Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

RESEARCH PORTFOLIO MANAGER

SALARY: £34,905 per annum

HOURS: Full time or Part time (Minimum 0.6 FTE considered)

CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended (Permanent)

LOCATION: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire (Hybrid working)

GRADE: UKRI Band D

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: X5

CLOSING DATE: 16 Oct 2024

PROPOSED INTERVIEW DATE: W/C 11 Nov 24

ABOUT US

Are you passionate about research? Are you keen to work with researchers, business and Government to help support excellent research that delivers real impact for the economy and society?

Research Portfolio Managers assist with the development and delivery of ideas for future activities and build relationships with stakeholders within universities and industry to ensure we fund research of the highest quality to implement new, innovative research programmes. Portfolio managers also play a key role in managing our funding competitions.

We are looking for Research Portfolio Managers across our Research Base, Cross Council Programmes and Partnerships Directorate.

The Research Base Directorate leads on our support for discovery research, creating a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment to provide a variety of career pathways in research and innovations. Teams within this directorate cover the remits of Advanced Materials, Engineering, Information and Communication Technologies, Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences. The Infrastructure and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and People teams also contribute to delivering this part of EPSRC’s mission.

The Cross-Council Programmes Directorate leads on promoting a positive culture of cross-council working that builds on the disciplinary strengths in the research base and the strengths of our partnerships. Research Portfolio Managers working in this directorate can expect to be placed in teams covering cross-Council priorities including AI and Robotics, Digital Security and Resilience, Energy and Decarbonisation, Healthcare Technologies, Manufacturing and the Circular Economy and Quantum Technologies.

The Partnerships Directorate leads and developing and managing our relationships with business, our international and regional engagement activities, public engagement and cross-cutting work on impact. 

EPSRC is a team-based organisation, and no team or directorate works in silo. An important part of your role will be to work with others to deliver results.

We recognise and value employees as individuals and aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance and a number of other benefits.

PURPOSE

As an EPSRC Portfolio Manager, you will work with the Engineering and Physical Sciences research community to achieve EPSRC’s aim to put the UK at the forefront of international research.

You will be given responsibility for one of EPSRC’s portfolios and will help develop ideas for future activities in a strongly team-based organisation as well as working with other Government Departments and Councils within UKRI. This role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own projects and activities. Interaction with stakeholders especially in universities is important part of the role.

Your role will be varied, building relationships with universities and industry, managing our decision-making processes and policy development activities to ensure we fund research of the highest quality, and planning and implementing community events to foster new, innovative, research programmes.

You will help to develop and structure ideas for future activities in a strongly team-based organisation as well as working with other Government Departments and other Councils within UKRI.

This role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own projects and activities. Travel in the UK will be required in most roles.

OUTPUTS & ACTIVITIES

Your responsibilities will include:

• Gathering, understanding and integrating internal and external information about the research and innovation landscape and the EPSRC portfolio
• Operation of peer review and other formal decision-making processes
• Working with external stakeholders to manage strategic relationships with key influencers in universities and business through representing EPSRC in external networks and meetings
• Working across teams to ensure cross portfolio understanding and joint initiatives as appropriate 
• Working across teams within EPSRC and across UKRI to ensure cross portfolio understanding and joint initiatives as appropriate as well as implementing strategy and other programmes of work
• Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on activities and investments to feed into planning
• Supporting senior colleagues with development of projects and implementation of plans, coordinating and operating processes supporting delivery across EPSRC

We will consider high calibre graduates with a research background (or those with equivalent education, training, or professional development) who can demonstrate the potential to succeed. You will be a creative thinker who can work effectively independently and with colleagues, be an excellent communicator and manage your time effectively.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Assessment of the following essential skills will be made via shortlisting, and an in person interview which will include a presentation:

Essential:

• Problem solving and analytical skills (S)
• A focus on achievement (S)
• Effective communication skills (verbal, presentational and written) (S, I)
• Ability to work with others as part of a team, including though taking a leadership role and influencing others through behaviour and empathy (S, I)
• Strategic awareness (S, I)
• Planning and organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise and manage complex activities (S, I)
• Creativity, adaptability and openness to change. (S, I)
• Ability to make decisions (I)

Desirable:

• Graduate (or equivalent) who can demonstrate the potential to succeed (S)

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)

HYBRID WORKING

These posts are based at our Swindon office, but we operate a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and external locations. As we recognise the benefits of in person working, EPSRC currently has a minimum expectation that we will work in person, in the Swindon office, at least 2 days per month. On occasions where there is a business need, you may be required to attend the office more than 2 days a month (e.g., for training, events, or team days). This post also requires travel to attend external visits and meetings. We will make exceptions to the minimum requirement to work in person in the Swindon office for individuals that might encounter difficulties because of a disability/health condition. We welcome applications from candidates with special requirements.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS

The closing date for applications is midnight Wednesday 16th October 2024.

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 week commencing 11 Nov 2024. 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 below. You will also be asked to give a short presentation on a topic that will be provided to you in advance.

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 Research Portfolio Manager (Grade D) 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.

CONTACT

For further information please contact Joe Shearring (EPSRC Co-Chair Assessment Centre and Head of Regional Engagement) who is leading this recruitment [email protected].

SOC GRANTED

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 [email protected]

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.

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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