Head of Research Funding (maternity cover)

Be part of the breakthrough. Help change lives through world-class medical research.

At the Medical Research Foundation, we don t just fund research we fuel progress. We back bold ideas, support brilliant minds, and invest in science that s often overlooked but urgently needed. As our remit is as broad as medical research itself, we fund an exciting variety of science and are able to step in where others cannot. We are looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking Head of Research Funding to join us on a one-year maternity cover. This is a unique opportunity for someone passionate about improving human health and advancing medical research to step up or across into a leadership role to manage our dynamic Research Funding Team and deliver our strategic research objectives.

Why this role matters

As the Head of Research Funding, you will be the driving force of the Research Funding team, ensuring our funding mechanisms uphold the highest standards of integrity, supporting research with the greatest potential for impact. Your leadership will be crucial in identifying new funding opportunities, maintaining rigorous oversight of grant management, and ensuring that our research funding remains innovative and effective.

You will:

• Oversee the planning and execution of all research funding competitions and ensure the robust management of the full lifecycle of grant funding.
• Undertake health and research landscape reviews to identify emerging areas of research need and innovation.
• Manage and develop a team of six people, maintaining the highest professional standards.

About You

You are inspired to help us to deliver our vision of a world where medical research improves the health of everyone.

You bring:

• A PhD in biomedical sciences or related fields; or equivalent experience and a degree in biological sciences.
• Significant experience of biomedical research funding, including developing and managing funding calls; financial oversight of funding; peer review processes; and grant management.
• Line management expertise.

Bonus points if you have:

• Postdoctoral research experience
• Experience of preparing landscape reviews and strategic cases for support.

What we offer:

• A chance to be part of a mission that matters.
• A supportive, collaborative, and ambitious team culture.
• Opportunities to grow, learn, and make a real impact.

About the Medical Research Foundation

Our vision? A world where medical research improves health for everyone. We fund life-changing science, and we re proud of the role good governance plays in that mission.

Salary & Working Style

• £61,000 - £65,000 per year full-time (36 hours per week) dependent on experience
• 30 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• 12% employer pension contribution + life assurance
• Generous other benefits
• Wellbeing support and flexible working culture

This is a full-time post, but we are happy to consider a part-time contract (min 0.8 FTE). This is a fixed-term maternity cover post expected to start in January 2026 and end on 31 December 2026. We are very happy to consider secondment opportunities from other organisations.

We value spending time working in-person to develop strong connections with each other and with our mission, so you will be based at our central London office for a minimum of three days a week if you are full-time (Monday, Tuesday, and either Wednesday or Thursday) with the option to work remotely for the remainder. If you are part-time, you will be office-based for at least 50% of your time.

A Place for Everyone

At the Medical Research Foundation, we believe that diversity drives creativity and innovation. We are dedicated to promoting equality of opportunity, fostering fairness and inclusion, and creating an environment where everyone feels that they belong.

We especially welcome applications from individuals from minoritised groups, including those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.