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.


Chief Operating Officer, NERC

Closing date
6 January 2025, 5:00pm UK time
Salary
£92,000 to £99,000 each year
Contract type
Open ended
Hours
Full time
Grade
UKRI X
Interview date
February 2025
Outcomes communicated
February 2025

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Chief Operating Officer supports the NERC Executive Chair in achieving NERC’s mission by:

  • overseeing all financial, business, commercial and operational activities
  • proactively managing risks
  • addressing issues to ensure alignment with UKRI goals

For a confidential conversation about the role, email Maliha Ahmed maliha.ahmed@gatenbysanderson.com or Jacqueline Lau jacqueline.lau@gatenbysanderson.com

Find out more and apply for the NERC Chief Operating Officer.


Deputy Director of Analysis and Evidence

Closing date
8 January 2025
Salary
£91,943 to £99,000 each year
Contract type
Open ended
Hours
Full time, flexible arrangements considered
Grade
UKRI X
Interview date
3 to 6 February 2025
Outcomes communicated
February 2025

The Deputy Director of Analysis and Evidence will work across the nine councils and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) teams.

You will ensure UKRI’s strategy and decision making is based on the best possible evidence and analysis, to maximise impact. You will also ensure it is properly monitored and evaluated to evidence impact and learn from performance.

You will lead on building a comprehensive, trusted evidence base to inform decision making and justify taxpayer funding for UKRI. You will work closely with our communications function to tell the story of UKRI’s success.


UKRI Director of Enterprise Platforms

Closing date
19 January 2025, 5:00pm UK time
Salary
£91,943 to £95,000 dependent on skills and experience
Contract type
Open ended
Hours
Full time
Grade
UKRI X
Interview date
Expected to be held in London on 12 and 13
February 2025
Outcomes communicated
February 2025

You will play a pivotal leadership role as the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for enterprise IT platform initiatives, focusing on both business-as-usual management and driving strategic roadmap development for these platforms with the service owners, Chief Data Officer (CDO) and business leaders.

Your leadership will be crucial in managing the continuous and service delivery elements of enterprise platforms, guiding their integration, evolution, and optimisation. You will ensure that key initiatives are strategically aligned with business objectives, providing oversight and driving their successful execution.

Find out more and apply for the UKRI Director of Enterprise Platforms.


STFC Chief Operating Officer

Closing date
20 January 2025, 5:00pm UK time
Salary
£91,943 to £95,000 dependent on skills and experience
Contract type
Open ended
Hours
Full time
Grade
UKRI X
Interview date
10 February 2025
Outcomes communicated
February 2025

You will report directly to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair and play a pivotal role in delivering STFC’s mission within UKRI. You will oversee key corporate functions, including:

  • business continuity and risk management
  • digital infrastructure
  • environmental sustainability
  • estates, which includes 123 buildings and covers 180 acres over five sites
  • health and safety
  • continuous improvement

You will serve as a trusted partner to UKRI corporate functions such as finance, HR, legal, and procurement, ensuring STFC receives high-quality support while leading the strategic alignment of operations to the UKRI strategy.

Read the STFC Chief Operating Officer candidate pack.


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.

Last updated: 23 December 2024

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