Research Grant and Academic Development
Job overview
Research Grant and Academic Development- 5 hours. 12 Months Fixed Term Contract
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a research active organisation. We are looking for an enthusiastic Grant Writer to support all aspects of research funding bid development, from identifying sources of funding through to supporting final bid submission and strengthening the organisation’s academic research output.
The post holder will therefore be responsible for coordinating high-quality grant applications, organizing stakeholder meetings and gathering documentation necessary to fulfil the requirements of various funding bodies to formally seek funding on behalf of Chief Investigators.The post holder will help with submission of high-quality funding applications, increasing the number and value of funding applications and the success rate of those applications. This will include proactively exploring potential funding sources, accurately costing and pricing research projects, reviewing applications and ensuring they meet specific application criteria.
Main duties of the job
The postholder could be working on several projects at once with tight deadlines. The postholder is expected to familiarise themselves with the Trust Research & Development Policy, goals and financial needs and is expected to keep careful records to track their proposals and to supply missing items if a grant-making organisation requests additional information.
The postholder will also be expected to ensure potential patient or participant views and need are reflected early in the design of the study and the grant applications, and they will be expected to proactively seek patient and public engagement in collaboration with the Chief Investigators and the clinical research team.
Working for our organisation
Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.
We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible.Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
If you haven’t heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The main duties of a Research Grant and Academic Development:
- Research grant development
- Leading on a portfolio of research funding applications, providing pro-active and comprehensive pre-award research funding support by reviewing application guidance issued by research funders, advising researchers on their applications for funding (including research budgets) and performing administrative and quality assurance checks on applications prior to submission, including providing feedback when required.
- Take a lead on promoting awareness and understanding sources of external research funding among Trust staff, monitoring bid activity levels and building effective relationships across the Trust.
- Deliver training to staff in relation to funding bids and related activities. This will include the delivery of information briefing sessions on key funders, schemes, and funding opportunities.
- Leading on a portfolio of grant applications, ensuring that all applications for research funding are fully costed and priced.
- Act as a central coordination point for grant development timelines, internal approvals, and partner contributions.
- Liaise with appropriate teams (e.g. finance, legal teams) to ensure budgets, compliance, and due diligence requirements are met.
- Support reporting requirements by assisting with narrative sections of interim and final reports, where appropriate.
- Maintain accurate records of submissions, outcomes, and funder feedback.
- Leading on the drafting of non-scientific elements of research grant proposals, as required.
- To develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of the functioning and requirements of key funders. This includes, but is not limited to, knowledge of grant application systems and grant allocation methods.
- Contribute to the review, development and improvement of pre-award procedures and systems to facilitate efficient and effective pre-award support, innovating to improve the service provided.
- Maintain annual grants calendar to include new applications and reporting deadlines.
- Work with finance to gather information necessary to report to corporate/foundation funders on current grant programmes.
- Comply with all grant reporting as required by foundation/corporate donors.
- Write applications that display meticulous grammar and spelling.
- Maintain current records in database and in paper files, including grant tracking and reporting.
- If requested, to submit progress report to organisations that have funded the programme.
- Coordinate inputs from multiple contributors, ensuring consistency, clarity, and compliance with funder requirements.
- Proactively maintain a pipeline of funding opportunities aligned with organisational priorities, including horizon scanning and funder intelligence.
- Develop and maintain core grant materials (e.g. boilerplate text, CV templates, organisational statements, impact narratives).
- Act as a central coordination point for grant development timelines, internal approvals, and partner contributions.
- Assist with other fundraising projects as requested.
- Research academics
- Provide hands-on support to colleagues in drafting, structuring, editing, and refining journal articles for peer-reviewed publication.
- Advise on journal selection, authorship conventions, submission requirements, and responding to reviewer comments.
- Support, and lead on where appropriate, the development of editorials, policy briefs, commentaries, and impact pieces alongside academic papers.
- Help ensure consistency of tone, clarity of argument, and adherence to reporting standards (e.g. CONSORT, PRISMA, COREQ, where relevant).
- Provide writing mentorship to staff at different career stages, including early-career researchers and practitioner-authors.
- Contribute to the development of an organisational writing culture that values the development of publications that can augment the domestic and international profile of the organisation and enhance its research funding opportunities.
- Support the translation of research findings into accessible outputs for policy, practice, and public audiences.
- Assist with impact statements, case studies, and narratives for funders, assessments, and organisational reports.
- Work with communications teams to align academic outputs with wider dissemination strategies.
Undertake other duties as required by the role or as identified by the line manager, adopting a flexible and proactive approach
Person specification
Experience in successful grant writing in Health Research
Essential criteria- Experience in successful grant writing in health research
- Experience of costing projects
- The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
- Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
- If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
- In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
- During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
- Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.