Research Grants Manager Job Opening | £45,450–£50,500 | Apply by 25 Nov 2025

Are you an experienced research administration professional looking to take your career to the next level?
The NBI Partnership is inviting applications for the position of Research Grants Manager — a permanent, full-time role offering a competitive salary between £45,450 and £50,500 per annum. This exciting opportunity closes on 25 November 2025.

🔍 Job Overview: Research Grants Manager

Post Number: 1004978
Grade: SC5
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Indefinite (Permanent)
Closing Date: 25 November 2025
Location: Norwich Research Park, United Kingdom

As a Research Grants Manager, you will play a pivotal role in supporting world-class scientific research across four prestigious UK institutes — John Innes Centre (JIC), Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Earlham Institute (EI), and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL).

Your main goal? To increase the success rate of research funding applications by providing expert support, strategic advice, and financial planning to top scientists and research leaders.

🎯 Key Responsibilities

As a Research Grants Manager, you’ll:

• Lead and manage all grant submissions for your assigned institutes, ensuring compliance with funder rules and internal policies.
• Provide expert advice on grant applications — from style and formatting to financial justifications and risk assessments.
• Develop informed project budgets that align with scientific objectives and institutional requirements.
• Proactively manage awarded projects, working closely with scientists, sponsors, HR, and finance teams to ensure project success.
• Draft, negotiate, and review research contracts, including Collaboration Agreements, MTAs, and Confidentiality Agreements.
• Identify risks in research contracts (such as liabilities or funding profiles) and propose mitigation strategies.

This is a hands-on, dynamic role requiring excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects under tight deadlines.

🧠 Candidate Profile

🎓 Education & Qualifications

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Desirable: PhD or postgraduate qualification in a relevant field.

💡 Specialist Skills

• Strong analytical ability and information management.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent multitasking and prioritization skills.
• Proven experience developing budgets for research contracts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard research management tools.

📚 Experience

• Demonstrated experience in research grant administration within a university or research institute.
• Proven record of developing successful grant applications for agencies such as UKRI, EU, or UK government departments.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating research contracts (desirable).

🤝 Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication.
• Strong logical reasoning and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Initiative-driven and capable of promoting new ideas and process improvements.

🏢 About NBI Partnership

The NBI Partnership provides non-scientific professional services to four world-leading research institutes at the Norwich Research Park:

• John Innes Centre (JIC)
• Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB)
• Earlham Institute (EI)
• The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL)

Together, these institutes conduct groundbreaking research funded by the UK Government, the European Union, and various industrial and charitable sponsors.

The NBI Partnership employs around 140 staff, supporting over 1,100 researchers, students, and visiting scientists — making it one of the UK’s most dynamic environments for science administration professionals.

🌈 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

The NBI Partnership and its member institutes are equal opportunity employers and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. The organization values diversity, promotes inclusion, and ensures that all employees thrive in a respectful and supportive work environment.

🕒 Why Apply?

This is an outstanding opportunity for a skilled Research Grants Manager who thrives in a high-impact, collaborative research environment. You’ll be working alongside leading scientists and playing a key role in securing funding that fuels world-changing discoveries in bioscience, health, and agricultural innovation.

📅 Application Deadline: 25 November 2025

💰 Salary: £45,450 – £50,500 per annum

📍 Location: Norwich Research Park, UK

⏱ Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time (37 hours/week)

🔗 How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the official NBI Partnership careers portal.
For full details about this position and to submit your application, visit: See the link below.

💬 Final Thoughts

If you’re passionate about research funding, administration, and strategic project management — this Research Grants Manager position at the NBI Partnership could be your next big career move. Join an organization that’s at the heart of the UK’s scientific excellence and make a real impact on global research innovation.

Apply Now: https://jobs.nbi.ac.uk/apply.asp?vacancyID=20735