UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £56,745
Hours: Full time or Part time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon
We are looking for a Head of Programme to join the UKRI Infrastructure Team and support the delivery of UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund. We are a cross-UKRI programme established in 2020 to deliver the UKRI Infrastructure Roadmap (published in 2019) and have since prioritised and begun delivery of a portfolio of investments valued at over £2.1 billion.
This role offers the opportunity to demonstrate your strategic leadership skills, supporting the prioritisation of our major investments and major strategic projects. This role will work closely with colleagues across UKRI and requires regular interaction with peers and senior leaders, including negotiating complex outcomes and lateral management. Key responsibilities include:
* Developing an understanding of, and communicating, how our work aligns with and supports key national policies
* Leading a major refresh of the Infrastructure Roadmap programme to demonstrate the UK’s progress and impact to national and international audiences
* Supporting the evaluation and prioritisation of major infrastructure investment opportunities
* Maintaining and improving our understanding of the research and innovation landscape
* Growing Infrastructure Fund stakeholder relations and leading on engagement plans
* Driving working level relationships with infrastructure leads in government
* Horizon-scanning & international benchmarking of the Infrastructure Fund
About the team
The UKRI Infrastructure Team is a small and agile team of 12. We are responsible for leading and delivering UKRI's strategic approach for investment in step-change infrastructures and managing these as a portfolio via the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and the Digital Research Infrastructure Programme. We work across UKRI and government to influence and support colleagues on issues important for a thriving R&I ecosystem. We're building on UKRI's understanding of the infrastructure landscape and horizon scanning for emerging areas of interest to keep up to date following the Infrastructure Roadmap programme.
The team is recently formed by merging the Infrastructure Fund and the Digital Research Infrastructure Programmes and you’ll be joining us at an exciting time as we establish and embed our new structure. You will report to the Programme Director and will have direct line management of one senior policy manager and senior management of two others. The team has a flexible and agile working style and individual responsibilities will evolve and develop as infrastructure priorities evolve.
As an organisation we ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. The infrastructure that we deliver underpins this mission. You will be encouraged to explore your curiosity, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.
Person Specification
The following criteria will be assessed at either Shortlisting (S), Interview (I), or both (S&I):
* Degree, or equivalent experience, that enables some understanding of the research system and research infrastructure (S)
* Demonstrable ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, confident in departing from established patterns, making decisions not covered by precedent and being accountable for the outcomes (I)
* Creative and adaptive thinker, comfortable with ambiguity and finding solutions to complex and difficult problems with interdependencies. Ability to gather and analyse evidence, tackle issues, think creatively, and make effective decisions, sometimes in a complex environment due to the nature of a distributed programme with multiple collaborators (S&I)
* Able to prioritise effectively and to balance a fast-paced and varied workload (I)
* Track record of leadership and people management, and a proven ability to motivate, empower and inspire others to work effectively to deliver team and personal objectives (S&I)
* Well-developed negotiation, influencing and interpersonal skills (I)
* Ability to build and sustain productive relationships internally and externally and represent UKRI, at all levels of seniority and across government, academic, policy and wider sectors (S&I)
* Experience of developing and/or delivering policy (S&I)
* Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to interpret complex information, communicate in an engaging, convincing and succinct manner, and produce publications that are straightforward and clearly articulated (S&I)
Additional information
You should be willing to travel and work away from the office and/or normal working hours on an occasional basis.
The role is based in Swindon and flexible working is supported, with a minimum of one day a week in the office. The role is full time, but part-time applications (0.8FTE minimum) may be considered.
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.
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