Job Description

Salary - £48,414 to £51,377 depending on experience
Hybrid

Location: Lancaster

Maternity cover (14 months)
Closing date: Monday 18th May 2026

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early

Are you proactive,strategicand passionate about helping research thrive? Do you enjoy building strong

relationships,identifyingopportunitiesandprovidingexpert guidance that drives growth and impact? If so, we want to hear from you!

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join us as a Research Development Manageron a Maternity cover basis, supporting the Biodiversity and Land Use Science Area at UKCEH.

You will provide specialist and technicalexpertisethrough advice,guidanceand support to maximise research development opportunities, impact and competitively won income in line with businessobjectives You will gather,interpretand assess internal and external customer needs,opportunitiesand risks to inform the delivery of high-quality advice and support. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will develop a strong understanding of wider UKCEH activities and strategies to ensure all advice aligns with organisational priorities.

You will also plan and prioritise individual and team activities, coordinating work across different areas of the Biodiversity and Land Use Science Area to ensure an effective and joined-up approach.

Your main responsibilities will include:    

• Support strategic bidding activities and individual bids for the Science Area

• Proactively and reactively engage with internal and external partners to develop and/ormaintainrelationships to create networks andmaintainknowledgetofacilitateinformation exchange.

• Represent the organization and function at internal and external events and through written and verbal activities including reportingtocommunicate and exchange information in an efficient manner.

• Manage a portfolio of workand/or a teamincluding planning, prioritisation and budgeting andtosupport efficient working,optimizevalue and ensure informed decision making.

• Deliver, through a variety of mechanisms, proactive and reactive advice and information to internal and external stakeholders based on the best available informationtomeet the needs of those stakeholders and UKCEH.

• Gather,analyseand interpret potentially complex information and data to create knowledge and, whereappropriate, toidentifyissues and potential solutions that will enable reporting of understanding and the effective operation of UKCEH

• Maintain and improve capability andexpertiseof individuals and their team (asappropriate)though a continuous learning processtooptimizeindividual and team working andmaintainand in-depth knowledge and understanding of the field.

For the role of Research DevelopmentManager, we’re looking for somebody who

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of environmental Biodiversity
  • understanding of the research funding landscape particularly from the public sector

• Extensive level of experience and proven success in the specialist area of work

• Ability to communicate technical concepts and provide specialist guidance and advice to others.

• Ability to communicate with the entire range of UKCEH internal and external stakeholders

• Budget management skills and the ability to deliver anddemonstratevalue for money.

• Experience in setting targets and managing delivery to effectively meet expectations and ensure compliance.

• Strong analytical skills, based on systems,dataand market information, relevant to the field of work to inform decision making across UKCEH

• Be able to work on own initiative and in partnership in disparate teams across UKCEH and to show continuous learning and development

• Qualified to degree level or withappropriate experience

Working for UKCEH is rewarding  

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-orientedperks, such as:  

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure     

• 10% employer pension contribution    

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)   

• Peer reward and recognition scheme   

• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal  

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave    

• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...   

Apply today!  

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply bysubmittingyour CV along with a covering letter that highlights any qualifications, skills or experience you believe are relevant to this role.   

At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive andequitableworkplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity tothrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—pleasedon’thesitate to reach out. So, ifyou’reexcited about this role but your experiencedoesn’talign perfectly with every requirement,we’dlove to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.  

Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.