Senior Funding Policy Manager

Senior Funding Policy Manager x2

Salary: £45,272 per annum

Hours: Full Time / Part Time (Min 0.8 FTE)

Contract Type: 1x Open Ended & 1x Fixed Term Contract (12 Months – Open to Secondments)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available)

Band: E

Closing Date: Monday 1st September 2025

We are looking for two candidates: one for an open-ended appointment, and another on a 12-month fixed term contract. The role will involve addressing system-wide challenges related to research funding. Key areas of focus may include, enhancing incentives for expert review participation, managing application volumes, promoting flexible and project-appropriate leadership models, and exploring the integration of artificial intelligence in funding processes.

Job Overview:

The UKRI Funding Policy and Engagement Team is part of UKRI Funding Services and is responsible for creating and delivering consistent funding policy and process across the nine UKRI Councils.

The UKRI funding policy encompasses the policies and processes associated with the UKRI funding of research, innovation and training awards across the whole funding lifecycle. Developed by the UKRI Funding Policy and Engagement team, these policies—alongside the grant terms and conditions—govern over £4 billion in funding annually.

These policies shape every stage of the funding process: from determining the eligibility of individuals and organisations, to specifying the information required in applications, to guiding how applications are assessed, and funding decisions are made. They also define how awarded grants are managed post-award.

Funding activities are undertaken by the Councils who manage their own strategies and budgets. The Funding Policy and Engagement team plays a critical underpinning role in simplifying and improving the collective funding policy environment based on user needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Gathering, collating and analysing information from a variety of sources to inform, scope and manage effective funding policy development and implementation
• Drafting a range of written documents containing proposals and recommendations including policy papers for various senior UKRI Boards and Committees
• Working closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that policies and processes are fit for purpose and achieve the optimum balance between policy and process harmonisation and user specific interventions
• Bringing perspectives from research organisations to develop and implement policies across UKRI, and embed them to improve research culture and address system wide issues
• Working closely with the research community to implement policy changes
• Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with individuals in each of the nine Councils and appropriately engaging key external stakeholders in developments (e.g. Research Organisation Consultation Group (ROCG), Cabinet Office, DSIT, ARMA etc.)
• Providing support and deputising for the Policy Leads and Associate Director in their leadership and reporting roles including representation at internal and external groups, networks and events

Person Specification:

(S) – Shortlisting Criteria (I) – Interview Criteria (S & I) - Shortlisting Criteria & Interview Criteria

Essential

• Proven experience of research administration and strategy development with excellent understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape (S & I)
• Previous experience of developing and implementing funding policy or strategy within research organisation or funder (S & I)
• Demonstrable strategic thinking, with ability to think creatively to develop and coordinate solutions to complex situations (S & I)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with good attention to detail and ability to articulate complex information clearly (S & I)
• Experience of working with diverse internal and external stakeholders at all levels (S & I)
• A demonstrable ability to influence and persuade others to ensure-buy in, particularly in the pursuit of common goals when there are conflicting perspectives (S & I)
• Ability to proactively plan and prioritise own workload to successfully deliver projects, and respond flexibly to changing priorities and ambiguity (S & I)
• Strong analytical skills, including experience of interpreting, connecting, synthesising and summarising information from a range of sources to identify key themes and opportunities (S & I)

Application Guidance:

How to evidence the criteria:

You are encouraged to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in the cover letter to evidence your ability to meet the ‘person specification’ criteria in the job description. Cover letters should be no more than two sides of A4 (minimum font size 11). For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service’.

Applications that do not include a cover letter evidencing each criterion will not be considered.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected]

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)