Programme Manager: Our Future Health

Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 30 hours per week)

Contract Type: 12 months Fixed Term (potential to extend to 2030 subject to business case approval) 

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

Closing Date: Sunday 28th September 2025

 Role purpose:

We are looking for an experienced Programme Manager to support the delivery of the next phase of Our Future Health and other strategic projects within the MRC Major Investments Team.  This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to support the development and implementation of a high-profile programme that will deliver real-world, potentially transformational impact in improving future health and contribute to the development of other projects that will make major contributions to delivering MRC strategic priorities.

• Act as the day-to -day point of contact for OFH within MRC to support delivery in line with the requirements of the Business Case and timely monitoring and reporting  
• Support budget management and forecasting 
• Work within the agreed Governance structure to identify and mitigate risks to the Programme 
• Assimilate intelligence or feedback and working with stakeholders to resolve or prioritise competing issues pertinent to programme delivery.  
• Develop an excellent understanding of OFH and act as a subject matter expert within MRC and UKRI
• Work with other MRC and UKRI programme managers to share good practice and build organizational knowledge of complex project management
• Provide input to briefing for the MRC Executive Chair, MRC Senior Executive Team, UKRI, DSIT, and DHSC 
• Contribute to the development and delivery of other MRC Major Investments and associated activities as required.

Person Specification

• A degree in an area of science relevant to the MRC
• Significant research (in academia, industry or NHS) or research-related experience (e.g. research funding/strategy management or publishing), demonstrating strong understanding of the biomedical/health research landscape and a broad understanding of scientific issues
• Experience of planning, managing, and delivering projects or programmes in a multi-stakeholder environment
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to independently plan, prioritise and progress multiple workstreams
• Ability to handle, analyse and present complex information (scientific, financial, policy, ethical).
• Excellent written communication skills, able to tailor style to a range of scientific and executive, and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of handling budgets. 
• Effective collaborator and team member

The post holder will be based in the Swindon Office but will be required to travel to London on occasion and to attend meetings/workshops in other UK and/or overseas locations. 

The MRC operates flexible working between office locations and home, in line with business needs and maintaining a strong office presence.

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer. 

Benefits 

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! 

Please apply online via the 'Apply' button, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org 

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