Assistant Director - Research Funding Assurance
| Posting date: | 03 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £68,284 to £76,244 per year |
| Additional salary information: | 41 days leave, excellent pension and more |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 March 2026 |
| Location: | London, London, WC1H 9BT |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | University College London |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | B09-01314_1772555255 |
Summary
About us
UCL is a radically different university. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, we were the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women to university education. Today, UCL has over 50,000 students and 15,000 staff, is one of the world's top ten universities, and is recognised as one of the most successful research institutions globally, consistently ranked in the QS World University Rankings (2010-2024) and placed 2nd in the UK for research power and 1st in London (REF 2021).
Playing a key role in supporting UCL's research portfolio of around 4500 active research awards and contracts, with annual research income of approximately £557m, Research and Innovation Services (RIS) supports and advances UCL's position as a world-leading, research-intensive university. Award Services, one of the core teams within RIS, provides specialist advice and support across the externally funded research and innovation lifecycle, working in close partnership with academic and professional services colleagues, collaborating organisations and funders.
As UCL's research activity continues to grow in scale, complexity and ambition, Award Services is establishing a new Research Funding Assurance function. This new team will strengthen governance, oversight and consistency across research grant management, embedding robust assurance practices while supporting a high-quality, customer-focused service for the research community.
About the role
Under the leadership of the Director of Award Services, the Assistant Director, Research Funding Assurance will establish and lead this new function, shaping how assurance and financial oversight are delivered across UCL's extensive research portfolio. This is a senior, strategic role with responsibility for setting direction, embedding new ways of working and ensuring that assurance activity is integrated effectively into post-award operations.
The role will provide expert oversight of complex and high-value research portfolios and will lead the coordination of funder-initiated audits and internal assurance exercises. Working closely with colleagues across Award Services, RIS and the wider institution, the postholder will ensure that audit activity is well managed, proportionate and constructive, with outcomes acted upon promptly and transparently.
A key focus of the role will be driving continuous improvement. This includes reviewing and reshaping research finance policies and processes, identifying opportunities to use data, reporting and digital tools more effectively, and ensuring that assurance activity supports early identification of risk and informed decision-making. The Assistant Director will play a central role in promoting a culture of accountability, learning and service excellence, balancing robust compliance with a supportive approach to the academic community.
The successful candidate will also lead, develop and support a new team of research funding assurance professionals (which will include EC and UKRI studentships), ensuring high professional standards, clear priorities and a collaborative, inclusive working environment aligned with UCL's Ways of Working.
About you
You will bring substantial experience of research post-award administration within a research-intensive environment, underpinned by an expert understanding of research funding mechanisms, funder requirements and institutional policy frameworks. You will be comfortable operating at a senior level, providing authoritative advice on complex assurance, audit and compliance matters.
You will have a strong track record of leading teams and delivering change in fast-paced, complex settings, with the ability to influence across organisational boundaries and build effective partnerships with academic, professional services and external stakeholders. Experience of designing or improving assurance frameworks, managing research funding and or financial audits and embedding effective controls will be central to your success in this role.
You will be analytically minded, confident in using data and insight to inform decision-making, identify risk and drive service improvement. Just as importantly, you will bring a strong service ethos, excellent communication skills and a commitment to inclusive, collaborative ways of working, supporting UCL's mission to deliver world-class research with integrity and impact.
What we offer
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/