King's College London

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

About us

The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences (FANS) forms part of the School of Academic Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London.

FANS is one of Europe’s largest research groups dedicated to understanding the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan. The group is internationally recognised for its pioneering work in infant brain imaging and for linking variations in brain structure and function to social and cognitive development. By promoting collaboration among academics, researchers, and clinicians, FANS accelerates the translation of cutting-edge research into clinical applications—enhancing patient outcomes, advancing training, and driving world-leading improvements in healthcare.

About the role

The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences is seeking a highly professional Research Portfolio Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across our research activities. 

This is a pivotal role within the Department, responsible for overseeing and managing the full research lifecycle, from pre-award development through to post-award delivery. You will work closely with the Head of Department, senior academics, and professional services colleagues to ensure that all research activity is supported by efficient processes, robust financial management, and effective resource allocation. 

The successful candidate will play a key role in driving research excellence and innovation, ensuring that applications and awards are administered to the highest standards and that the Department’s research portfolio continues to grow and thrive. 

We are looking for someone who is not only organised and detail-oriented, but also a proactive problem-solver with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. You will bring experience in research administration or portfolio management, ideally within a higher education or research-intensive environment. 

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract until 31st December 2026.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience: 

Essential criteria

1. Degree or relevant experience in research management gained by working in an academic department. 
2. Knowledge of funding landscape. 
3. Exceptionally organized and efficient, with initiative and a proactive approach. 
4. Strong ability to communicate complex information to varied audiences. 
5. Strong problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail. 
6. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport, communicate and influence stakeholders from operational teams to scientists. 
7. In-depth understanding of research processes, principles, and methodologies. 
8. Excellent IT skills, experience with Microsoft Office and demonstrable aptitude for learning new systems and software

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of financial management of large grants >£3m. 
2. Experience in large consortia EU grants 
3. Experience of NHS funding landscape for shared posts 

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. 

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.  

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.