The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview 

RPI supports agreed University, Faculty and School priorities for research and innovation: income generation, research excellence, PGR experience, partnership development and knowledge exchange leading to income and/or impact and commercialisation of IP and student enterprise. Our focus is on delivering professional, value-add advice and support to our community of researchers and innovators. We are a well-connected team which understands the priorities of the organisation and our external stakeholders and customers and the external environment in which we operate. Team members collaborate, reflect, develop their skills and have a risk-appropriate mindset of continuous improvement to our processes, policy and approach. 

The Pricing and Awards Team provides expertise with research grant costings, applications

and awards, interpreting complex funder rules to maximise cost recovery and ensuring all

applications comply with University policy. You will provide technical guidance and support for funding applications, setting up funding schemes in our internal databases and maintaining institutional accounts on external grant systems. You will work with budgets, checking for accuracy, submit funding applications with strict deadlines and ensure the timely handover of awards to Finance.

The primary focus of this role is to: 

• Build and maintain proactive and productive professional relationships with colleagues in faculty research hubs, working closely to understand/challenge their requirements to ensure efficient and effective working with the Pricing & Awards Team. 

• Act as the primary contact for gathering intelligence on the requirements of our research funders. 

• Create a repository of operational information and guidance for research funding applications and provide targeted support for complex schemes.

• Work as part of a wider team to provide expert professional support for research grant costings, applications and awards. 

Main duties and responsibilities 

• Work with research support colleagues in RPI and in Faculties to provide joined up / consistent support for research funding applications. 

• Oversee the setting up of research organisations and funding schemes in the internal database, interpreting funder rules and compliance that are in line with internal policies and maximise cost recovery. 

• Liaise with external funders and gather application intelligence as required. 

• Set up and maintain institutional accounts and manage access for external research grant / tender systems. 

• Take a lead role within the team in providing expert advice and support for applications to funders with complex schemes and systems, ensuring compliance with University procedures and processes, including the Financial Directives. 

• Create and maintain a central repository of operational information relating to external application systems, processes and funder rules. 

• Provide relevant in-house training and written guidance relating to research costings, applications and awards including external application submission systems.

• Develop and maintain a network of internal peer support with colleagues in other research support teams to facilitate efficient operational processes.  

• Provide administrative support for academic and professional services staff on the operational aspect of research costings, applications and awards. 

• Use the Costing & Awards Tool (internal system) to administer research costings, applications and handovers. 

• Complete checks and administer approvals for the submission of research projects in line with agreed processes, proactively encouraging budgets to be both accurate and maximised. 

• Submit research applications on behalf of the University in accordance with agreed policies and procedures, ensuring external deadlines are met. 

• Prepare successful research awards in line with agreed procedures; working closely with colleagues to ensure budgets are accurate, all relevant agreements and approvals are in place and all documentation and information is provided to colleagues in Finance. 

• Line manage team members, ensuring good performance, supporting professional development, and ensuring efficient service delivery in a supportive and inclusive environment. 

• Have oversight of and plan, in collaboration with the Pricing & Awards Team Manager, workload allocations across the team, ensuring all objectives and deadlines are achieved and that productivity is optimised. Deputise for the Pricing & Awards Team Manager as required. 

• As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework.  

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post. 

Person Specification 

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply. 

Further Information 

Next steps in the recruitment process 

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place early November. This will consist of an interview and test. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within 2 weeks of the closing date. 

If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Sophie Fletcher on sophie.fletcher@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan 

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window). 

What we offer 

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. 

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme. 

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. 

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks). 

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. 

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.

• A range of generous family-friendly policies: 

o paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies 

o support for those going through the menopause 

o paid time off and support for fertility treatment 

o and more 

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window). 

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process. 

Baseline personnel security standard 

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment. 

Closing Date : 18/10/2026 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.