Faculty or Department: Commercial Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered. Contract type: Fixed term contract Fixed Term Period: For 3 years Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,897 to £45,580 per annum, with potential progression up to £52,067 per annum Apply by: 12/04/2026 Role Description The Cranfield University Commercial Team welcomes applications for the Project Leadership Programme. We are seeking candidates with substantial Programme Management experience within and Executive or Higher Education environment, particularly those with a strong track record of working with public sector clients. About the Role The Programme contract requires the delivery of consistently high standards of customer service to programme delegates, our client and partners, alongside effective support for internal stakeholders (primarily Faculty members and Associates delivering the Programme). In this role, the successful candidate will provide efficient, accurate and proactive programme support to delegates on the Project Leadership Programme, while also promoting their wellbeing throughout their time at Cranfield. The successful candidate will work specifically on this contract, focused on providing a fully integrated, cost-effective and progressive service in support of the Project Leadership Programme (PLP), aligned to the SLAs set out in the contract. They will work aligned with the PLP Programme Director and delivery team to build and maintain relationships with the key client, whilst ensuring all events are delivered on time and to a high standard. About You With prior experience of working in service delivery roles, you will be able to demonstrate a track record of devising and delivering relevant, well-planned, engaging and innovative events. You will have significant and relevant work experience in client-facing roles and will also be able to demonstrate your ability to lead and manage a team. Fully conversant with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, you will also be experienced in using large customer contact databases and working with web software. Professional and credible, with a passion for delivering excellent customer service, you will also be able to demonstrate that you are able to work with a high level of accuracy to deliver our programmes on time and to the standards required. A background in Higher Education would be an advantage. About Us As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield's world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here . Our Values and Commitments Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here . We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here . Working Arrangements Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners. How to apply For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Louise Gardener, Acting Head of Business Operations, on (E): , or Krystle Coles, Apprenticeship Operations Manager, on (E): Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: . Please quote reference number 5260. Closing date for receipt of applications: 12 April 2026
The Role and Department Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands on support for all aspects of research and research related activity, including securing funding, working with partners, supporting knowledge exchange and impact, commercialisation, and ensuring good research practice. The Research Operations Team, which is the largest team within the Directorate, provides comprehensive support to academic and Professional Support Services (PSS) colleagues across the full lifecycle of a research project. The team delivers pre award, contracting, post award and consultancy support. This includes tailored financial and contractual advice from the earliest stages of planning, costing and pricing proposals through to efficient contract negotiation and robust financial management and compliance for awarded projects. This is a key management position within the Research Operations Team. The post holder will lead a team of approximately six Pre Award Research Grants and Contracts Managers, playing an essential role in staff development and training, acting as a point of escalation, and reviewing and implementing key business processes. A thorough understanding of the UK HEI research funding landscape is essential The post holder will also have responsibility for working alongside academic staff, project managing the preparation and submission of large complex bids by contributing to the proposal development, providing costings, and providing specialist advice on funder eligibility criteria whilst ensuring compliance with university policy. Reporting to the Head of Research Operations, you will be a key member of the Senior Management Team. The role will work closely alongside another Senior Pre Award Research Manager to ensure consistent leadership, effective workload management, and a coordinated, high quality pre award service across the institution It is essential that the post holder is highly organised, pays close attention to detail, and has a pro-active approach to problem-solving. The capability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied workload is crucial. A confident communicator, you will form close working relationships with the other members of the Operations Team, Research Development Team, Faculty Officials, Heads of Department, Directors of Research, Department Managers and other members of Professional Support Staff. This presents an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to move into a management role. The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub.Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: . Subject to business need, the working pattern can be arranged to suit the successful applicant. Dependent on experience, the successful applicant may need to work on campus for the majority of the time for the first three months Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
Apr 02, 2026
Full time
The Role and Department Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides guidance, expert advice and hands on support for all aspects of research and research related activity, including securing funding, working with partners, supporting knowledge exchange and impact, commercialisation, and ensuring good research practice. The Research Operations Team, which is the largest team within the Directorate, provides comprehensive support to academic and Professional Support Services (PSS) colleagues across the full lifecycle of a research project. The team delivers pre award, contracting, post award and consultancy support. This includes tailored financial and contractual advice from the earliest stages of planning, costing and pricing proposals through to efficient contract negotiation and robust financial management and compliance for awarded projects. This is a key management position within the Research Operations Team. The post holder will lead a team of approximately six Pre Award Research Grants and Contracts Managers, playing an essential role in staff development and training, acting as a point of escalation, and reviewing and implementing key business processes. A thorough understanding of the UK HEI research funding landscape is essential The post holder will also have responsibility for working alongside academic staff, project managing the preparation and submission of large complex bids by contributing to the proposal development, providing costings, and providing specialist advice on funder eligibility criteria whilst ensuring compliance with university policy. Reporting to the Head of Research Operations, you will be a key member of the Senior Management Team. The role will work closely alongside another Senior Pre Award Research Manager to ensure consistent leadership, effective workload management, and a coordinated, high quality pre award service across the institution It is essential that the post holder is highly organised, pays close attention to detail, and has a pro-active approach to problem-solving. The capability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied workload is crucial. A confident communicator, you will form close working relationships with the other members of the Operations Team, Research Development Team, Faculty Officials, Heads of Department, Directors of Research, Department Managers and other members of Professional Support Staff. This presents an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to move into a management role. The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub.Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: . Subject to business need, the working pattern can be arranged to suit the successful applicant. Dependent on experience, the successful applicant may need to work on campus for the majority of the time for the first three months Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.