• Job Description

  Req#: 240000YW

  SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER

  SALARY: £43,116 Per Annum
  HOURS: Full Time or Part Time (Min 0.8 FTE)
  CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term (Jun - Dec 2025)
  LOCATION: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
  GRADE: UKRI Band E

  
  CLOSING DATE: 21 NOV 24
  PROPOSED INTERVIEW DATE: 11 & 13 DEC 24

  ABOUT US

  ROLE IN ENVIRONMENT TEAM (FIXED TERM UNTIL 30 JUNE 2025)

  You will be a Senior Research Portfolio Manager within ESRC’s Environment team, leading a portfolio and supporting the development of new ESRC investments, in particular those relating to environment, climate change and Net Zero, the urban environment and transport. For example, leading on UKRI’s involvement in the Horizon Europe Driving Urban Transitions partnership, and associated funding through this.

  ROLE IN THE DATA STRATEGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM (FIXED TERM UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2025)

  ESRC is a major funder of research infrastructures for creating, collecting and sharing the high-quality data that researchers, policymakers and practitioners use address social challenges, maximise public benefit and advance the UK social science. You will be a Senior Portfolio Manager leading on one or more of the team’s major data infrastructure portfolios such as Election Studies across the UK and International Social Surveys, e.g. the European Social Survey.

  ROLE IN THE WORK, EDUCATION AND SKILLS TEAM (FIXED TERM UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2025)

  You will be a Senior Research Portfolio Manager in the ESRC’s Work, Education & Skills team and be responsible for the portfolio of investments covered by the UKRI ‘Creating Opportunities, Improving Outcomes’ strategic theme and for providing secretariat support for the theme. This is an exciting opportunity to work with colleagues across UKRI’s research councils to coordinate, convene and deliver a variety of research and innovation programmes.
  
  

  PURPOSE

  We are looking to appoint a dynamic, driven individual to lead a portfolio of research or research infrastructure and support the development of new ESRC and UKRI investments. We are seeking someone with an understanding of the research and innovation sector, and an enthusiasm for the vital role played by the social sciences in addressing different societal challenges.

  You will be a key member of a team that is scoping new opportunities to address different societal challenges, commissioning research or data collection, and improving impact of ESRC’s and UKRI research. This will be in collaboration and partnership with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and other research funders. The role/s will include both research activities relevant to ESRC’s and Creating Opportunities Improving Outcomes broader portfolios and priorities.

  Collaborative working is therefore crucial and includes activities with partners and stakeholders inside and outside the UK. Working with the wider stakeholder community, the post holder will ensure that relationships are built and maintained, thus enabling social science to inform national and international agendas, and to enable research to realise the widest possible economic and social benefits.

  MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

  · You will lead the scoping and development, commissioning and management of high quality research investments through collaborative partnerships across UKRI, other Government organisations and wider partners;

  · You will lead the ESRC’s input to commissioning and oversight of relevant activities led by other funders which ESRC has a stake in, and represent UKRI and ESRC at a range of external meetings;

  · You will be responsible for coordination and management of a portfolio of research activities to maximise impact and knowledge exchange across a portfolio of investments;

  · You will build and develop strong relationships working across ESRC, UKRI, the academic community, government departments, other funders and stakeholders to ensure that investments are robust, informed and impactful;

  · You will work with others to ensure investments are appropriately governed, monitored, evaluated and their impact communicated;

  · You will provide to and deputise for the team head as required and undertake periodic work on areas outside of the team as needed, supporting the wider work of ESRC;

  · You will line manage or activity manage one or more members of staff within ESRC - supporting teams and individuals to achieve objectives through periods of change.

  This is not a comprehensive list, and we may require you to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post. Please note that some of the activities listed above may only apply to specific roles advertised as part of this posting.

  ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

  (S) – ASSESSED AT SHORTLISTING

  (I) – ASSESSED AT INTERVIEW

  (S&I) – ASSESSED AT BOTH SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEW

  ESSENTIAL:

  · Degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience (S)

  · Demonstrable experience of and enthusiasm for the application of social science research to social and economic challenges of our time(S&I)

  · Experience in research management, research commissioning, research infrastructure or related roles within the research and innovation sector (S)

  · Proven interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively and to form strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at different levels of seniority (S&I)

  · Sophisticated analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills and an ability to think strategically (I)

  · Planning and prioritisation skills, with experience of independently balancing competing demands, and delivering high quality outputs at pace (S&I)

  · Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) with a track record of producing clear, concise and accurate presentations and written documentation for a wide range of audiences (S&I)

  · Experience and understanding of the skills and challenges associated with managing and developing staff (S&I)

  DESIRABLE:

  · Leadership and engagement skills, including an ability to provide clear vision, influence, negotiate and engage others to ensure objectives are met.

  · Experience of working across different research areas and of interdisciplinary collaboration

  LOCATION

  This post is based at our Swindon office, but we operate a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and occasionally at external locations, including the potential for international travel. As we recognise the benefits of in-person working, individual teams have set a minimum expectation that they will work in person together in the Swindon office. On occasions where there is a business need, you may be required to attend the office more than the minimum expectation (e.g., for training, events, or team days). Expectations will be set out at interview and offer, and all working arrangements will be considered. Please note that this role will require applicants to undertake some level of travel.

  CONTACTS

  If you would like to discuss the role:

  · For the role in the Environment team, please contact with Kim Fuggle, Head of Environment, at kim.fuggle@ersc.ukri.org

  · For the role in the Data Strategy and Infrastructure team, please contact Kieran Jarrett, at kieran.jarrett@esrc.ukri.org

  · For the role in the Work, Education and Skills team, please contact Diana Martin, Head of Work, Education and Skills, at diana.martin@esrc.ukri.org

  APPLICATIONS

  Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the attachments section (ignore free textbox for cover letter under ‘Experience’ section) which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for 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 process.

  Cover letters and CV’s should be no longer than two sides of A4 in length.

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  DEVELOPING TALENT :

  We are committed to developing employees in their roles throughout their career. Learning and development plans enable employees to continue their professional development through training and development opportunities such as e-learning, classroom training and on-the-job experiences. We encourage our employees to share their learning across teams and organisations.

  BENEFITS:

  UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

  - Flexible Working

  - 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays

  - Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme

  - Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

  Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

  FIXED TERM ASSIGNMENTS

  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 and associated guidance Recruitment at UKRI – policy and information (sharepoint.com) 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.

  About the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

  The ESRC is the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science. It supports the development and training of the UK’s future social scientists and funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policy-makers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective.

  For more information about ESRC, please visit https://esrc.ukri.org/

  
  About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

  UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

  Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led 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 for 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.

• About the company

  UK Research and Innovation is a non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom that directs research and innovation funding, funded through the science budget of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

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