Research and Development Manager in Swindon

Salary: £37,841 per annum.

Band: UKRI Band D.

Contract Type: Fixed Term (23 Months).

Hours: Full-time/Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available).

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available (Minimum 2 days per week in office).

Closing Date: Sunday 16th August 2026.

Interviews: Week Commencing Monday 24th August 2026.

The Horizon Europe Team supports the UK's involvement in the EU's key research and innovation programme Horizon Europe. As part of UKRI, we work with partners across the UK government and our collaborators to maximise UK engagement in Horizon Europe.

The Horizon Europe Guarantee Team ensures that the UK Research and Innovation sector remains supported via underwrite funding for Horizon Europe calls not covered by the Horizon Europe association deal announced by the UK government on September 7th 2023.

About the role:

As a Horizon Europe National Contact Point (NCP) for the European Research Council (ERC), you will provide operational delivery and applicant-facing support for Horizon Europe funding opportunities. Reporting to the Lead ERC NCP, the role contributes to the delivery of consistent, high-quality advice and engagement activities for the UK research and innovation community.

The NCP roles are based in the UK with an expectation of regular travel to Europe and some ad hoc travel to UK locations, ensuring in-person engagement with the European research and policy environment and UKRI partners through networking at information sessions and workshop events. Therefore, the job holder will be required to work flexibly to fulfil engagement activities.

This is a critical role to support a range of NCP services and the increased demand from the community for Horizon Europe. The role also offers the opportunity to shape UK access to and influence the area you will be supporting within the programme. This role is suitable for candidates developing expertise in international research funding and stakeholder engagement and policy, with a clear development pathway to more senior NCP roles.

Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate, timely advice to applicants on funding calls related to the area you will be supporting, rules and processes within assigned programme areas, raising complex queries where required.
• Support, and where appropriate lead, the planning and delivery of engagement activities such as information session webinars, briefings and workshops.
• Respond to customer enquiries and provide clear and detailed, customer-focused guidance.
• Maintain awareness of work programmes, call and policy updates and guidance materials.
• Support the collection, analysis and presentation of data on UK participation and partner engagement.
• Contribute to internal and external briefings, data, reports, and written guidance.
• Work collaboratively with UKRI colleagues to ensure consistent messaging and service delivery.

Personal Specification:

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential:

• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience (S).
• Good knowledge of Horizon Europe and UKRI funding programmes, and a willingness/ability to rapidly acquire specific programme knowledge, including rules, processes and applicant guidance (S&I).
• Ability to provide accurate, timely advice to applicants across the grant lifecycle, solving problems and making decisions whilst raising complex cases where required (S&I).
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to produce clear written information and present guidance confidently to a range of audiences (S&I).
• Good organisational and time management skills, supporting the prioritisation, planning, organisation and delivery of a diverse and high quality portfolios of projects at place, including events, enquiries, and updates to public-facing information (S&I).
• Good analytical skills with the ability to gather, interpret and present information or data to support policy and process briefings, reports and decision-making (S&I).
• Sound judgement in handling information and liaising diplomatically with a wide range of partners, including adherence to UKRI and the European Commission mandated confidentiality and conflict of interest standards (S&I).
• Ability to build positive working relationships and work with colleagues and external stakeholders across the UK research community, supporting liaison with as required with Commission services, Executive Agencies, the UK Horizon Europe network of NCPs, and European NCP networks (S&I).

Benefits:

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.
• Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact.

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager.