Job Title: Principal, Funding Policy and Operations
Location: London
Job Type: Permanent, hybrid working environment
Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.
Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.
About the role:
The Funding team at LifeArc has oversight of all grant funding activity across the organisation, including the continued development and maintenance of LifeArc's funding policies and operating model as our funding offering continues to scale.
We are looking for a senior colleague to join our team in a newly created role to lead on policy and operational aspects, and manage a team of funding administrators. The successful candidate will work closely with other key stakeholders internally to ensure a best practice operating model is in place across the full lifecycle for all of our funding initiatives, from pre-award planning to award close out and beyond. Sitting alongside our skilled team of externally-facing Funding Managers, this role requires an in depth knowledge of funding policy and process.
About you:
Responsibilities will include:
* Working closely with the Head of Funding, lead the ongoing development, operational delivery and integration of LifeArc's Funding Framework, including policies, processes, documentation, systems and communications
* Manage continuous improvement of the Framework, supporting the Head of Funding with communications to Exec Sponsors/ Internal Audit/ Exec and Trustee Committees as required
* Build and embed collaborative ways of working between Funding and other key functions within LifeArc, such as Finance, Clin Dev, Insights, Alliance Management, BD and others
* Oversee the centralised tracking, record keeping and internal reporting of LifeArc's pre- and post-award funding portfolios, ensuring organisation-wide compliance
* Line manage the Funding Operations/ administration team, and as such oversee all funding logistics and administrative resourcing
* Lead the development and rollout of operational tools and training to support team and matrix colleagues' consistency and capability
* Act as a key enabler for the Funding function as it scales and evolves in line with organisational requirements
* Leads complex internal initiatives and projects relating to Funding operations, including the identification and implementation of new tech systems.
* Manages external suppliers and the associated budget relevant to Funding Framework activity
Essential experience required:
* Deep knowledge of Funding policies and processes, preferably within the charity and medical research sectors, and the ability to adapt and apply to optimise LifeArc's funding model
* Complex, high value portfolio management experience
* Experience with change management in a matrix setting
* Line management and leadership experience in high performing teams
* Super-user of funding management IT Systems; and demonstrated ability to lead the identification and implementation a new system, working closely with LifeArc's Tech team.
* Experience of developing and successfully implementing best-practice funding management processes and associated templates.
* Well-developed stakeholder management and communication skills, with ability to explain complex concepts to internal and external stakeholders with credibility
* Extensive knowledge of the external environment into which we fund
Desirable:
* Consulting experience preferable
* Experience in a senior role at a major funder of medical research, with a high value and complex funded portfolio
* Experience of funding internationally, with an understanding of key similarities and differences between UK, EU, US and LMIC environments
Education:
* Degree educated, preferably in Life Sciences
* Project management qualifications preferred
Skills & abilities:
* Proven leadership abilities in a complex, matric organisation
* Highly organised
* Comfortable with ambiguity
* Ability to manage conflicting priorities
* A confident and effective communicator with all levels of seniority and personality types, adapting style as appropriate
* Proactive and solutions-focused
* Well-developed influencing skills, particularly influencing without authority in a matrix setting
About us:
LifeArc is a not-for-profit life science organisation, leading the way for change in rare diseases in the UK and supporting promising initiatives in global health. We seek out research in areas of unmet need that has great potential, providing support to help it become breakthroughs that change lives.
What we can offer you:
Focused on finding life changing solutions for underserved patients, our people thrive in an inclusive, and supportive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. Our multidisciplinary approach guarantees our people growth opportunities, while our culture of innovation and collaboration drives the impact we make delivering on our purpose of 'putting patients at the centre of everything we do'.
LifeArc is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term health condition who meet the essential criteria for the role.
Please note that in certain situations, such as high volumes of applications, it may not be practical to interview all eligible candidates. In these cases, we may need to select those who best meet the essential criteria. (At LifeArc, the Disability Confident Scheme's 'minimum criteria' is referred to as 'essential criteria')
Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just right for this or other roles.
We all have potential. At LifeArc, you'll discover what you can really do with it.