The Medical Research Council (MRC)
Salary: £36,650.00 annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire (hybrid working options available)
Closing Date: 12/01/25
About the role
We are recruiting an Operations Lead within the UKRI Talent team, who will support the delivery of UKRI Talent programmes, including the Future Leaders Fellowships, by leading the operational processes associated with delivery of peer review and assessment panels. The role will also contribute to the strategic development of UKRI Talent in the context of the recently published People and Culture Strategy, which prioritises renewing the UK’s position as a global leader in R&D by attracting, retaining and developing talented people.
Key responsibilities:
* Leading the operational delivery of UKRI Talent programmes to ensure the effective delivery of peer review and assessment panels.
* Promoting consistency and quality in the mechanisms supporting funding decisions, by ensuring that areas of improvement for operational delivery are recorded and progressed.
* Reporting and analysing information to build progress updates and inform decision making.
* Developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including working collaboratively across UKRI and its Councils / Innovate UK.
* Ensuring clear communication with the community, via maintenance of call information / guidance, website content and responding to external queries.
* Effectively managing team-member delivery & performance - implementing training programmes for staff to ensure long-term capability within the team.
* Line management of up to four direct reports, with a commitment to supporting and developing staff.
* Carry out any other duties / projects that may be required of the post across UKRI Talent.
Essential:
* Educated to degree-level or demonstrable equivalent experience. (S)
Knowledge and experience:
Essential:
* Experience of working in a research and/or innovation environment, with a clear understanding of the assessment process of funding applications. (S/I)
* Excellent communication skills; experience of presenting information persuasively and succinctly and negotiating effectively with others. (S/I)
* Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage changing and/or conflicting priorities and time optimally. (S/I)
* Ability to work with ambiguity and respond to difficult situations by showing initiative and judgement in an evolving environment. (S/I)
* Demonstrable analytical and problem-solving skills. (S/I)
* Ability to demonstrate experience of establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, both internally and externally and at all levels of seniority. (I)
* Experience of operational task management - specifically supporting delivery of operational activities through delegation. (S/I)
Desirable:
* Experience of line management, including people development and experience with performance management. (S/I)
* Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products: Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint. (S)
* Knowledge of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion practices and implementation. (I)
Additional information:
* The post holder will be based primarily in Swindon (hybrid working options available) but may be required to attend meetings/workshops in other UK locations.
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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