Research Portfolio Manager at UKRI

Swindon, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Jul, 26

Salary

37841.0

Posted On

01 May, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Problem solving, Analytical skills, Communication skills, Teamwork, Strategic planning, Decision making, Influencing, Project management, Stakeholder management, Research administration, Adaptability, Creativity

Industry

Research Services

Description

Research Portfolio Manager Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Salary: £37,841 per annum Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE considered) Contract type: Open Ended Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire Grade: UKRI D Positions available: 6 Travel required Closing date: 19/05/2026, 23.55 Proposed interview date: Interviews will be held weeks commencing 15, 22 and 29 June. There will be no further stages of assessment. About us Are you passionate about research? Are you keen to work with researchers, business and Government to help support excellent research that delivers real impact for the economy and society? Portfolio managers assist with the development and delivery of ideas for future activities and build relationships with stakeholders within universities and industry, to ensure we fund research of the highest quality and implement new, innovative research programmes. Portfolio managers also play a key role in managing our funding competitions. Portfolio managers may be part of our Research, Strategy, Innovation & Partnerships or Operations directorates: * The Research directorate leads our support for discovery research, creating a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment to provide a variety of career pathways in research and innovations. Teams within this directorate cover the remits of Advanced Materials, Engineering, Healthcare Technologies, Information and Communication Technologies, Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences. The Research Infrastructure and Talent and Skills teams also contribute to delivering this part of EPSRC’s mission. * The Strategy directorate leads on promoting a positive culture of cross-UKRI working that builds on disciplinary strengths in the research base and the strengths of our partnerships. Portfolio Managers working in this directorate can expect to be placed in teams covering cross-UKRI priorities including AI and Robotics, Clean Energy, Future Communications, Quantum Technologies and Sustainable Manufacturing & Mobility. * The Innovation and Partnerships directorate leads and developing and managing our relationships with business, our international and regional engagement activities, public engagement and cross-cutting work on impact, resilience and security. * The Operations directorate oversees effective, efficient delivery of data analysis, governance, monitoring and evaluation, grants peer review and strategic planning across EPSRC, working closely with teams across UKRI. EPSRC is a team-based organisation, and no team or directorate works in silo. An important part of your role will be to work with others to deliver results. We recognise and value employees as individuals and aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance and a number of other benefits. EPSRC has a separate advert for fixed-term portfolio manager posts. Candidates are welcome to apply for both the open-ended and fixed-term posts. The assessment criteria are the same. If candidates apply for and are shortlisted for both, we will only interview you once, covering both positions. If you are successful in the open-ended recruitment, you will be offered an open-ended position first, although you will be asked if you would prefer one of the fixed-term posts. Hybrid Working These posts are based at our Swindon office, but hybrid working is available with regular office attendance and travel across UKRI offices. This post also requires travel to attend external visits and meetings. We welcome applications from candidates with special requirements. Purpose As an EPSRC Portfolio Manager, you will work with the engineering and physical sciences research community to achieve our aim to put the UK at the forefront of international research. You will be given responsibility for one of EPSRC’s portfolios, with the opportunity to manage your own projects and develop new activities. Your role will be varied: building relationships with universities and industry, managing our decision-making processes and policies to ensure we fund research and training of the highest quality, and planning and implementing community events to foster new, innovative, research programmes. You will work closely across EPSRC and UKRI teams, as well as often working with UK government departments. Interaction with external stakeholders including universities and businesses is an important part of the role. Main outputs and activities Your responsibilities will include: * Gathering, understanding and integrating internal and external information about the research and innovation landscape and the EPSRC portfolio * Operation of peer review and other formal decision-making processes * Managing strategic relationships with key stakeholders in universities, business and government, representing EPSRC and UKRI in external networks and meetings * Working across teams within EPSRC and across UKRI to ensure cross portfolio understanding and joint initiatives as appropriate as well as implementing strategy and other programmes of work * Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on activities and investments to feed into planning * Supporting senior colleagues with development of projects and implementation of plans, coordinating and operating processes supporting delivery across EPSRC. We will consider high-calibre individuals who can demonstrate the potential to succeed. You may be from a research or research support background, or have equivalent education, training, or professional development. You will be a creative thinker who works effectively independently and with colleagues, as well as an excellent communicator who can manage time effectively. Criteria (S) – Assessed at shortlisting (I) – Assessed at interview (S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview Assessment of the following essential skills will be made via shortlisting, and an in-person interview which will include a presentation: Essential * Problem solving and analytical skills, including a focus on successful outcomes (S) * Effective communication skills (verbal, presentational and written) (S, I) * Ability to work with others as part of a team, supporting others through behaviour and empathy to deliver goals (S, I) * Capability to demonstrate how activities contribute to the wider strategic objectives of an organisation and external stakeholders (S, I) * Experience in leading delivery of activities to achieve wider goals, including appropriate planning, making effective decisions and influencing others (S, I) * Creativity, adaptability and openness to change. (I) Desirable * Graduate (or equivalent) who can demonstrate the potential to succeed (S) Further Information About the Process The closing date for applications is 23.55, Tuesday 19 May 2026. Online applications only are accepted for this role. Please submit a CV and “Application Statement”. Each document should be no more than three pages. Across the two documents, you are expected to give evidenced examples that clearly explain how your abilities, experiences and skills demonstrate each of the shortlisting criteria listed above. While this is not the only approach, you are advised to familiarise yourself with the STAR methodology (see: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/STAR-method.htm [https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/STAR-method.htm]), which is a useful framework for providing these examples. Please ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria, exceeding the page limit or submission of an application without an ‘application statement’ may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted ‘application statement’ and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application. If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to an in-person interview that will take place at Polaris House in Swindon, planned for the weeks commencing 15 and 22 June 2026. This is the final stage of the selection process. Please note, dates are subject to change. At interview, you will be asked to provide evidenced examples that demonstrate that you are able to cover the interview criteria which are the same as the shortlisting criteria below. You will also be asked to give a short presentation on a topic that will be provided to you in advance. Successful candidates will be placed in a team following interviews. We will endeavour to provide information of team vacancies at interview stage should you wish to express a preference, though we will not be able to guarantee to honour all preferences. Your application and performance through this recruitment process may be used for other Portfolio Manager (Grade D) opportunities that arise within an appropriate timeframe. 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. Contact: For further information please contact Nick Cooper (EPSRC Co-Chair Assessment Centre and Joint Head of Talent and Skills) who is leading this recruitment nicholas.cooper@epsrc.ukri.org [nicholas.cooper@epsrc.ukri.org] 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! A list of benefits below: * 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) [https://www.discover.ukri.org/benefits-of-working-at-ukri/index.html] UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer. Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org. UKRI - UK Research and Innovation > > > > > 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 [http://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 [https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/benefits-of-working-for-ukri/]. > > > 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’. [https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/edi-in-the-workforce/#contents-list] > > > 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 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. Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) is a partner organisation within UKRI, providing essential research and skills for all sectors of the economy, and through this aims to enhance long-term societal well-being and prosperity. EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding this research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. They invest over £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects from mathematics to materials science and from information technology to structural engineering. Further details about EPSRC can be found here [https://www.ukri.org/about-us/epsrc/]

Responsibilities

The Portfolio Manager will manage research portfolios, build relationships with universities and industry, and oversee funding competitions to support high-quality research. They will also work across teams to implement strategy, monitor investments, and facilitate community events to foster innovative research programmes.