Head of Research Funding, Epilepsy Society
Overview
Do you want to make a major impact on the advancement of global medical research into epilepsy? Do you have senior research funding experience with research partners, corporate funders and grant-giving bodies?
As Head of Research Funding, you’ll solicit and secure significant multi-million-pound income to fund transformational research strategy. The Epilepsy Society conducts world-leading epilepsy research in partnership with UCL at our research centre in Chalfont St Peter, near London. Through its translational research programme, the Society is uniquely placed to develop new person-centred approaches which will improve outcomes for the 1 in 100 people living with epilepsy.
You will be joining us on an exciting step in our journey. The Epilepsy Society has been granted permission to develop part of its 300-acre estate in Chalfont. The sale from our land will realise about £93 million to enable us to expand our research portfolio and ultimately to double the amount spent annually on epilepsy research in the UK, attracting in excess of £10m per annum in research funding.
This is a generational opportunity of national importance, but the funding realised by the sale of land is just the start.
We are looking for an exceptional senior leader with the ambition, experience and gravitas to unlock and deliver research funding opportunities to secure £ multi-million income. The development of aligned funding partners, in the UK and worldwide, will be essential to enable us to grow, accelerate and sustain our vital research work for years to come.
You’ll be strategic, a confident communicator, have an entrepreneurial, can-do mindset and enjoy bringing teams together to convert ambition into practical solutions to deliver impact. This varied role involves working cross-functionally to support the evolution of the new research strategy and embed best practice and process across new and existing governance models.
You will be confident in researching, writing and collating information for grant round applications, acting as an ambassador, inspiring external contacts and internal teams about our research programme and opportunities to fund. The postholder will collaborate with clinicians, researchers, scientists, academic, corporate and charitable funders at the highest level.
You should hold an advanced degree in a relevant scientific field and/or significant experience in a grant-funded research environment. You will have senior management experience in a relevant organisation and bring strong research, analytical and communication skills. You’ll have the ability to synthesise complex information into clear and compelling written proposals and spoken presentations which will bring in funding and build partnerships.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside scientists, researchers and an ambitious fundraising team to drive income generation, broaden the charity’s reach, and accelerate cutting-edge advancements in epilepsy research and treatment.
Apply
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter, of no more than 2 sides highlighting why you feel you are right for the role to epilepsysociety@minervasearch.com by 12 noon on Friday 28th August 2026.