Economic and Social Research Council
Head of Programme Management - UKRI Research & Development Missions (RDMP) Hub
Salary: £56,745
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open-Ended. We have secured funding until 31 March 2026 and during that time we will be bidding for investment until 2030.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
Grade: UKRI Band F
Context:
The Research & Development Mission Programme (RDMP) is a new, targeted UKRI programme designed to support the Government’s National Missions and support delivery of the milestones in the Government’s Plan for Change. The primary objective of the RDMP is to fund targeted research and innovation (R&I), including technology development, to solve critical problems unique to each mission to improve people’s lives and create growth. An initial investment of £25 million was announced in the autumn budget, with UKRI leading, in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Government Mission teams, on focussed Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenges to respond to and develop solutions for the Problems in each Mission.
Job Purpose:
ESRC, as the council supporting the UKRI coordinating team, are seeking a Head of Programme Management to coordinate and manage a central hub within UKRI for the programme (the UKRI RDMP Hub). You will be responsible for implementation activities which are essential to establishing an effective programme hub, including management of dependencies and risks, establishment of governance structures and operating models, and budget management. This role will require close and effective working with other members of the RDMP hub, colleagues across UKRI, and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Programme management: You will maintain the integrity of the programme by translating the Programme Director’s vision and business case into clear objectives. You will present your own clear and coordinated vision for delivery against these objectives. You will cascade your vision through the Hub and lead the programme in planning activities which yield benefits and deliver outputs which meet the programme’s requirements.
2. Business case development: You will manage development and clearance of the RDMP’s strategic business cases, coordinating authorship within the Hub itself and facilitating input from Programme Managers and Challenge Directors across UKRI.
3. Risk and dependency management: You will oversee and coordinate the programme’s planned activities with responsibility for identifying interdependencies and conflicts. You will assess risks and issues and mitigate these with timely corrective actions, taking responsibility for outcomes in your area. You will be responsible for planning assurance activities for the programme as a whole.
4. Stakeholder management: You will identify and regulate stakeholder relationships and act as a representative for the RDMP both internally and externally.
5. Governance and operating model: You will co-lead, along with the RDMP’s Head of Strategy, the design and implementation of an effective operating model for the Hub and its programme of work. You will develop and implement an appropriate governance framework for the RDMP commensurate with its scale of investment and UKRI’s reporting requirements. You will be responsible for the Hub’s adherence to these reporting processes and manage the provision of up-to-date and accurate reports on progress and budgetary status. You will also work to support the delivery of continuous improvement interventions within the operating model, as required.
6. Team management: You will provide line management as required. You will promote and ensure adherence to best practice standards in programme management and will maintain awareness of any new developments and requirements, cascading these through the Hub. You will act as a mentor and coach to developing members of the team.
7. Resource and budget management: You will manage the Hub’s recruitment, resourcing, and system requirements in accordance with your delegated financial responsibility. You will also be responsible for managing budgets across the Hub, working closely with partners in UKRI Finance.
Key Relationships:
You will need to develop and maintain relationships with:
1. UKRI RDMP Hub Senior Leadership Team, including the Programme Director, Head of Strategy, and Head of Engagement
2. UKRI RDMP Hub Senior Data Analyst
3. Research & Innovation (R&I) Challenge Directors
4. Council Delivery Leads
5. ESRC Executive Chair, and other UKRI Executive Chairs
6. Oversight Board
7. Government Missions teams
8. DSIT sponsorship team supporting RDMP
Shortlisting and Interview Criteria:
Essential:
1. Prince2, MSP, APMPQ or another relevant Project Management Methodology qualification.
2. Demonstrative experience of leading the successful delivery of projects and/or programmes across multiple departments/stakeholders with detailed knowledge of project management tools, methodology and best practice.
3. Experience of leading teams and the allocation and coordination of project resources.
4. Ability to translate strategic priorities into clear outcome-focused objectives and motivate and engage people within a team so that they can deliver high quality outcomes.
5. Strong people management skills, able to work with people of all levels and to build good relations with them, whilst being able to challenge, negotiate, influence and persuade where necessary.
6. The ability to adapt flexibly and quickly to different tasks and challenges, making judgements and resolving complex or difficult problems in an environment of uncertainty. Working frequently in the absence of precedent, researching and applying new ideas and ways of doing things.
7. Excellent communication, written and presentation skills with the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group including executives, managers, and subject matter experts, whilst maintaining awareness of politics and an understanding of how to communicate difficult/sensitive information tactfully.
8. Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of handling budgets and exercising financial control.
Desirable:
1. Experience of managing programmes in a relevant policy, government, or research and innovation context.
2. Experience of using research and innovation to address policy challenges, working collaboratively with relevant policy, government, industry or other stakeholders.
About the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The ESRC is the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science. It supports the development and training of the UK’s future social scientists and funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policy-makers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective.
For more information about ESRC, please visit https://esrc.ukri.org/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led 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 at 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