Programme Officer in Swindon

Salary: £36,650 per annum

Hours: Full-time/Part-time (minimum 0.8 FTE)/Job-share considered

Contract Type: Open Ended

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire or Polaris House, Swindon (We offer flexible working arrangements, including the provision for some remote working)

Together, our scientist, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it\'s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you\'re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) develops and exploits frontier research in particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics and space science through activities at UK universities and its own national laboratories, working internationally through a range of long-term collaborative research projects. STFC also builds and operates many of the UK\'s largest multi-disciplinary research facilities at our research and innovation campuses.

Our Strategy, Planning and Communications (SPC) Directorate brings together the essential functions that are needed to help shape, communicate and monitor progress against STFC\'s strategic plans. Our role is to enable the organisation to determine its strategic direction and translate this into a coherent set of plans, communicating these across the organisation.

In SPC, open communication and mutual support are encouraged. We are always looking to build positive change in our Directorate: our teams cultivate a safe environment and are ambitious in our actions to challenge inequities when we find them.

About the role:

This position with be a split role that will cover two core areas of responsibility within SPC, sitting between the International and Strategy teams:

• National Contact Point (NCP) for Research Infrastructure (RI) (50%):

NCPs work to increase and promote successful UK engagement and participation in the Horizon Europe programme. The UK network of NCPs is based within UKRI and their responsibilities include answering queries, supporting partner and funding identification, providing assistance throughout the application and assessment process, and influencing wider programme priorities. This role focuses on the delivery of the NCP for RI specifically and STFC are under contract from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to deliver this.

Key responsibilities of the NCP for RI role include:

• Supporting UK participation in Horizon Europe programmes and acting as the subject matter expert for the UK on European programmes relevant for RI.
• Provision of a helpdesk service to the UKRI community.
• Producing and delivering regular communications materials and awareness raising activities.
• Building relationships with relevant bodies and networks nationally and internationally including research organisations, government departments, and other countries\' NCPs.

• Supporting the influencing and shaping of future priorities for RI aspects of the Horizon Europe programme, through attending Programme Committee meetings and disseminating information with UK RI networks.
  Reporting on activities to DSIT, and providing briefings to DSIT for relevant meetings and engagement events.

• Wider infrastructure and strategic planning activities (50%):

The UKRI Infrastructure Fund supports investments in new, large-scale infrastructures that encourage step changes in research and innovation capability. STFC receives funding for a wide portfolio of projects from the Infrastructure Fund.

• Support for the management of STFC\'s current and future Infrastructure Fund project portfolio, including supporting the development of bids for future rounds of the Infrastructure Fund and working closely with existing projects on implementation and monitoring.
• Helping to coordinate information gathering from across the STFC and multidisciplinary communities to input into the ongoing development and implementation of the UKRI Infrastructure Roadmap.
• Supporting the Secretariat to the cross-UKRI Facilities Strategic Advisory Group (FSAG): organisation and delivery of meetings, agenda planning and supporting the drafting of meeting papers, reporting to a wide range of stakeholders and ensuring that actions are followed-up.
• Collaborating with colleagues across UKRI to support cross-UKRI infrastructure planning.
• Supporting the coordination and development of STFC\'s input into wider strategic planning processes as necessary.

Whilst these are the core areas of responsibility, this role will also work flexibly across SPC to provide resource where required, as informed by the Directorate\'s priorities.

Person Specification

The criteria below will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)

• Understanding of how activities sit within the wider strategic context, and in turn the ability to manage and deliver activities in this context. (I)
• Ability to delegate where appropriate and make informed decisions including being able to articulate a clear vision, set priorities, solve individual and/or team problems, and inspire others towards a shared goal. (S&I)
• Strong planning and organisational skills and the ability to prioritise conflicting tasks at short notice to meet organisational priorities, as well as thoroughness and attention to detail. (S&I)
• Effective team player who demonstrates a strong commitment to working with others, including the ability to develop relationships and networks with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels. (S&I)
• Appreciation of the wider R&I landscape in the UK and globally. (I)
  Ability to work flexibly, including a willingness to travel in the UK and abroad as the role requires. (S)

To apply for this position, please submit a CV, and a covering letter in which you describe your motivations for applying and how you meet the criteria in the person specification. You are advised to write no more than 3 pages, and applications without a covering letter will be excluded from shortlisting. CVs should be no more than 3 pages long.

Additional Information

We encourage this role to operate using a hybrid working model. The post holder will be encouraged to work across all of STFC\'s sites, and will focus significant time working at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Harwell, Oxfordshire) and Polaris House (Swindon¸ Wiltshire). Depending on location, there may be occasional travel with the costs covered by STFC. The post is available as full time, part-time or job-share. Applicants should be open as to their desired working pattern when they apply.

Candidates may have backgrounds in research, industry, or the third sector, including those considering returning to work from a career break, health change or caring responsibility.

Please contact , FAO the recruiting manager if you have any questions, including working patterns and travel requirements.

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days\' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe\'s largest research organisations, this is a place where there\'s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what\'s possible.

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 or contact