Compute Services Manager

Job summary

Salary: £37,841
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type: Fixed Term. (Until March 2030)
Hours: Full-time / Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid working available.

Closing Date: Sunday 1st March 2026.

Job description

About Us

We’re looking for a Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Compute Services Manager to join a dynamic, cross UKRI team at the forefront of the UK’s AI ambition. You’ll be a key part of the group delivering the AI Research Resource (AIRR) programme, a flagship UK initiative funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to power world leading AI research.

The AIRR Delivery Team sits at the heart of the UK’s efforts to accelerate AI innovation. We work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your expertise will directly support the researchers and innovators shaping the future of AI.

Our Mission

• Bringing the AIRR service to life:
  We build, refine, and coordinate the processes, policies and systems that guarantee the AIRR programme runs seamlessly, efficiently, and with maximum impact from the investment.
  
• Building strategic partnerships:
  We work closely with our AIRR host institutions, the University of Bristol and the University of Cambridge, cultivating strong relationships that enable collaboration, experimentation, and ground-breaking AI discoveries.
  
• Empowering researchers with compute access:
  We streamline compute allocation processes on the AIRR machines and champion secure, fair, and open access to AI compute. Our work helps researchers push boundaries while staying aligned with UKRI’s commitments to diversity, inclusion, and a positive research culture.
  
• Delivering measurable national impact:
  We ensure the AIRR programme delivers exceptional value for money and achieves its strategic objectives, strengthening the UK’s global leadership in AI-driven research and innovation.

The AIRR Delivery Team is part of the wider Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Programme. Together with the Infrastructure Fund team, we form the UKRI Infrastructure Team, responsible for shaping and investing in the world-class systems and services that enable researchers to thrive.

For further questions please contact richard.bailey@ukri.org or christian.oganbule@epsrc.ukri.org for more information.

About the Role

As the DRI Compute Services Manager, you’ll be at the centre of bringing the AI Research Resource to life, shaping how one of the UK’s most significant AI infrastructure investments operates day to day. This is a role for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments, enjoys solving complex delivery challenges, and wants their work to have national impact.

You will use your project management, analytical and communication skills to:

• Turn strategy into smooth daily operations by implementing, refining, and monitoring the operational policies and procedures that keep the AIRR services operating efficiently and reliably.
• Empower the UK’s AI research community by supporting users in accessing and navigating AIRR’s world class supercomputing capabilities, ensuring they get the most out of the service.
• Drive continuous improvement through data by monitoring performance, analysing operational insights, and reporting on how the services are delivering value.
  

The UK’s AI landscape is developing at remarkable speed, shaped by major government initiatives such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the UK Compute Roadmap. These set out a bold long term vision for the UK’s global position in AI and AIRR is a central part of that ambition.

To meet this challenge, our team works in an agile, adaptable way, responding quickly to new developments in AI and compute technologies. With the possibility of substantial future scaleup in AIRR investment, this role will be pivotal in helping UKRI manage growth effectively and responsibly.

Your Responsibilities

As the DRI Compute Services Manager, you'll play a hands-on role in keeping the AIRR services running smoothly and ensuring they deliver real value for the UK’s AI research community.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• The maintenance of accurate project control documentation, ensuring decisions are grounded in reliable, up to date information and evidence.
• Being a trusted point of contact for AIRR applicants and award holders across academia and industry, helping them navigate access routes and get the most from the service.
• Managing the review processes for AIRR compute access, ensuring they are fair, transparent, and delivered on schedule.
• Supporting governance and working group meetings — setting agendas, managing forward plans, preparing papers, and capturing high quality minutes.
• Tracking key metrics, identifying trends, and highlighting opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Gathering, validating, and synthesising information to contribute to internal portfolio reports and programme updates, ensuring they are accurate and timely.
• Taking part in wider programme and DRI initiatives, bringing operational insight to strategic planning.

Person specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I). Assessment of the following essential skills will be made via shortlisting, and an in-person interview which will include a presentation:

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of project support/project management experience whilst maintaining excellent attention to detail. (S)
• Ability to capture, analyse and summarise data from multiple sources and to synthesise the content to produce clear and concise updates to a wide range of audiences. (S&I)
• An ability to work as part of a team, engaging with colleagues through behaviour and empathy, including through periods of change. (S&I)
• Effective communication skills. (both written and oral) (S&I)
• Effective organisational skills and time management skills, including an ability to prioritise and manage complex activities. (S&I)
• Appreciation of how the UK research and innovation system operates, and the context within which UKRI operates. (I)

Desirable

• Graduate (or equivalent experience) who can demonstrate the potential to succeed. (S)
• Awareness and understanding of key technical concepts in large-scale advanced computing technologies such as HPC and AI. (S)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,841, UK Research and Innovation contributes £10,962 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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)

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : UKRI Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org