Head of Design, Commercialisation and Innovation in Swindon

Salary: £58,589 per annum. Grade: UKRI Band F. Contract Type: Fixed-term (12 month parental cover). Hours: Full Time (flexible/part-time working considered). Closing date: 29 June 2026.

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).

Responsibilities

• Leadership: Providing leadership, direction and momentum for the teams 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.
• Portfolio management: Building and implementing mechanisms and processes to support effective 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. 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. 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: Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience. (S)
• 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)

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!

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