Head of Strategy - UKRI Research %26 Development Missions (RDMP) Hub

UK Research and Innovation; Swindon; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 57,000

Job description

Economic and Social Research Council

Head of Strategy - UKRI Research & Development Missions (RDMP) Hub

Salary: £56,745

Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)

Contract Type: Open-Ended. We have secured funding until 31 March 2026 and during that time we will be bidding for investment until 2030.

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

Grade: UKRI Band F

Context:

The Research & Development Mission Programme (RDMP) is a new, targeted UKRI programme designed to support the Government’s National Missions and support delivery of the milestones in the Government’s Plan for Change. The primary objective of the RDMP is to fund targeted research and innovation (R&I), including technology development, to solve critical problems unique to each mission to improve people’s lives and create growth. An initial investment of £25 million was announced in the autumn budget, with UKRI leading, in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Government Mission teams, on focussed Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenges to respond to and develop solutions for the Problems in each Mission.

Job Purpose:

ESRC, as the council supporting the UKRI coordinating team, are seeking a Head of Strategy who will work closely with the Programme Director in leading the development of the RDMP’s overall strategy, objectives, and delivery plans. As part of the UKRI RDMP Hub you will demonstrate strategic leadership by working with the Programme Director to shape the RDMP’s business case for future funding, developing robust, evidence-backed proposals suitable for government. This will require close and effective working with internal and external partners to guarantee alignment with the needs and interests of the various parties whose support will be critical to successful delivery of the programme.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic leadership: You will work closely with the Programme Director to lead on the development and delivery of UKRI’s RDMP strategy and associated Delivery Plan. Using your strategic awareness of UKRI’s goals more broadly, you will ensure these strategic plans align with wider organisational ambitions and provide strategic challenge and support to address key research and innovation challenge areas. As part of this strategic planning, you will translate the Programme Director’s vision into various options and then work with the Head of Programme Management to further develop these into realisable activities.
2. Business case development and delivery: To support the future of the RDMP you will be primarily responsible for working with the Programme Director to shape the substantive content of the Hub’s business case to government for future funding. You will be expected to work collaboratively with all members of the Hub, the individual Mission teams, R&I Challenge Directors, and other stakeholders inside and outside UKRI to develop and oversee programme delivery of high-quality, evidence-backed proposals in line with the Green Book standard. These will make the case for the RDMP’s potential impact against each of the government’s Mission areas.
3. Stakeholder management: To be successful, you will build and maintain effective collaborations and relationships with senior stakeholders across all sectors (commercial, government, non-profit, and academic). In particular, you will develop and maintain partnerships with research and innovation leaders and policymakers.

Key Relationships:

• UKRI RDMP Hub Senior Leadership Team, including the Programme Director, Head of Programme Management, and Head of Engagement
• UKRI RDMP Hub Senior Data Analyst
• Research & Innovation (R&I) Challenge Directors
• Council Delivery Leads
• ESRC Executive Chair, and other UKRI Executive Chairs
• Oversight Board
• Government Mission teams
• DSIT sponsorship team supporting RDMP

Shortlisting and Interview Criteria:

Essential:

• Experience of thinking strategically and making connections across disparate areas of strategy, ensuring that plans and activities take account of the wider landscape and range of stakeholder perspectives.
• Experience of using a range of evidence to analyse complex problems and prepare robust, high-quality and evidence-backed business cases for a government audience in accordance with the Green Book standard.
• A proven ability to collaborate, influence and build excellent working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior staff across UKRI and central government departments.
• Excellent knowledge of the potential for research to address major policy challenges and the difficulties associated with realising this potential – or demonstrable ability to acquire this rapidly.
• Strong leadership skills, including an ability to pull people together behind a clear vision and work flexibly as part of a team to respond to shifting priorities.
• Strong project management, planning and organisation skills, including the ability to identify and set specific goals and to map out and communicate a programme of activities which will achieve them.
• Excellent communication (both written and oral) skills with the ability to produce clear, concise and accurate presentations and written documentation for a wide range of audiences.

Desirable:

• Experience of using research to address policy challenges, working collaboratively with relevant policy, government, industry or other stakeholders.

About the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

The ESRC is the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science. It supports the development and training of the UK’s future social scientists and funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policy-makers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective.

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

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.

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 at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

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’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. 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.