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- Tasks: Lead the Clean Energy and Growth Programme, shaping strategies for a sustainable future.
- Company: Join UK Research and Innovation, a leader in research and innovation investment.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 30 days leave, and access to a Civil Service pension.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's net-zero ambitions and drive innovative change.
- Qualifications: Extensive leadership experience in multi-disciplinary programmes and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom (On-site)
Job Category: Project Management and Delivery
Apply Before: 03/29/2026, 10:55 PM
Job Identification: 2006
Posting Date: 03/02/2026, 04:24 PM
Hours: Full Time
COUNCIL: NERC
BASE LOCATION: Swindon with travel to other locations
CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended (Permanent)
HOURS: Full or Part Time (Min 0.8 FTE)
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Travel to other locations in the UK will be required
CLOSING DATE: 29 March 2026 (We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications)
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 (the seven Research Councils, plus Innovate UK, and Research England) with a shared vision to ensure the UK maintains its world‑leading position in research and innovation.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As Programme Director, Clean Energy and Growth, your systems view will shape UKRI’s contribution to the Governments Clean Energy sector plan and the UK’s broader net‑zero ambitions. You will provide clear and authoritative insight into this complex and competitive field, enabling informed research and innovation investments that attract industry leverage and maximise the economic and societal benefits of the clean energy transition.
Reporting to the Senior Responsible Owner for the Clean Energy and Growth, you will:
- Provide strategic leadership of this programme area across UKRI, ensuring coherent and high – impact investments that advance national research and innovation priorities.
- Work in close partnership with other Programme Directors across Industrial Strategy sectors, shaping cross – cutting initiatives where environmental and engineering sciences intersect with digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and national security.
- Build and maintain trusted, high – level relationships across government, academia, and industry, navigating diverse and competing perspectives to deliver authoritative, evidence – based decisions.
ABOUT YOU
You will already be an accomplished leader with the credibility to operate at senior levels across research, innovation, and public‑sector organisations. To succeed in this role, you will bring substantial senior leadership experience in delivering major, multi – disciplinary programmes or portfolios with clear accountability for outcomes at a Programme Director or similar level.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the development and effective implementation of the Clean Energy and Growth Programme strategy, with the SRO.
- Design and launch the Programme operating model, and appropriate governance arrangements including risk and benefits realisation.
- Be accountable for the successful delivery of the Programme as per the scope, outcomes and benefits agreed with the SRO.
- Lead external stakeholder engagement, facilitating support and partnerships for programme activities, including with government, domain experts, and industry in the net zero research and innovation landscape.
- Manage the programme budget of £202m over the spending review period 26/27‑29/30 including operational expenditure budget, ensuring compliance with UKRI policies and processes.
- Relationship management between the Programme, UKRI Councils, UKRI Executive Committee and UKRI Board.
- Broker effective collaboration across UKRI councils and with external partners to strengthen the UK environmental science and engineering ecosystem and accelerate societal impact and the contribution of the sector to growth.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
- Extensive leadership experience delivering multi ‑ faceted programmes at scale, including cross‑organisational initiatives, with a proven ability to drive coherence, alignment, and impact across organisational boundaries.
- Strong credibility with the R&I community: a PhD qualification or equivalent research and innovation experience, and recognised expertise that commands senior stakeholder confidence.
- Strategic thinker able to shape long‑term opportunities, translate government net zero priorities into actionable system‑wide plans at pace, and deliver measurable results that advance national objectives.
- Demonstrable capability in designing and implementing robust governance, assurance, and performance frameworks, including programme evaluation, risk management, and the stewardship of significant public budgets.
- Evidence of extensive, high‑level stakeholder networks and the ability to influence across complex and diverse environments, including effective engagement with senior government bodies and industry leaders.
- Deep understanding across the environmental and engineering sciences innovation pipeline including the scientific, technological, and commercial challenges accelerating the transition to net zero and translating research into real world impact.
INCENTIVES
- Flexible Working
- 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays
- Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme
- Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider
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.
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
IS8 Programme Director for Clean Energy and Growth in Swindon employer: UKRI
Contact Detail:
UKRI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IS8 Programme Director for Clean Energy and Growth in Swindon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the clean energy sector, attend relevant events, and connect with industry leaders on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching UKRI's current projects and initiatives in clean energy. Show us you’re not just interested in the role, but also passionate about making an impact in the sector.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your STAR method responses! We want to hear about your past experiences and how they relate to the Programme Director role. Be ready to showcase your leadership skills and strategic thinking.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the team at UKRI.
We think you need these skills to ace IS8 Programme Director for Clean Energy and Growth in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know the Role: Before you start writing, take a good look at the job description. Understand what the Programme Director for Clean Energy and Growth is all about. This will help us tailor your application to show how your experience aligns with the role.
Use the STAR Method: When crafting your cover letter, remember the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It’s a great way to structure your experiences and demonstrate how you meet the criteria. We want to see clear examples of your leadership and programme management skills!
Keep it Concise: Make sure your CV and cover letter are no longer than two A4 pages each. Use a minimum font size of 11. We appreciate clarity and brevity, so get straight to the point while showcasing your achievements.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our careers website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out for an informal chat before applying!
How to prepare for a job interview at UKRI
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the Clean Energy sector and UKRI's role in it. Brush up on recent developments, government policies, and how they align with net-zero ambitions. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience can contribute to their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in multi-disciplinary programmes. Use the STAR method to structure your responses, focusing on situations where you successfully led teams or projects, navigated complex stakeholder relationships, and achieved significant outcomes.
✨Build Relationships
Demonstrate your ability to build and maintain high-level relationships across various sectors. Think of specific instances where you collaborated with government, academia, or industry. Be ready to discuss how you can facilitate effective partnerships for the Clean Energy and Growth Programme.
✨Be Strategic
Articulate your strategic thinking skills by discussing how you've translated complex objectives into actionable plans. Prepare to explain how you would approach the development and implementation of the Clean Energy and Growth Programme strategy, ensuring alignment with national priorities.