Senior Science Portfolio Manager: Infrastructure in Swindon

Salary: £46,743 per annum

Band: UKRI Band E

Team: Infrastructure Team

Contract Type: Open ended

Hours: Full-time

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: Sunday 15th March 2026

About the role

Senior Science Portfolio Managers provide essential project management to infrastructure projects across the entirety of the Medical Research Council (MRC)'s remit, supporting delivery of a growing Infrastructure Fund portfolio at the MRC. In overseeing the development of green book business cases, Senior Science Portfolio Managers also work extensively across UKRI, with central government and other research funders, and across the UK research and innovation community. All team members work on site at least one day per week and attend additional face-to-face meetings as required, which may be in UKRI's London office, or with external stakeholders.

Your responsibilities

• Lead on the project management of at least one large infrastructure project within MRC's portfolio, organising regular project board meetings and ensuring effective project delivery.
• Reporting to UKRI and other stakeholders on projects, including management of risks on clew (formally CGR) and working with FBPs on financial management of projects.
• Maintaining strong working relationships with external project teams and colleagues across MRC/UKRI, proactively managing communications, project updates and announcements.
• Management of the business case process for infrastructure projects where appropriate and contribution to scoping of new projects for funding.
• Assisting senior colleagues in the review of research fields and the development and implementation of scientific initiatives and policy.
• Assisting senior colleagues with the preparation of briefing documents and other materials for committees, responses to parliamentary questions and/or other external queries.
• Development and management of funding schemes, including management of MRC's Equip panel and delivery of funding via UKRI's The Funding Service (TFS) platform.
• Contribute to ongoing MRC Infrastructure Team shared activities, such as responding to remit queries, management of shared mailboxes and leading team initiatives when required.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

• Relevant degree or demonstrable equivalent experience. (S)
• Experience of planning, managing, and delivering projects or programmes. (S&I)
• Understand the importance of managing and mitigating risks and issues and escalating where required. (I)
• Ability to effectively negotiate with and influence partners at all levels. (I)
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to independently plan, prioritise and progress multiple workstreams. (S&I)
• Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of handling budgets. (S)
• Effective collaborator and team member. (I)

Desirable

• Experience of preparing business cases in line with HMG green book requirements. (S)
• Experience managing funding panels and delivery of funding opportunities via TFS. (S&I)

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning.

• 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.
• Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance.

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact us. 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 UKRI - UK Research and Innovation.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

Within UKRI, the MRC seeks to improve human health by investing in world-class research, from fundamental science to early clinical trials and preventive medicine. Working in partnership with other UKRI councils, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and devolved administrations, the NHS, charities and industry, we are a dynamic organisation continually evolving and embracing new opportunities to achieve our mission first framed over a century ago.

With an annual budget of over £800m, MRC provides support both to individuals, through fellowships and grants, and to institutions, such as the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology and the Francis Crick Institute.