UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £36,650
Hours: Full time or Part time (Minimum of 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon
We are looking for a Project and Portfolio Officer to join the UKRI Infrastructure Team to support the delivery of UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund and the Infrastructure Portfolio Office function for the two funds that the team manages. We are a cross-UKRI programme established in 2020 to deliver the UKRI Infrastructure Roadmap (published in 2019) and have since prioritised and began delivery of a portfolio of investments valued at over £2.1 billion.
This role offers the opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving and communication skills by working across the three pillars of the team through its responsibility for portfolio delivery, whilst maintaining a focus on the prioritisation process for the Infrastructure Fund, pre-award early ideas & pipeline, council relationships & Infrastructure Working Group secretariat. This role will work closely with colleagues across UKRI and requires regular interaction with peers and senior leaders.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Support work to prioritise and develop infrastructure proposals seeking pan UKRI funding, by maintaining and updating documentation and planning tools for investment prioritisation.
2. Act as Secretariat for the Infrastructure Working Group: organise meetings, driving the agenda and forward look and minute taking.
3. Build and maintain strong relationships with all 9 Councils, managing monthly meetings, onboarding council team members, and taking and sharing notes of key points and actions.
4. Support the Portfolio Office with reporting and monitoring for UKRI Infrastructure Fund and the Digital Research Infrastructure Programme, including ensuring correct information is received in a timely fashion and contributing to the production of portfolio reports.
5. Support the collation and analysis of complex information to maintain our understanding of infrastructure opportunities, emerging ideas and the monitoring and reporting of projects post-award.
6. Support other members of the team to maintain aspects of financial planning, such as keeping clear financial records expenditure and forecasts, overseeing any procurement processes, and liaising closely with UKRI finance.
7. Maintain processes to ensure that project control documentation, e.g. Project Plans, Risk Registers, Communication Plans, Portfolio reporting documentation etc. are accurate and up-to-date to support robust decision-making.
8. Contribute to strategic projects across the team, such as the Infrastructure Roadmap Refresh Programme.
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 UKRI Head of Infrastructure Portfolio. 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):
1. An understanding or interest of the breadth of UK capability with respect to research and innovation infrastructure (S&I)
2. A motivated self-starter displaying a positive and proactive approach to problem solving, and ability to make decisions independently within established guidelines (S&I)
3. Demonstrable project support/project management experience or experience in supporting complex projects at pace whilst maintaining excellent attention to detail (S&I)
4. Good numerical skills with working knowledge of financial analysis and tracking and ability to perform straightforward analyses (S&I)
5. Strong organisational skills and time management skills, including an ability to prioritise and manage complex activities to meet deadlines (S&I)
6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience in writing reports and papers for groups, committees and senior managers (S&I)
7. Ability to gather, analyse and interpret data from multiple sources and to synthesise the content to produce clear and concise updates to a wide range of audiences (S&I)
8. Ability to build good interpersonal relationships within and outside the organisation (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.
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