Job Description

Job Title:

Research Support Officer

Posting Start Date:

28/10/2025

Job Id:

1707

School/Department:

Faculty of Social Sciences

Work Arrangement:

Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Permanent

Salary per annum ():

27,319 to 31,236

Closing Date:

17/11/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.



We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

Academic research is at the heart of The University of Sheffield's core activities. The University is committed to making the world a better place and this starts with its mission: 'To Discover and Understand'. We are in the top 10% of UK Universities for research, with globally recognised research strengths.



The University places Research as one of four key pillars in our vision to deliver world-class research, innovation and education. We value originality, rigour, integrity, and openness in our research, as well as the high-quality outputs and outcomes that result from it. Research outputs and outcomes of the highest quality and significance are the bedrock of our academic reputation. To achieve this we strive to drive forward our distinctive and high-quality research capability to ensure we are well positioned to exploit emerging and future research opportunities. We will capitalise on our disciplinary excellence and foster novel ways of working across disciplines.



Research support in the Faculty of Social Sciences is provided by a hub team who work with researchers across our Schools. You will assist a variety of research support activities including routine research costings and applications, responding to queries, collaborating closely with other Professional Service teams, contributing to the smooth set-up of successful research applications and maintaining data in research information systems. You will also contribute to Faculty or University initiatives to share best practices and continually improve and ensure the best support is being offered.


We are looking for someone who:
is proactive and flexible is pragmatic and solutions-focussed has excellent attention to detail has strong customer service skills.

Main duties and responsibilities

Provide support for the submission of routine research applications in the Faculty of Social Science. This support includes the costing of projects, understanding and interpreting funder guidance, ensuring applicants develop proposals that meet the relevant university and funder policies and guiding applicants through submission processes, approvals and systems. Contribute to the smooth set up of successful grants by working closely with other professional services teams in Research, Partnerships Innovation and Faculty Finance as appropriate. Regularly update and maintain accurate data across the various systems that support research activities at the University. Develop and maintain relevant internal and external content as required. For example, creating or updating guidance documents for routine funders or schemes. Generate routine reports from a variety of systems supporting research activities at the University. For example, preparing a report to track and monitor research applications and awards for a School. Maintain close links with Research, Partnerships and Innovation and Professional Service Teams in Schools to ensure local processes are aligned with University requirements. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Educated to A level standard (or equivalent qualifications/work

experience).


Essential


Application


Excellent standard of numeracy, including practical experience of working with finance and/or budgets; and of accurate data entry and data reporting using various systems.

Essential


Application / Task


Ability to exercise judgement within a framework of guidance and procedures.


Essential


Application / Interview


Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with the ability to explain complex information to a range of audiences.


Essential


Application / Task / Interview


Experience of working effectively as a team and independently; and the ability to form positive working relationships with colleagues at different levels of the organisation.

Essential


Application / Interview


Excellent organisational and time management skills with an ability to prioritise own workload and work accurately to tight deadlines and manage a demanding workload.


Essential


Application / Interview


Excellent IT skills and good knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google applications.


Essential


Application


Ability to learn quickly, to assimilate new information, and apply it to different situations.


Essential


Application / Interview


Have a proactive approach and an ability to adapt to changing work priorities.


Essential


Application / Interview


Previous experience working in a research support environment within the higher education sector.


Desirable

Application

Further Information

Grade

G5

Salary

27,319 to 31,236

Work arrangement

Full-time

Line manager

Cami Jacob

Direct reports

N/A

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/social-sciences



For informal enquiries about this job contact Cami Jacob, Research Hub Manager, on c.jacob@sheffield.ac.uk.

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place week commencing 1 December. This will consist of an interview and task. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 24 November. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Cami Jacob.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 38days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework. A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment
+ and more





We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.