Chief of Strategy in Bristol

Research England is a council of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), responsible for funding and supporting research and knowledge exchange in higher education institutions across England. We shape the conditions for a vibrant, globally competitive research and innovation system that supports national prosperity, societal advancement, and the public good. Research England also leads several cross‑cutting functions on behalf of UKRI and acts to enable these in delivering UKRI’s mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth. We work in close partnership with UKRI, government, universities, and other stakeholders to ensure the sector is equipped to address national priorities, respond to emerging challenges, and drive long‑term impact.

This is a newly created, senior executive leadership role, designed to enhance the strategic capacity of Research England and position the organisation for the future. The role supports a number of high‑priority projects and programmes responding to challenges facing higher education institutions in England and leads organisational change within the wider context of UKRI strategy and direction, including the integration of additional responsibilities and functions into Research England’s governance and operating models. In addition to leading strategic development, the postholder will hold executive responsibility for translating strategy into organisational design, change delivery, and sustained implementation across Research England.

The role combines system‑level strategic leadership with ownership of organisational change and transformation, including accountability for shaping and delivering a future‑state operating model aligned to UKRI strategy. You will work closely with the Executive Chair, Research England Council, and Senior Leadership Team to lead the development and embedding of Research England’s long‑term strategic direction, while also supporting key projects that address sector‑wide issues. This role goes beyond high‑level vision‑setting: it is about shaping the system we operate in, aligning internal and external agendas, and enabling strategic delivery at scale. The role combines thought leadership with practical delivery, embedding strategic thinking into the core of the organisation, connecting it to real‑world execution, and strengthening Research England’s voice and influence across the sector.

The role will establish and lead a small, focused strategic function bringing together strategy, insight, and organisational planning capability. This will include a new senior strategy role reporting into the Chief of Strategy. The precise configuration, resourcing, and line management arrangements of this team will be developed following appointment, taking account of existing capabilities across Research England and UKRI, and with a view to minimising duplication and disruption. The Chief of Strategy will take a phased and proportionate approach to organisational change, recognising the wider leadership context and the need for continuity and stability. Initial focus will be on priority areas where strategic coordination and change leadership add the greatest value, while laying foundations for longer‑term capability development and leadership succession.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of Research England’s long‑term strategy, ensuring clarity of purpose and alignment with the wider UKRI mission.
• Shape the organisation’s strategic posture and evolution, enabling agility, foresight, and long‑term impact in a changing environment.
• Lead Research England’s organisational change agenda, working in close partnership with the Executive Chair, Senior Leadership Team, and UKRI Professional Services.
• Provide strategic leadership, coordination, and delivery oversight for change programmes, operating within agreed governance arrangements and respecting existing accountabilities for corporate, people, digital, and financial transformation.
• Work with the Executive Chair, Senior Leadership Team, and Council to ensure strategic priorities are coherent, credible, and forward‑looking.
• Translate strategic direction into organisational planning and delivery frameworks that support sustained impact and accountability.

Execution and Organisational Alignment

• Drive strategic coordination across directorates to ensure alignment between strategic intent and operational activity.
• Identify and remove barriers to progress across teams, ensuring clarity of decision‑making and consistency of delivery.
• Lead the governance of major strategic programmes and transformation efforts, supporting colleagues to deliver with purpose and pace.
• Foster a culture of outcome‑focused leadership and shared responsibility at the senior level.
• Be accountable not only for the design of strategic and organisational change, but for ensuring it is implemented effectively and embedded into business‑as‑usual operations, overseeing the full lifecycle of priority initiatives from concept through to delivery and benefits realisation.

Strategic Insight, Evidence and Foresight

• Build Research England’s strategic insight capability across directorates, drawing on data, research, and foresight to inform decisions, shape policy, and strengthen funding strategies.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive approach to strategic intelligence, including horizon scanning, scenario planning, and impact evaluation.
• Oversee coordination of strategic investment planning and appraisal, benefits realisation, and outcomes assessment to ensure alignment with Research England’s mission and wider UKRI strategy.
• Ensure Research England has the internal capability and external partnerships needed to operate as an evidence‑led, insight‑rich organisation.
• Embed strategic thinking and the use of evidence into business planning and decision‑making at all levels.

Data and Evidence Strategy

• Strengthen the organisation’s ability to generate, analyse, and apply data and evidence to inform strategic decision‑making, investment planning, outcomes evaluation, and policy development.
• Integrate data and evidence functions to strengthen coordination, governance, and the organisation’s ability to demonstrate impact and value to stakeholders, including working with external partners where appropriate.

External Influence and System Engagement

• Deputise for the Executive Chair and represent Research England at the highest levels across UKRI, government, funding bodies, and the wider research and innovation community.
• Shape and maintain influential relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment between organisational goals and system‑wide priorities.
• Ensure Research England’s voice is connected, credible, and influential in national and sector‑wide forums, coordinating external engagement and communication activities.
• Champion collaboration and coherence across institutions, agencies, and departments to drive collective impact.

Leadership Support and Delegated Authority

• Represent Research England in senior strategic and leadership forums with delegated authority from the Executive Chair.
• Oversee priority projects requiring cross‑organisational coordination, enabling the Executive Chair to focus on system‑wide leadership.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of high‑impact initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy, stakeholder expectations, and sector needs.
• Strengthen the cohesion and effectiveness of the Senior Leadership Team through strategic alignment and operational oversight.

Person Specification

• A strong track record of shaping and delivering organisational strategy, ideally with exposure to system‑wide transformation.
• Demonstrable experience of holding executive accountability for organisational change and transformation, including operating within complex governance environments.
• Experience of developing and managing data, evidence, and insights to enhance system performance and results reporting.
• Deep understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape, including funding, policy, and public value.
• Extensive knowledge of sector challenges, with a strong grasp of Research England’s role, priorities, and work programmes.
• Specialist senior expertise in university financial, administrative, and research management environments, including REF requirements and sector data usage.

Skills and Capabilities

• Outstanding strategic thinker with the ability to navigate complexity and distil it into clear direction.
• Highly skilled at building trust and relationships at senior levels across government, academia, and funding bodies.

Leadership Style and Attributes

• Leads through influence and shared purpose, empowers others, and adapts confidently in complex, evolving environments.

Why Join Us?

• Take on a newly created executive role at the heart of the UK’s research and innovation system.
• Work alongside the Executive Chair and senior colleagues to shape the future of Research England.
• Lead strategy, transformation, and insight in a nationally significant organisation.
• Operate at the interface of research, policy, and investment with real influence on public funding and national capability.
• Be part of a values‑led leadership team committed to excellence, equity, and the public good.

Incentives UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

• Flexible Working
• 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays
• Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme
• Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

Application Guidance

We encourage you to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in your cover letter to clearly demonstrate how your experience meets each of the ‘person specification’ criteria outlined in the job description. Please ensure your CV and cover letter are no longer than two A4 pages each, using a minimum font size of 11. Once submitted, your application cannot be edited via our careers website; however, if you encounter any issues or need to update your documents, please contact us at SeniorRecruitment@ukri.org.

Other Information

If you’d like to have an informal chat about the role before applying, you’re welcome to get in touch with us at seniorrecruitment@ukri.org.