Senior Portfolio Manager

Job Description: 

Hours: Full time/Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE).

Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid Working Available.

About the role

• Working directly with the Head of Economics and the Heads of Social Research you will have responsibility for the effective delivery, management and monitoring of ESRC’s refreshed applicant-led mode schemes.
• Key to the success of ESRC’s launch and deliver a coordinated portfolio of funding opportunities.
• You will have responsibility for a cluster of research fields within economic and social research where you will build and sustain strong relationships with the research community as well as with relevant government and industry partners.
• You may be asked to provide line management and professional development for staff at Grades D and C.
• You will also ensure strong connectivity with relevant UKRI priority programmes and other parts of ESRC’s investment portfolio.
• You will be expected to adopt innovation in funding processes, working to continually identify improved ways of funding and supporting applicant-led research. 

We are particularly interested in how you work, not just what you have done. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate curiosity, creativity and a strong innovation mentality and who apply what they know in a way that fully aligns with UKRI values. 

Your Responsibilities

• Work at the interface between strategic leadership and delivery with effective communication skills to develop and implement key priorities, policies, and strategies.
• Lead the scoping and development, commissioning, and management of high-quality innovation and research investments in applicant-led mode.
• Coordinate and manage a portfolio of activities to maximise impact and knowledge exchange across a portfolio of investments.
• Build and develop strong relationships working across the ESRC, UKRI and external partners to ensure that investments are robust, informed, and impactful.
• Work with others to ensure investments are appropriately managed, monitored, evaluated and their impact communicated.
• Support and deputise for senior staff as required and undertake periodic work on areas outside of the team as needed, supporting the wider work of UKRI.
• Provide inclusive and effective line management.

Personal Specification

Essential

• Relevant degree or equivalent knowledge and skills (S).
• Experience of managing complex funding or programme portfolios, including strategic prioritisation, investment oversight, and performance monitoring (S&I).
• Experience of design and delivery of competitive funding schemes, with a strong understanding of peer review and research funding processes (S).
• Strong understanding of the social science research and innovation landscape (S&I).
• Ability to build and influence senior stakeholder relationships across academia, government, and industry to shape funding proposal pipelines and partnerships (S&I).
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build relationships both within UKRI and other relevant sectors (S&I).
• Demonstrable people management experience (I).
• Ability to use data, evidence, and insight to inform decision-making, evaluate impact, and drive continuous improvement (S&I).
• Willingness to drive innovation in ESRC funding processes (S&I).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. Committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

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 (via the 'Apply' button above), if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

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