PORTFOLIO / DELIVERY SUPPORT MANAGER

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

PORTFOLIO / DELIVERY SUPPORT MANAGER

Salary: £29,923 per annum 

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

Contract Type: Open Ended

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

Grade: UKRI Band C

Closing Date: 16 Feb 25

Proposed Interview Date: W/C 10 & 17 Mar 25

ABOUT US

We are currently looking for people to join the EPSRC, as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to support the delivery of peer review and portfolios of research and cross-cutting activities. EPSRC is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research within UKRI. 

As an EPSRC Portfolio Support Manager, you will be responsible for supporting some of EPSRC’s many portfolios, from mathematics to materials science, from healthcare technologies to energy, from university relationships to research infrastructure. 

As a Delivery Support Manager, you will be responsible for managing administrative workloads within and across teams and co-ordinating and supporting a range of peer review and related activities. It will involve working with a wide range of people both within UKRI and the broader UK research community. 

We are looking for at least one Portfolio Support / Delivery Support Managers across the remit of EPSRC. Your application will be considered against all open positions. Please state any preferences you might have in your application. In either role, you may be expected to contribute to multiple activities at any one time.

PURPOSE, MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

As a Delivery Support Manager or Portfolio Support Manager, your duties will vary depending on the team but may include:

• Supporting the organisation by facilitating the peer review process (this includes efficient administration so that resources are in place to enable effective decision-making.)
• Coordinating support in teams by having an oversight of activities and workload.

Delivery Support Manager specific:

• Working closely with junior colleagues and wider teams as a workflow manager to co-ordinate tasks in support of themes.
• Contributing to the achievement of that team’s specific objectives by providing support across the following areas: general team support, information management and line management administrative support.

Portfolio Support Manager specific:

• Supporting colleagues, in team and cross-office to catalyse, prioritise and develop new research opportunities, through for example, organising workshops, expert group meetings and other key events.
• Providing support for the management of EPSRC’s many portfolios, which range from mathematics to materials science, from healthcare technologies to energy, from university relationships to research infrastructure.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

(S) – ASSESSED AT SHORTLISTING

(I) – ASSESSED AT INTERVIEW

(S&I) – ASSESSED AT BOTH SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEW

ESSENTIAL:

• A proactive approach and the ability to work independently, flexibly and contribute as part of a team and with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels. (S&I)
• Effective organisation and planning skills, including the ability to prioritise and manage complex activities and a varied workload (including conflicting demands.) (S&I)
• Problem solving abilities. (S&I)
• Good IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office packages: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and an ability to learn new systems. (S)

DESIRABLE:

Particularly for Delivery Support Managers:

• The ability to coach and provide support for junior staff (S&I)

Particularly for Portfolio Support Managers:

• Educated to at least A Level (or equivalent) with aptitude for learning and working with scientific concepts and terminology. (S)
• Analytical skills, including an ability to collate quantitative and qualitative data (which is often complex) and produce clear, easily understood reports. (S&I)

APPLICATIONS

The closing date for applications is 11:59 Sunday 16th February.

If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to an in-person interview that will take place at Polaris House in Swindon during either week commencing 10th/17th March. This is the final stage of the selection process. Please note, dates are subject to change.

Online applications only are accepted for this role. Please submit a CV and “Application Statement” in which you should give evidenced examples that clearly explain how your abilities, experiences and skills demonstrate each of the shortlisting criteria listed above. You are advised to familiarise yourself with the STAR methodology (see: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/STAR-method.htm), which is a useful framework for providing these examples. Each document should be no more than three pages.

Please 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 submission of an application without an ‘application statement’ may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted ‘application statement’ and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend a competency-based interview. You will be asked to provide evidenced examples that demonstrate that you are able to cover the interview criteria which are the same as the shortlisting criteria above.

Successful candidate will be placed in a team following interviews. We will endeavour to provide information of team vacancies at interview stage should you wish to express a preference, though we will not be able to guarantee to honour all preferences. Your application and performance through this recruitment process may be used for other opportunities that arise within an appropriate timeframe.

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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

DEVELOPING TALENT:

We are committed to developing employees in their roles throughout their career. Learning and development plans enable employees to continue their professional development through training and development opportunities such as e-learning, classroom training and on-the-job experiences. We encourage our employees to share their learning across teams and organisations.

BENEFITS:

UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

• Flexible Working
• 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays
• Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme
• Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

About the Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC)

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) is a partner organisation within UKRI, providing essential research and skills for all sectors of the economy, and through this aims to enhance long-term societal well-being and prosperity. 

EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding this research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. They invest over £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects from mathematics to materials science and from information technology to structural engineering. 

For more information about EPSRC click here: https://www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc/

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. 

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation. 

More information can be found at www.ukri.org. 

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 for 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. 

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