Senior and public appointments

We recruit for both senior and public appointments. These include members of the UKRI Board, Executive Chairs, part-time office holders and all other senior roles across UKRI at Band X and Y (equivalent to Senior Civil Service).

We employ a strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring recruitment that is diverse, fair and open, creating equal opportunity at all times. Public appointments are ultimately made by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.


Executive Director, Digital and Technologies, Innovate UK

Closing date
31 January 2025, 11:59pm UK time
Salary
From £130,000 plus opportunity for performance related pay
Contract type
Open ended
Hours
Full time
Grade
Y
Interview date
To be confirmed
Outcomes communicated
February 2025

This role will lead and be accountable for programme delivery, strategic engagement and business development for the digital and technologies domain, with local, national and global impact.

You will engage at senior executive level with external stakeholders to provide thought leadership across the digital and technologies domain. You will involve businesses, government and innovation ecosystem senior leaders to shape innovation policy and delivery in the UK.

You will seek and develop collaborations to optimise impact, drive up private investment and build the most effective and connected ecosystem. You will inspire both externally and internally, by leading the development of the digital and technologies domain operating model.

As a significant influencer across business, government, and other business innovation ecosystem leadership groups within digital and technologies, you will invest to drive significant positive economic and societal impact.


Chief People Officer, UKRI

Closing date
2 March 2025, 11:59pm UK time
Salary
£130,000 to £140,000 each year
Contract type
Open-ended
Hours
Full-time
Grade
Y
Interview date
27 and 28 March 2025

The Chief People Officer is the human resources (HR) professional leader for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and a member of the UKRI Executive Committee.

You will lead in determining the organisation’s strategic people agenda, its culture and the professional HR function that works to deliver on it.

Read the UKRI Chief People Officer candidate prospectus.


Deputy Executive Chair, EPSRC

Closing date
10 March 2025, 11:59pm UK time
Salary
£91,943 to £99,000
Contract type
Open-ended, secondees and transfers welcome, minimum duration two years
Hours
Full-time or part-time, minimum 0.6 full-time equivalent
Location
Based at Polaris House, Swindon, with regular travel required
Grade
X
Interview date
10 and 16 April at Caxton House, London

As Deputy Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) you will be a senior member of UK Research and Innovation. You will use your in-depth understanding of engineering and physical sciences research and its potential to advance all areas of science to:

  • drive innovation in the research funding system
  • develop priority areas for future investment
  • communicate this vision passionately to our key partners

Read the Deputy Executive Chair Candidate Prospectus.


Director of HR Business Partnering, UKRI

Closing date
10 March 2025, 11:59pm UK time
Salary
£91,943 to £99,000 each year (depending on skills and experience)
Contract type
Open-ended
Hours
Full-time
Location
Swindon. Hybrid working available with regular travel to UKRI locations
Grade
X
Interview date
In person in London, early April 2025

We are seeking an experienced human resources (HR) leader to join us as the Director of HR Business Partnering.

You will lead a team of 16 HR Business Partners, supporting leaders across UKRI to maximise the potential of our 8,500 people.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for delivering outstanding strategic HR business partnering across UKRI.

Read the Director of HR Business Partnering, UKRI candidate pack.

Last updated: 13 February 2025

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