University of Nottingham Ningbo China is seeking to recruit a Research Fellow in Faculty Office of Humanities and Social Sciences

Purpose of role

The purpose of this role is to strengthen the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences' capacity to secure external research funding. The post holder will be an established researcher in the social sciences or humanities with a strong record of peer-reviewed publication, who will apply that scholarly expertise to the identification of funding opportunities and the development of competitive, high-quality external funding applications with and on behalf of Principal Investigators and academic staff across the Faculty.

The person appointed will be expected to exercise initiative, judgement and creativity in identifying strategic funding opportunities, developing proposal concepts and improving the Faculty's approach to research development, with the overall aim of increasing both the success rate and the value of external research funding secured by the Faculty.

Your Responsibility

• Take a leading role in the development, drafting and critical review of external research funding applications, including major, strategic, multi-party and high-value bids, to the standard expected by national and international funders.
• Provide substantive intellectual and scholarly input into proposals, including research questions, theoretical framing, methodology, literature positioning, significance, originality and pathways to impact.
• Work with Principal Investigators to translate research ideas into funder-ready proposals, and to interpret and respond to funder requirements, assessment criteria and reviewer feedback.
• Identify, monitor, analyse and disseminate relevant external funding opportunities aligned with the Faculty's research strengths and priorities.
  Undertake research, evidence gathering and synthesis to inform proposal development.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with academic staff, Faculty leadership, professional services and central research support functions.

About You

• PhD in a relevant social science or humanities discipline.
• An established record of research in a relevant social science or humanities discipline, evidenced by a strong portfolio of peer-reviewed publications in recognised international journals and/or with reputable academic publishers, commensurate with career stage.
• Demonstrable experience of writing, co-writing or substantially contributing to external research funding applications.
• Sound knowledge of the external research funding landscape relevant to the humanities and social sciences, including major national and international funders [e.g. NSFC, NSSFC, MoE, provincial/municipal schemes, UKRI/ESRC/AHRC, EU, foundations], their requirements, processes and assessment criteria.
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders and managing competing deadlines.

About Us

Join a unique British University in China. The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was the first Sino-foreign university to open its doors in China. Located in Ningbo, this award-winning campus offering a UK style education has grown to establish a student body of over 10,000 in just 22 years.

Your Remuneration, Benefits and Support

Salary will be within the range of RMB 272,606 to RMB 383,580 per annum depending on skills and experience. The post will be offered on a fixed-term outsourced contract with outsource company for a period of 1 year.

Applicants should apply via our on-line application system before Beijing Time 23:59, 15 November 2026. Only on-line applications made at (http://jobs.nottingham.edu.cn) will be accepted. Referees will be contacted prior to interview and interviews will take place in Ningbo China.

Recruitment to this role is subject to applicable national legislation, including Chinese statutory retirement requirements. Where a candidate has reached or is approaching the applicable statutory retirement age, any retirement deferment or continued engagement beyond the statutory retirement age will be considered separately, in accordance with applicable national regulations and the University's policies and approval requirements. Such arrangements are not automatic and will be subject to regulatory feasibility, institutional need and the circumstances of the individual case.

Enquiries

If you are unable to apply on-line please contact the Human Resources Office, job@nottingham.edu.cn.  

Equality and Diversity

University of Nottingham Ningbo China is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff. It is our intention to ensure that job applicants and staff are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age*, socio-economic background, disability, religious or political beliefs, trade union membership, family circumstances, sexual orientation or other irrelevant distinction.

Attachment: Job Description/Role Profile