Head of Design, Commercialisation and Innovation in Swindon

Contract Type: Fixed-term – (12 month parental cover).

Hours: Full Time (flexible/part-time working considered).

Closing date: 29 June 2026.

Interviews: w/c 13th July 2026.

About the role

As the Head of Design, Commercialisation and Innovation, you will provide strategic and day to day leadership of AHRC’s work across design, commercialisation and innovation. You will be responsible for delivering key strategic investments and activities and shaping our future plans in line with UKRI and AHRC strategy.

You will head up a small team and work closely alongside our Creative Industries team, reporting to AHRC’s Associate Director for Creative Industries. You will be a member of AHRC’s Senior Management Team (SMT).

You will work flexibly and with a range of colleagues to support information sharing, business planning and reporting, and strategy and programme development.

Responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

• Providing leadership, direction and momentum for the team’s portfolios in the context of UKRI’s R&D strategy for the creative and cultural economy and AHRC’s strategy and vision.
• Coordinating the development and implementation of AHRC’s strategy for commercialisation.
• Being an active and engaged member of our Senior Management Team.
• Building and implementing mechanisms and processes to support effective the delivery of AHRC’s Design investments as components of the IS8 Creative Industries Programme.
• Supervising our Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition investment, ensuring maximum impact from its second phase.
• Managing AHRC’s relationship with the Design Council, to support strategic alignment, maximise impact and supervise our framework agreement, including the delivery of a year 2 gateway review.
• Leading the ongoing development of a commercialisation and innovation portfolio for AHRC, taking into account organisational strategy and priorities
• Supporting good governance through oversight of appropriate MEL, reporting and risk management across the team’s remit.
• Being responsible for programme budgets and ensuring good budget management.
• Internal and external engagement.
• Building links across UKRI to support delivery of the IS8 Creative Industries Programme and to encourage cross-disciplinary engagement with Design and arts and humanities innovation.
• Playing a leading role in brokering and maintaining relationships with key partners and collaborators externally.
• Working across Directorates to ensure commercialisation strategy is embedded and aligned to applicant-led commercialisation funding opportunities.

Team management

• Running a programme team, ensuring all members are supported to perform their roles well.
• Informing ongoing resource planning to support the delivery of your portfolio over the longer term.
• Ensuring close collaboration between the Design and Innovation team and the Creative Industries team, and strong cross-AHRC team working.

Person Specification

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

Qualifications

Knowledge/experience.

• Knowledge and understanding of the research funding landscape, including AHRC strategy and programmes and the DCI priorities and portfolio. (S&I)
• Experience of leading the development and delivery of major, complex projects and/or programmes of public investment. (S&I)
• Experience of leading people and teams, including the ability to engage and influence, to collaborate at all levels and to handle multiple perspectives. (S&I)

Skills

• Critical thinking skills, including the ability to develop strategy in a fast-paced, changing landscape, and confidence in evidence-based decision-making and horizon scanning. (S&I)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly. (S&I)
• Problem-solving skills and an ability to work proactively and flexibly to achieve objectives. (S&I)

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:

• 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 Recruitment@ukri.org

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. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org or Careers@ukri.org.