Innovation Lead - Missions
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Innovation Leads - Missions
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Salary: £58,589 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band F.
Contract Type: Open-ended.
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.
Closing Date: Friday 20 March 2026.
Roles Available: 3
About Us
The R&D Missions Accelerator Programme represents an exceptional opportunity to create real world impact through R&D investment.
The programme will utilise a £500m budget to bring together the private sector, the third sectors and academia to collaboratively develop innovative solutions to public sector problems, resulting in new technologies, services, IP and more.
The programme has been designed to solve the key problems facing HMG’s five national Missions and enable delivery of the milestones in the Plan for Change.
The Government has identified the key problems faced by the UK, to which the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme has designed Research and Innovation (R&I) Challenges to develop solutions. Importantly, these solutions will then be directly utilised in addressing public sector needs.
The programme is currently developing its approaches across the Missions, and therefore by joining at this stage there’s a significant opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme.
Mission Specific Roles
Innovation Lead - Opportunities
The Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission seeks to ensure every child and young person can succeed, regardless of background. It aims to give children the best start in life through high quality early education, childcare and accessible family support services. The mission will help every child thrive at school by improving teaching standards, tackling absence, and supporting those with special educational needs. It will also build skills for opportunity and growth so that every young person can follow the pathway that is right for them. This is an opportunity to work with government departments and a wide range of stakeholders to find innovative solutions to pressing challenges faced by children and young people.
These roles will be particularly suited to people with a background in education, social mobility and equality.
To find out more and apply, please visit Innovation Lead - Opportunities (R&D MAP)
Innovation Lead – Safer Streets
The Safer Streets Mission is tackling some of the most difficult, enduring and systemic problems in our society. The ambition is to reduce serious harm and increase public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system, with a challenging target of halving both knife crime and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) within a decade. You will work across multiple government departments and a wide range of stakeholders, seeking solutions which are truly innovative and world leading whilst juggling the need for outcomes to be affordable, scalable and trusted by the public. You will play a key role in building and evaluating local neighbourhood partnerships to deliver well targeted, evidence based and innovative prevention and intervention programmes.
You will combine a range of approaches including innovation in technology and data capability, behavioural science focused on prevention and interventions and capability building. You will actively drive collaborative working and investment from industry and key partners.
To find out more and apply, please visit Innovation Lead – Safer Streets (R&D MAP)
Innovation Lead – Clean Energy
The Clean Energy Mission is the UK’s response to climate change, with its twin focus on Clean Power by 2030 and Accelerating to Net Zero. You will be leading a team of energy and innovation experts looking at how innovation can rapidly accelerate levels of consumer-led flexibility and develop new ultra long duration energy storage technologies. These areas are critical to creating the affordable, resilient and energy secure system which will power our future economy. You will drive bold innovation, forge new partnerships and shape groundbreaking programmes that deliver innovation alongside major policy and market reform.
A background in energy and/or climate, ideally with an innovation angle, technical and commercial skills are all strongly desirable for the Clean Energy mission.
To find out more and apply, please visit Innovation Lead – Clean Energy (R&D MAP)
Main Outputs and Activities
- Lead the development and implementation of R&D MAP challenge strategies and funding to enable industry to develop and commercialise new products, processes, business models and services.
This is not an exhaustive list, and the post-holder might be expected to undertake any other duties, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post.
Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential:
- Degree in a relevant subject to the Opportunities Mission, or equivalent experience. (S)
Please note that some of the roles have additional criteria relating to the role, these can be found on their individual listing on the UKRI Careers Page.
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
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!
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, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
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 Recruitment@ukri.org.