Sarah MacLeod contributes to the University's Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy key aim to significantly increase research grant and contract income, by facilitating the development of research grant applications, consultancy, Continued Professional Development (CPD) and contract work.

Sarah acts as a key point of contact for staff seeking external funding and provides expert advice on project planning to ensure the final project meets the requirements of the funding agency within the required timescales.

Sarah makes collaborative decisions with Finance to prepare proposals for external grants and contracts according to Full Economic Costs (FEC) and to adopt an appropriate cost for the work being undertaken.

Sarah specialises in the University’s annual Higher Education Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey submission, by gathering data which captures the University's engagement activities and impacts in the wider community, including income generating activities. The HE-BCI survey informs strategic directions in higher education and is the primary basis on which Research England allocates the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). The data gathered also forms the basis of the University’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results.

Sarah also assists with the administration of the University’s mobility funding via the Turing Scheme, which is the UK’s global programme to study and work abroad.