At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative funding strategies and manage impactful research portfolios in social science.
- Company: Join UKRI, a leader in research and innovation with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in social science while shaping the future of research funding.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing funding portfolios and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 46743 - 46743 £ per year.
Salary: 46,743 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Open-Ended.
Hours: Full time/ Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid Working Available.
Closing date: 24 August 2026.
About UKRI
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is an independent, non-departmental public body, which invests 8bn per annum in research and innovation. We bring together nine executive council partners with a shared vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
About the role
Senior Managers in the Advancing Knowledge in Social Science team will play a key role in delivering ESRC’s applicant‑led mode strategy. You will have responsibility for the effective delivery, management and monitoring of ESRC’s refreshed applicant‑led mode schemes. Key to the success of ESRC’s applicant-led mode strategy will be close and effective working with colleagues in the Grants Delivery Team and other relevant ESRC teams to launch and deliver a coordinated portfolio of funding opportunities.
You will have responsibility for a cluster of research fields within economic and social research where you will build and sustain strong relationships with the research community as well as with relevant government and industry partners. In doing so you will help drive a robust pipeline of proposals to ESRC’s applicant-led mode schemes that deliver high-quality, breakthrough social science. You will also lead the investment management and performance monitoring of a portfolio of applicant-led mode grants.
You may be asked to provide line management and professional development for staff at Grades D and C, including setting objectives, supervising workload allocation, and supporting capability building to achieve consistent, high-quality delivery of funding activities.
Your Responsibilities
- Work at the interface between strategic leadership and delivery with effective communication skills to develop and implement key priorities, policies, and strategies.
- Lead the scoping and development, commissioning, and management of high-quality innovation and research investments in applicant-led mode.
- Coordinate and manage a portfolio of activities to maximise impact and knowledge exchange across a portfolio of investments.
- Build and develop strong relationships working across the ESRC, UKRI and external partners to ensure that investments are robust, informed, and impactful.
- Work with others to ensure investments are appropriately managed, monitored, evaluated and their impact communicated.
- Provide inclusive and effective line management, where relevant, developing individuals to reach their full potential while proactively addressing any complex people and performance issues.
Personal Specification
- Relevant degree or equivalent knowledge and skills.
- Experience of managing complex funding or programme portfolios, including strategic prioritisation, investment oversight, and performance monitoring.
- Experience of design and delivery of competitive funding schemes, with a strong understanding of peer review and research funding processes.
- Strong understanding of the social science research and innovation landscape.
- Ability to build and influence senior stakeholder relationships across academia, government, and industry.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build trusted, productive relationships.
- Demonstrable people management experience, including resource planning, performance management, coaching, and conflict resolution.
- Ability to use data, evidence, and insight to inform decision-making, evaluate impact, and drive continuous improvement.
- Willingness to drive innovation in ESRC funding processes.
About hybrid working
We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home and on-site, in the office and at other UK locations.
Benefits
- 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.
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
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