- Job Category Research Programme and Funding Management
- Apply Before 07/15/2026, 10:59 PM
- Job Identification 2472
- Posting Date 06/24/2026, 03:54 PM
- Job Shift Day
Job Description
Salary: £36,650 per annum
Hours: Full time or part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available)
Grade: UKRI Band D
Closing: 15th July 2026 23:59
About the Role
The Investment Manager will provide programme‑wide operational, coordination, and delivery support across the Creative Industries Clusters portfolio. Working closely with Senior Investment Managers (SIMs), you will take ownership of a range of tasks and processes essential to the smooth running of the programme.
This role will lead on specific operational workstreams such as event coordination, administration, communications support, procurement processes, MEL data coordination, reporting, and risk tracking. You will be a key member of the CI Clusters delivery team, ensuring consistent, high‑quality programme management across a complex and expanding portfolio.
Main Responsibilities
- Provide programme‑wide operational support
- Coordinate day‑to‑day processes, documentation, workflow and team operations.
- Maintain trackers, logs, schedules and programme information for SIM oversight.
- Key workstreams
- Event management – planning, logistics, materials, coordination and follow‑up.
- Administration – meeting organisation, inbox management, minutes, scheduling and document handling.
- Communications support – drafting updates, collating content and supporting internal and external communication workflows.
- Procurement and commissioning support – coordinating procurement activity in line with UKRI processes.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) – coordinating data collection and evidence returns; maintaining MEL materials.
- Risk management support – updating risk logs, tracking issues, and raising concerns to SIMs.
- Reporting – gathering portfolio information and preparing summaries for SIM review.
- Support SIM‑led investment and relationship management
- Coordinate operational communication with award teams to support SIMs who lead senior relationships.
- Prepare briefing materials, meeting notes and information summaries to support SIM‑level engagement.
- Track and deliver follow‑up actions from cluster‑related meetings.
- Contribute to wider team activity
- Support cross‑AHRC and cross‑UKRI coordination, including information gathering, meeting preparation, and participation in programme‑wide initiatives.
- Collaborate effectively across AHRC directorates and with external collaborators as required.
- Provide flexible delivery support as the Clusters portfolio evolves.
About You
You have an enthusiasm for the creative industries and a demonstrable understanding of the research funding landscape. You are solution‑oriented, proactive and have experience delivering and managing funding activities in the research and innovation sector, or in a commercial or policy setting (e.g., Government or Civil Service).
Assessment Criteria
- Experience supporting programmes, projects or portfolios in a complex environment (assessed at shortlisting and interview).
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines (assessed at interview).
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to draft clear documentation and coordinate information (assessed at shortlisting and interview).
- Ability to gather, organise and analyse information to support reporting, risk tracking and MEL activities (assessed at shortlisting and interview).
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collectively across teams and with diverse partners (assessed at shortlisting and interview).
- High attention to detail and a commitment to delivering a high‑quality service (assessed at shortlisting and interview).
Benefits
- In‑depth knowledge of the UK and international arts & humanities research landscape.
- Opportunities to work with colleagues across UK Research & Innovation and other research funding organisations.
- Experience in research administration and an understanding of the UK higher education sector.
- Opportunities to work within particular subject disciplines and thematic areas of the research that AHRC funds.
- Understanding of the work of the AHRC community and expertise in our thematic research portfolio and priority funding areas.
- 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.
- Defined Benefit pension scheme.
- 30 days annual leave allowance (in addition to public holidays).
- Additional benefits and well‑being initiatives facilitate a great work‑life balance.
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
We encourage applications from all sections of the community and promote equality of opportunity in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. As holders of Disability Confident Employer status, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Final appointments will be subject to pre‑employment screening.
