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Senior Portfolio Managers - Missions


Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Salary: £46,743 per annum.

Band: UKRI Band E.

Contract Type: Open-ended.

Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)

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


Closing Date: Friday 20 March 2026.


Roles Available: 2


About Us


The R&D Missions Accelerator Programme represents an exceptional opportunity to create real world impact through R&D investment.


The programme will utilise a £500m budget to bring together the private sector, the third sectors and academia to collaboratively develop innovative solutions to public sector problems, resulting in new technologies, services, IP and more.


The programme has been designed to solve the key problems facing HMG’s five national Missions and enable delivery of the milestones in the Plan for Change.


The Government has identified the key problems faced by the UK, to which the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme has designed Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenges to develop solutions. Importantly, these solutions will then be directly utilised in addressing public sector needs.


The programme is currently developing its approaches across the Missions, and therefore by joining at this stage there’s a significant opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme.


Mission Specific Roles


Senior Portfolio Manager – Economic Growth

The Growth Mission is driving innovation to transform vital sectors of the UK economy. You'll be working with industry leaders, cultural institutions, government, and beyond to build digital marketplaces that revolutionise how we construct homes and infrastructure, and how creative content is shared and monetised. This means collaborating with Catapults and some of the UKs biggest museums to develop breakthrough technologies, business models, and regulatory frameworks.


You'll be at the forefront of shaping how construction becomes more efficient and sustainable, whilst helping the UK's world-leading creative sector unlock new revenue streams in the age of AI. This is your opportunity to drive economic growth, support new jobs, and position the UK as a global leader in innovation.


To find out more and apply, please visit Senior Portfolio Manager - Economic Growth (R&D MAP)


Associate Director - Clean Energy


The Clean Energy Mission is the UK’s response to climate change, with its twin focus on Clean Power by 2030 and Accelerating to Net Zero.


You’ll be looking at how new business models and approaches can unlock grid flexibility through AI and digital innovation, and developing new low-cost ultralong-duration energy storage solutions. Working with experts in system change such as the Energy Systems and Digital Catapults, market shapers at NESO and Elexon and leading industry players, you'll be investing in real-world solutions and growing UK-based innovators and skills, right at the forefront of building the flexible, resilient power grid that will deliver our clean energy superpower ambitions.


To find out more and apply, please visit Senior Portfolio Manager – Clean Energy (R&D MAP)


Main Outputs and Activities


  • You will sit at the interface between strategic leadership and delivery with strong communication skills to develop and implement key priorities, policies, and strategies.
  • You will lead the scoping and development, commissioning and management of high-quality innovation and research investments through collaborative partnerships across private and third sector, Government organisations, academia and wider partners.
  • You will be responsible for coordination and management of a portfolio of activities to maximise impact and knowledge exchange across a portfolio of investments.
  • You will build and develop strong relationships working across the R&D MAP, UKRI, 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 support to and deputise for senior staff as required and undertake periodic work on areas outside of the team as needed, supporting the wider work of R&D MAP.

This is not a comprehensive list, and we may require you to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post.


Personal Specification


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


Essential:


  • Degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience (S)
  • Significant experience in innovation or research management, commissioning or related roles within the research and innovation sector (S&I)
  • 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 (S&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)
  • Leadership and engagement skills, including an ability to provide clear vision, influence, negotiate and engage others to ensure objectives are met. (S&I)


Please note that some of the roles have additional criteria relating to the role, these can be found on their individual listing on the UKRI Careers Page.


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)


UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.


Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org


We do sponsor - 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 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.