Northreach is a dynamic recruitment agency that connects businesses with top talent in the Advanced Therapies sector. Our mission is to provide a seamless and personalised recruitment experience for clients and candidates, and to create a positive work environment that encourages equality, innovation, and professional growth.
Interim Senior Business Manager – Grant Funding
We are seeking an interim Senior Business Manager to join a leading funding team for a fixed-term role covering maternity leave. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the oversight of grant funding activities and play a key role in driving impactful projects across the full funding lifecycle.
Reporting to the Head of Funding, the Senior Business Manager will provide technical insight and guidance to internal and external stakeholders, including supporting applicants in shaping funding applications and mentoring colleagues. The role requires a deep understanding of translational science, across modalities, and the ability to offer credible advice without preparation to stakeholders at all levels.
Responsibilities include managing a multi-million-pound post-award funding portfolio, collaborating with Principal Investigators, co-funders, and other key stakeholders to ensure project success. The role also involves contributing to the development and continuous improvement of funding policies, processes, and frameworks while actively fostering partnerships across the translational ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities:
* Independently lead significant grant funding activities, from pre-award to post-award stages.
* Manage a portfolio of Principal Investigators, projects, and technologies under development, engaging with stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
* Line manage and mentor Business Managers, fostering a culture of high performance.
* Collaborate within a matrix environment across teams, including partnerships, legal, and scientific groups, to support high-quality translational science funding.
* Design, execute, and manage specific funding calls, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and organizational goals.
* Serve as panel secretariat for funding calls, providing high-quality support to expert panels and internal teams.
* Build and maintain relationships within the funding ecosystem, acting as an advocate and raising the organization’s profile.
* Champion and implement Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) policies to ensure grant calls align with organizational strategy.
* Maintain rigorous oversight of KPIs and targets, with a focus on continuous improvement.
* Act as an ambassador for the organization, internally and externally, role-modeling its value-added funding culture.
Skills & Experience Requirements:
* Extensive experience delivering high-quality professional services to external clients.
* Proven track record in designing and managing funding calls, with a strong understanding of funding policies, legal requirements, and multimillion-pound initiatives.
* Comprehensive knowledge of translational science, including development pathways for different modalities and the challenges of addressing rare disease patient needs.
* Strong familiarity with the UK translational research funding landscape and its key stakeholders.
* Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
* Demonstrated ability to build collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships internally and externally.
* Financial and commercial acumen to support sound decision-making and judgment.
* Experience handling complex negotiations with a focus on achieving positive outcomes for all parties.
* Impact-focused mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement and critical performance analysis.
* Sound knowledge of IP, technology transfer services, and the downstream development of therapeutics and diagnostics.
Education Requirements:
* Degree in a scientific discipline, ideally with a PhD, or equivalent experience in academia and/or industry.
Northreach is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and hiring practices, therefore only partner with business that promote DEI. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees.