UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £45,272 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (0.6 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Bristol or Swindon
Grade: UKRI Band E
Closing Date: 19 Jan 25
Proposed Interview Date: W/C 03 Feb 25
About Us
UKRI invests public funds across the UK via studentships, research projects, knowledge exchange, research infrastructure, business innovation, and many more. These investments are diverse and have hugely varied characteristics across the portfolio. Some are place-based, which means that they are driven by local impact and consultation with a geographic range of stakeholders.
In March 2022, UKRI published its first five-year strategy which outlines how the organisation will support the UK’s world-class research and innovation system, fuel an innovation-led economy and society, and drive up prosperity across the UK. One of the strategic objectives is: ‘World class places – securing the UK’s position as a globally leading research and innovation nation with outstanding institutions, infrastructures, sectors, and clusters across the breadth of the country.’
The programme manager will sit within the newly established UKRI Place Team and report into the Director. They will support the Director, helping them to put together a programme of internal and external strategic engagement and ensuring relevant briefings are prepared. They will play an important role in establishing and running the work programme for the UKRI Place Team. Working with the Director and colleagues across UKRI, they will work to understand how this function can continue to evolve to support UKRI’s approach to Place. They will work to establish the key milestones to do this and manage risks, actions, and other associated activity. In addition, the post holder will also support the rest of the UKRI Place Team managing team meetings and supporting resource allocation. They will take on management and lead secretariat of the UKRI Place Strategy Steering Group, preparing briefings, papers, agendas, and minutes. The post holder will also work with the team and colleagues across UKRI to develop timelines for delivery of Place work.
Key Areas of Accountability
* Support the Director, helping them to put together a programme of internal and external strategic engagement and ensuring relevant briefings are prepared.
* Work with the Director and colleagues across UKRI to understand how UKRI’s programme of work on Place can continue to evolve to support UKRI’s strategic goals, establishing the key milestones to do this and manage risks, actions, and other associated activity.
* Develop and manage project plans, including scope, milestones, timelines, and resource allocation across the Place portfolio.
* Identify and manage risks relevant to Place and governance and keep relevant parts of the risk register up to date, working closely with council place leads and UKRI’s Risk and Assurance team.
* Provide secretariat for the UKRI Place Strategy Steering Group including developing a forward workplan, commissioning papers, and reporting to other UKRI governance bodies, such as the Executive Committee and UKRI Board.
* Support the Director in managing both high-profile, urgent, and sensitive activity as required.
* Support the delivery of effective cross-team working and matrix management, to ensure flexibility of resource as needed.
* Develop a strong understanding of the Place landscape both internally and externally.
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience
* Experience in developing and managing complex programmes and projects, including developing project plans, timelines, and milestones (S&I).
* Experience in supporting senior leaders with internal and external strategic engagement, including preparing briefings, agendas, and meeting materials (S&I).
* Experience in managing meetings, preparing papers, and providing secretariat support to groups or governance bodies (S&I).
* Ability to foster effective cross-team working and manage resources flexibly in a matrix management environment (S&I).
* Ability to work confidently in a complex or changing environment, prioritising and focusing on delivering the team’s goals (S&I).
* Ability to make connections from the Place Programme to the UK’s regional policy landscape and broader research and innovation goals (S&I).
Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience
* Relevant project or programme management qualifications (S).
* Knowledge of the UK research and innovation landscape (S).
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
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 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.
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