DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager
Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
Job Information
* Job Category: Research Programme and Funding Management
* Apply Before: 06/28/2026, 10:59 PM
* Job Identification: 2382
* Posting Date: 06/02/2026, 03:46 PM
* Job Shift: Day
* Hours: Full Time / Part Time
Job Description
DiSSCo UK Senior Grants Operations Manager
Salary: £46,743
Band: UKRI Band E
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: 3 years Fixed Term
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
The Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK (DiSSCo UK) is a £155.6 million investment for a national infrastructure programme to digitise 37 million natural science specimens. To deliver this exciting new programme, AHRC, alongside their delivery partner the Natural History Museum (NHM), are developing a DiSSCo UK delivery team to manage the programme on a day‑to‑day basis. This new team will be based at Swindon (with strong links to London) and will be responsible for managing the contract with the external evaluation supplier, leading on benefits management, engaging with relevant communities, measuring the impacts of the programme, and ensuring that impacts, outputs and outcomes are reflected upon, reported and communicated in a timely and effective manner. Some of the key activities for the team will be supporting grant holders, designing, and delivering future funding opportunities, and capturing programme and project level impacts.
Purpose
The role will oversee the direct awards to the Natural History Museum for delivering the programme and for the digitisation grants awarded to the wider consortium. The role will report into the DiSSCo UK Team Head and will liaise with all members of the team. The role offers opportunities for travel, professional development, and the chance to build knowledge of stakeholder engagement and programme level communications. As this role will involve interaction with grant holders and stakeholders, as well as attendance at events and conferences, the role will involve regular travel, including overnight and international travel.
Responsibilities
* Oversee the grants funded through the DiSSCo UK funding calls, being the strategic lead for all funding opportunities.
* Support the team head with finance.
* Support the Impact and Engagement Manager with complex grant holder queries.
* Work collaboratively and effectively with DiSSCo UK colleagues at NHM, adapting and communicating to ensure shared goals are met and staff feel supported.
* Manage the DiSSCo UK project risk register, including reporting on risk to the DiSSCo UK Programme Board.
* Develop and maintain close working and strategic relationships with colleagues across AHRC and UKRI to align activities and priorities, and to ensure UKRI financial, grant management and recruitment processes are followed.
* Be involved in cross‑team working with delivery partners NHM, and the Research and Innovation Infrastructure Team on related portfolios.
* Work collaboratively with NHM colleagues to support the work of the DiSSCo EU European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
* Support on the delivery of future programme approvals including Gate Reviews.
* Line manage the Investment Manager, providing line and task management, and supporting their professional development.
* Develop and maintain an overview of developments in the digital research infrastructure and natural science collections landscape, strategic partners, and other funders, relevant to the remit of the role.
Person Specification
* Project management skills, including budget and/or financial management.
* Good understanding and experience of risk management; identifying, communicating, and mitigating risk in projects.
* Experience of using data and evidence to make decisions.
* Business Process: Ability to problem‑solve and find answers to difficult questions, and manage complex workloads with multiple deadlines and priorities.
* Experience of leading or managing activities with multiple internal/external partners. Some understanding of commercialisation within research projects and research areas would be helpful.
* Strong, collaborative team working skills, including collaborating with colleagues to prioritise tasks and maximise resources.
* Good interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
* Experience of managing or supervising staff and supporting staff development.
Benefits
* 30 days annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
* Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
* Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
* Flexible working options.
* Other benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable a great work life balance.
Equal Opportunity
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
About the Team
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) supports world‑class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity, supporting research and postgraduate training in a wide range of subject areas from ancient history and heritage science to modern dance and digital content.
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