Funding Manager

This is an exciting opportunity within the grants and research team who are responsible for ensuring the charity has robust grant making mechanisms to determine best use of charitable funding together with monitoring and evaluating projects and programmes funded by Moorfields Eye Charity (the charity). The team also support the fundraising and communication teams’ activities by providing information on each of our funding programmes and portfolio of grants. The breadth and diversity of the charity’s funding portfolio offers a fantastic opportunity to expand on your research grants management experience within a grant making organisation and to learn and develop new skills outside of traditional research-focused grant making organisations. You will manage a very diverse and growing portfolio of research and non-research grants through the entire grant management life cycle, from pre- to post award. This portfolio includes our competitive research grant programmes, education, staff development, patient participation and innovation grants. You will also take responsibility for managing the scheduling and running of the grant making programmes including the NIHR Moorfields Eye Charity partnership fellowships. Integral to the role will be the development of relationships with applicants from all areas of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (the trust) and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (the institute) and supporting their engagement with and application submission to our funding programmes. The funding manager will also lead on gathering information on the progress of these projects and the communication of charity funded outcomes and impact through various communication channels to a wide variety of audiences. As a primary contract with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) for the charity, the funding manager will be responsible for keeping abreast of current updates, coordinating submission of data when required and maintaining the charity’s good working relationship with the AMRC. This is a highly collaborative and strategic focused role that will require the post-holder to work independently and confidently develop important relationships with stakeholders at all levels across the trust, institute, charity and key external stakeholders. Organisational context The charity is the main grant making and fundraising charity for Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and its academic partner, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. We provide targeted funds, above and beyond the responsibility of the NHS, making a difference for patients at the trust and for people with sight problems around the world. We help the trust provide the best possible care for its patients, educate the researchers and clinicians of tomorrow and support leading-edge research that aims to develop new treatments for blinding diseases. The charity is in the early stages of a major capital campaign. The trust with University College London (UCL) and the charity have a once-in-a-century opportunity to create a state-of-the-art integrated treatment, research and education centre. It will benefit Moorfields’ patients and those with sight problems worldwide. Planning for the future, the proposed new facility will: be designed around the patient experience embrace new technologies to develop excellence and innovation in clinical care attract and retain the world’s leading clinical, health education and research talent. It will push the boundaries of science, deliver breakthrough treatments to the front line of patient care and revolutionise eye healthcare around the world. We’ve committed to raising, in partnership with UCL, £100m towards this ambition. Working relationships Internal Charity grant holders and applicants Trust/institute research offices Charity communications team Charity finance team Other charity staff Trust satellite sites University College London (UCL) research services team External Funding bodies Association of medical research charities (AMRC) National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Academy Host institution contract, finance and HR offices Main duties and responsibilities Grants management Manage the planning and scheduling the annual cycle of grant making programmes. Be responsible for monitoring and analysing grant programmes and preparing reports for the director of grants and research, Scientific Advisory Panel and the Grants Committee. Make recommendations for development of programmes or new opportunities to the director of grants and research. Be the primary point of contact to applicants and other stake holders throughout the grant management process and ensure queries are dealt with in a professional, timely and satisfactory manner. Manage the life cycle of a portfolio of grant applications including reviewing submitted applications, undertaking eligibility checks, cost challenge, high quality peer review process and preparing and communicating feedback to applicants following decision making. Manage the Scientific Advisory Panel meetings scheduling and working with the grants and research team ensure complete and high quality panel meeting papers are prepared in a timely manner, that minutes are taken, and decisions are accurately recorded Attend relevant Grants Committee or other decision making meetings, taking responsibility that minutes are taken, and decisions are accurately recorded. Support the director of grants and research in the development of briefing documents for the charity’s Scientific Advisory Panel and Grants Committee or other relevant committees. Finance Monitor financial expenditure on grants against awarded budgets including working with the grant holders and finance teams internally and externally. Be responsible for invoice approval on grant expenditure. Develop and manage regular reporting of grant commitments and expenditure Lead on the financial year end reconciliation review process and support the director of grants and research in the development of reports for the Trustees and annual accounts. Policy and external funders Be responsible for ensuring that appropriate research management processes and procedures follow best practice. Support the development and management of the review process of the charity’s grants and research policies and position statements e.g. open access, data sharing or informatics, and other governance issues. Manage the NIHR Moorfields Eye Charity partnership fellowship programmes. Manage the charity’s relationship with the AMRC, keeping abreast of current developments and opportunities. Support the director of grants and research in the development of funding partnerships and new grant making programmes. Communications, Manage the charity’s ‘lunch and learn’ series and with the grants officer suggest and coordinate possible speakers. Lead on the grant and research team’s content for the charity’s communications calendar. Manage the advertising of ‘calls for applications’ working across other teams within the charity, the trust and institute to effectively promote and communicate all grant making programmes and outcomes. Working with the director of grants and research and communications team, support the development of marketing and collateral materials for the grants and research team. Impact and evaluation Working closely with the grants officer, lead on the development of procedures for post-award monitoring of grants awarded by the charity. This includes coordinating information gathering and developing schedules of reporting. Develop and produce reports, undertake analysis of outcomes and outputs arising from charity funded projects. Support the director of grants and research in the development and implementation of an impact evaluation frameworks. Grants and research team Ensure a smooth flow of information within the grants team. Maintain up-to-date and accurate grant records within the ThankQ grants management module. Maintain an awareness of the external eye health environment and funding landscape. Build and maintain strong positive relationship with the academic, administrative and clinical staff at the trust, the institute and relevant departments or institutes within UCL. Work with the trust and institute to ensure high quality applications are submitted under different grant programmes and priority areas for consideration by Trustees. Working with the grants officer, develop grant application surgeries, drop-in advice sessions and other mechanisms to advertise grant funding programmes and provide advice to applicants. Maintain oversight of the entire charity grant funding portfolio. Other duties Deputise for the director of grants and research as necessary. Other administrative support, cover or data entry as may be required (at busy times or periods of absences) across the wider Charity team to further the Charity’s programme and ensure that our grant applicants and holders receive excellent levels of care at all times. Occasional evening and weekend work. Any other duties as may be requested from time to time by your line manager. Ensure that all activities are compliant with law, best practice and the Charity’s policies and procedures. As a member of the Charity team to conduct your work and self to a high standard of professionalism and timeliness, being responsible and polite with all stakeholders. To be collaborative with, and considerate and supportive of colleagues as we work together to meet the common goal of delivering the Charity’s strategy to maximum impact. How to apply The covering letter and CV should clearly address your research and grants management experience (see person specification) and why this particular role appeals to you. They should in total be no more than three sides of A4. Applications that do not follow this guidance will not be progressed.