UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £56,745 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available)
Closing date: Sunday 26th January 2025
Role Purpose
To build understanding of, engagement with, and trust in UK Research and Innovation and its activities and interests, both externally and with all employees, through telling UKRI’s research and innovation stories compellingly and in a way which works for its audiences.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership/Teamwork
* Develop a network of senior contacts within UKRI to source and develop material.
* Work with a range of external partners and stakeholders, including researchers, innovators and policymakers, to establish the best way to present complex information.
* Lead the delivery of designed content as part of multi-disciplinary campaign teams to support communications and engagement activities, including events, social media projects and media campaigns.
* Where line management responsibility is included, accountable for effectively leading, building capability, and motivating team members.
Key relationships:
- In UKRI: Councils, cross-cutting areas
- Elsewhere: Press, partners, key investments, DSIT
Delivery/Programmes/Projects
* Support the Head of Content on the development and delivery of a content strategy, reviewing current processes, that sets the design direction of all content for all audiences to deliver UKRI’s strategic communications objectives.
* Ensure that new ideas are quickly understood and converted into professionally created content, editorial, imagery, video, digital, graphics and print work, both independently and collaboratively.
* Lead in developing designed content across the multiple platforms at UKRI.
* Lead on delivering design for campaigns and other content projects.
* Lead on art direction for both internal and external designers.
* Ensure content is user-focused and consistently meets publishing standards and is factually correct.
* Oversee transformation of business solutions into simple layouts of design and content.
* Commission external suppliers and develop briefs for delivery.
Essential Skills, Qualifications and Experience
* Strong experience and high level of technical expertise in utilising multiple and integrated channels, and a strong understanding of multi-channel communication approaches and the place of design within this.
* Strong experience of leading design teams.
* Experience of developing direct reports’ creative skills.
* Understanding of the strategic needs and priorities of UKRI, the relevant Council or Cross-cutting Theme, and wider stakeholders.
* Demonstrates credibility with relevant communities, usually based on experience from government, industry, education or the third sector.
* Ability to work collaboratively across teams, councils and communities.
* Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty.
* Resilience, multi-tasking and ability to work to deadlines.
* Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriate to the audience.
* Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate.
* Strategic thinking.
* Flexibility to adapt to change.
About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
#J-18808-Ljbffr