Senior Programme Manager, Talent & Skills

at  Natural Environment Research Council NERC

CLOSING DATE:09/02/25

This post provides oversight and leadership for NERC Fellowship investment - one of the three core areas of activities within Talent & Skills team (alongside Landscape and Focal Studentships). Alongside the core activity in leading the Fellowship portfolio, NERC is seeking an individual who will be fundamental in taking a lead role in shaping NERC’s Fellowship offering in the context of UKRI and greater collective fund opportunities.
Whilst the focus of the role will be on Fellowships the post holder will be required to work with colleagues across the Talent and Skills team to accommodate and respond to resource needs.
Therefore, primary focus of this role is the leadership and management of NERC’s Fellowship portfolio including:

SPM: leading role

• Management and delivery of NERC’s Fellowship and related activities (including Independent Research Fellowships, Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships and Training Short Courses).
• Leadership and management of NERC’s Fellowship portfolio including financial management, cross council interactions, post-award relationship management, reporting and evaluation and strategic development of the portfolio.
• Oversight and management of NERC’s Fellowship related data to include analysing investments (funding outcomes, outputs and impacts), data gathering and analysis.
• Strategic input to, and development of, the NERC Fellowship portfolio as part of UKRI Collective talent working.
• Influence and oversight to maximise NERC opportunity through fellowship funding working with cross-UKRI colleagues to ensure interest and engagement of the environmental science community.
• Lead on NERC’s contribution to the UKRI Future Leader’s Fellowship (FLF) scheme to include oversight of the assessment of proposals for funding and providing strategic input to the development of the scheme as it relates to NERC’s wider portfolio.
• Provide high quality expertise and advice in areas of responsibility informed by the latest developments in the area, evidence and engagement with relevant external stakeholders.
• Activity manage Programme Manager(s), Assistant Programme Manager(s) and administrative support staff in order to achieve NERC’s delivery goals.

The post-holder will also contribute to strategic direction of the Talent & Skills activity and, where required, deputise for the Head of Talent & Skills.

Other secondary tasks may include:

• Maintain awareness of developments in higher education funding policy.
• Input into policy and strategy – including the development of partnerships and cross-council (UKRI) working.
• Strengthen NERC’s dialogue between and within the NERC training community (NERC, fellows, fellowship providers and stakeholders).
• Respond to policy queries from the community.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Degree, preferably in environmental sciences, or equivalent relevant qualifications or expertise (S)
• Excellent and demonstrable understanding of how research and innovation system functions in the context of skills and training and how this relates to UKRI agendas, policy, business and societal need. (S/I)
• Demonstrable experience and evidence of developing and managing complex, multi-partner grants or projects preferably in relation to skills and training. (S/I)
• Demonstrable experience and evidence of strategic level thinking (S/I)
• Ability to resolve complex problems, balancing a number of factors. (I)
• Demonstrable track record in influencing effectively (both verbal and written media) across teams, wider organisation and external stakeholder communities. (S/I)
• Ability to build links and effective working relationships. (I)
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task, work to deadlines, and work flexibly on own initiative. (I)
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and across organisations with people of all levels. (I)

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Creativity and motivation to develop and take forward new ideas. (I)
• Experience and exposure to investment case construction, writing and development in a public and/or private sector context. (I)
• Experience of working with senior academics and policy makers, other public sector bodies and businesses. (S/I)
• Understanding of Grants management systems. (S/I)

SPM: leading role

• Management and delivery of NERC’s Fellowship and related activities (including Independent Research Fellowships, Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships and Training Short Courses).
• Leadership and management of NERC’s Fellowship portfolio including financial management, cross council interactions, post-award relationship management, reporting and evaluation and strategic development of the portfolio.
• Oversight and management of NERC’s Fellowship related data to include analysing investments (funding outcomes, outputs and impacts), data gathering and analysis.
• Strategic input to, and development of, the NERC Fellowship portfolio as part of UKRI Collective talent working.
• Influence and oversight to maximise NERC opportunity through fellowship funding working with cross-UKRI colleagues to ensure interest and engagement of the environmental science community.
• Lead on NERC’s contribution to the UKRI Future Leader’s Fellowship (FLF) scheme to include oversight of the assessment of proposals for funding and providing strategic input to the development of the scheme as it relates to NERC’s wider portfolio.
• Provide high quality expertise and advice in areas of responsibility informed by the latest developments in the area, evidence and engagement with relevant external stakeholders.
• Activity manage Programme Manager(s), Assistant Programme Manager(s) and administrative support staff in order to achieve NERC’s delivery goals

Other secondary tasks may include:

• Maintain awareness of developments in higher education funding policy.
• Input into policy and strategy – including the development of partnerships and cross-council (UKRI) working.
• Strengthen NERC’s dialogue between and within the NERC training community (NERC, fellows, fellowship providers and stakeholders).
• Respond to policy queries from the community