Research Funding Officer

The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking two Research Funding Officers to join our team, providing key support in the delivery of the Fellowship and Grants portfolios. There are two roles available, one leading the Small Research Grants scheme and the other position will co-lead on the Postdoctoral Fellowships.

The role

The role of the Research Funding Officer is to deliver specific activities within the portfolio of funding schemes managed by members of the Research Funding Team. You will be at the heart of the Academy’s mission, working closely with Fellows, researchers, universities, and internal teams to ensure funding is delivered fairly, efficiently, and with integrity. From advising applicants and coordinating peer review, to monitoring project outcomes and producing meaningful data and reports, this role offers variety, responsibility, and the chance to see the real-world impact of research funding. The role will be involved in the organisation of selection meetings and other relevant associated activities for grant holders, researchers and other stakeholders.

If you enjoy balancing detail with big-picture thinking, value strong relationships, and want to contribute to the UK’s research landscape, this role offers both challenge and reward. This role would suit someone who is organised, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a structured but people-facing environment. You might already be working in research funding, higher education, or a grants administration setting, or you may be looking to deepen your experience in this area.

About the Academy

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1700 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas; engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy.

The Academy currently has five directorates: Communications & Marketing; Development; Policy; Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team. We have increased staffing in the last 12 months and expect to continue to grow this year.

Working at the Academy

Our senior management team have worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation. Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow. Find out more about the British Academy, including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.

Terms and conditions

The British Academy is based at 10-11, Carlton House Terrace, London SW1, a Grade 1 listed building. We offer a competitive benefits package including a 35-hour working week, with hours and location worked flexibly under our hybrid-working policy; 34 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays; a subsidised canteen and an excellent occupational pension.

How to apply

We use Applied for our recruitment. Applied aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using CVs, candidates are asked to answer questions that test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymised and reviewed in a random order by members of the hiring panel.

To find out more and apply, please visit our website via the apply button.

Closing date: Midday on 7 May 2026.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 27/28 May 2026, but this may be subject to change.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, reflecting our commitment to a diverse and inclusive working environment, equal opportunity and addressing under-representation. We will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the minimum selection criteria.