Description - Internal

UK Research and Innovation

Salary: £28,498 per annum
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum of 0.5)
Contract Type: Fixed Term (25th April 2025)
Location: Existing or local UKRI locations available

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. 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.

We are recruiting for a Compute Services Administrator who will be part of a cross-UKRI programme team, with reporting lines to UKRI’s Infrastructure team and those responsible for delivering the (AI Research Resource (AIRR) programme within STFC.

AIRR is a programme set up to deliver AI resource for the UK. AIRR consists of two centres, one based at Cambridge and one at Bristol (£300 million to launch first phase of new AI Research Resource – UKRI ) and are currently in the commissioning phase.

The role is critical to being able to fulfil UKRI’s responsibilities within the AIRR managed programme (over £300m investment in AI compute capacity has already been committed with anticipation of further funding of this scale in the next year) and represents a step-change in public compute capacity.

This year the DST Secretary of State commissioned Matt Clifford to develop an AI Opportunities Action Plan to consider key enablers, such as UK compute infrastructure, and requirements by 2030. You will have the opportunity to work closely with teams across UKRI and with DSIT on the implementation of the AIRR programme and relevant recommendations from the AI Opportunities Action Plan. As AIRR is an ongoing programme, we expect effort to be required beyond the lifetimes of this fixed term contracts.

For further questions please contact Richard.Gunn@ukri.org or Justin.OByrne@stfc.ukri.org for more information.

The key responsibilities of this role are to:

• work closely with the UKRI Infrastructure team, AIRR delivery team, and other key contacts within UKRI, DSIT and the AIRR service providers to provide general administrative support
• arrange meetings for members of teams internal to UKRI and external partners/AIRR service providers
• support the management of evaluation panels and funding calls, including grant processing and management
• liaise with AIRR service providers to ensure effective information exchange and handover (e.g. for the technical assessment stage)
• support the AI compute user forum, arranging meetings and ensuring information is shared appropriately

Please be aware that you will be expected to travel to in person meetings usually in London or Swindon, typically once every two weeks. In addition, you will be expected to visit the AIRR sites (currently Cambridge and Bristol) on occasion.

Person Specification

You will be reviewed at shortlisting (S) and/or Interview (I) stage per the below:

• experience of working in a similar administration environment, including support for funding calls and grant processing (S&I)
• clear verbal communication skills and strong writing skills to create clear, concise and professional written communications including emails, reports, memos and other business documents (S&I)
• the ability to be proactive and make necessary decisions under guidance as well as knowing the opportunities to raise tasks to senior staff (S&I)
• demonstrate capability to make informed, timely decisions and the willingness to lead on work that falls under your scope (S&I)
• strong planning and organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise at short notice to deliver tasks to agreed timelines (S&I)
• teamworking & Collaboration - The ability to work collaboratively and show a strong commitment to working effectively with others towards a shared goal (S&I)

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.

Agreed Organisation Information - DO NOT CHANGE

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

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.

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. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’ .

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. 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 and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.