Senior Research Manager

Alzheimers Society

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by providing help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. Our values ensure that our focus remains clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead, reminding us of what we all stand for.

About the role

As Senior Research Manager, you will lead our Research Grants & Involvement team, creating an environment where people feel supported, empowered, and able to contribute their best work. In doing so, you will contribute to the development and delivery of our ambitious research strategy, ensuring that our research funding programme supports the highest quality dementia research, informed at every stage by those with lived experience.

You will lead a collaborative and purpose-driven team, working at the forefront of research that has the potential to transform lives. This is a highly visible and strategic role providing expert input across all aspects of dementia research, including our own funding portfolio, to contribute towards our organisational priorities.

You will use your knowledge of the dementia research landscape to identify emerging trends and opportunities and shape our research funding programme. Using your extensive experience in grants management, you will ensure that our funding schemes meet the needs of the dementia research community, that our processes align with best practice, and ultimately, that the research we support achieves meaningful outcomes for those affected by dementia.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to shaping Alzheimer’s Society’s research strategy, defining priority research themes aligned with our overarching organisational strategy.
• Act as a trusted senior expert on dementia research internally, using horizon scanning and in-depth knowledge of Alzheimer’s Society’s funding portfolio.
• Work collaboratively to support the identification of funding gaps and new opportunities and partnerships, leading the development of future funding initiatives aligned with Alzheimer's Society’s research strategy.
• Oversee the delivery and continuous improvement of research grant operations, ensuring that processes maintain the highest standards and reflect sector best practice, working closely with the Research Grants Manager.
• Develop and implement robust processes and ways of working to ensure that our portfolio of funded research, including our strategic investments and funding partnerships, is managed effectively.
• Build relationships across the organisation, including at a senior level, to facilitate the translation of research outputs into practice, policy, and real-world impact.
• Work with other specialist teams across the organisation, including Impact & Evaluation and Research Communications, to ensure that the outputs and impact of our funded research are effectively measured, evidenced and showcased.
• Develop and maintain trusted senior-level external relationships with leading dementia researchers, funders and partners, strengthening Alzheimer’s Society’s credibility as a leading research funder, and ensuring we are abreast of emerging trends and developments.
• Oversee the development and delivery of Alzheimer’s Society’s vision for meaningful and impactful involvement of people with lived experience of dementia across its research programmes, working closely with the Research Involvement Manager.
• Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing team, building depth of expertise and strategic confidence and embedding a culture of test, learn and continuous improvement.
• As a senior member of the Research team, deputise for the Head of Research and other Heads of function, where appropriate, in leadership forums and internal and external meetings.
• Provide strategic input into the development of annual directorate business planning and reporting.
• Manage the day-to-day operating budget for the Research Grants & Involvement team
• Undertake any other reasonable duties which may arise from time to time and which are commensurate with the general level of the post.
• Ability and willingness to travel independently on behalf of the Society, including occasional overnight stays as required.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Skills & Knowledge:

• Relevant experience or an education qualification in a relevant biomedical and health discipline.
• Extensive experience in research grants management, ideally in a medical research charity or similar funding organisation.
• Knowledge of the UK research funding landscape and research ecosystem, ideally in dementia.
• Demonstrable experience of contributing to or delivering research strategy, including translating strategic priorities into funding initiatives.
• Ability to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities through horizon scanning and data analysis.
• Experience of monitoring research outputs, outcomes and impact, including analysing and reporting on funded research portfolios.
• Experience in a role that demonstrates understanding of cross-directorate working and with coordinated interdependencies.
• Experience of working with and managing relationships with researchers, clinicians, and external stakeholders.
• Relevant knowledge of public involvement principles and methods.
• Experience of embedding or supporting public involvement in research, and working in a co-production environment.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Confidence to work across multiple teams and to influence change in working practices.
• Able to influence and advise senior stakeholders, driving alignment and change.
• Able to manage several projects proactively and simultaneously, set priorities, problem solve, work independently, and meet agreed standards and deadlines

Competencies & Personal Attributes:

• Be a team player, supporting colleagues when there are deadlines, and know when to ask for help themselves.
• Be a self-starter with a determination to make a difference.
• Effective organisational and timekeeping skills.
• Good attention to detail.
• Non-judgmental communication.
• Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities.
• Understanding of the inclusion agenda and its relevance within a diverse society.
• Curious and constantly questioning the status quo.
• Eager and able to work at pace in a complex environment.
• Independently minded and a critical thinker.
• Flexible, creative and committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to adapt to situations, people and challenges.
• Pragmatic individual who is ambitious for themselves and others. 

Compensation & Benefits

• Paid compassionate and bereavement leave
• Paid time off work to support
• Annual leave of 27 days, increasing to 30, plus bank holidays
• Career breaks of up to 3 months
• Flexible working
• Wellbeing leave
• Health Cash Plan
• Paid dependants leave
• Values Hero and Society Legend Awards
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Life Assurance Scheme - two times your annual salary
• Home Allowance of £312 per year
• Discounted gym membership with Society Plus
• Mental health app and unlimited therapy
• Women in Leadership Development Programme
• Leadership development programme
• Financial support towards relevant professional qualifications, enhanced family leave - 16 weeks paid for all parents
• Paid time off work for fertility treatments for both partners, paid carers' leave

Working locations

• Home-based
• Occasional travel required for conferences, events, and in-person stakeholder or team meetings.

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

Interviews

• Interviews have been provisionally scheduled to take place via MS Teams on Wednesday, 24th, and Thursday, 25th June.

Policies

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment, or health condition, or individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy here, along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups, helps us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.

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