Portfolio Officer

Job summary

Economic and Social Research Council - Portfolio Officer x 2

(Smart Data Research UK Strategic Hub Team / Data Strategy and Infrastructure Team)

Job title: Portfolio Officer.
Salary: £30,895 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band C.
Hours: Full-time or 0.8 FTE role.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (until March 2029 x1 / February 2027 x1).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.
Closing Date: 13th July 2026.

Job description

Responsible to:

Post 1: Head of Programme and Investment Management.

Post 2: Senior Portfolio Manager.

Contract Type:

Post 1: Fixed Term until March 2029.

Post 2: Fixed Term until February 2027.

About hybrid working

We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and occasionally at other UK locations.

ESRC staff will be assigned to Tier 2 meaning a standard expectation of 40–60% onsite attendance (pro-rated against working time) including those hosted by ESRC. This will come into effect on 1st October 2026.

At times, this may involve overnight stays and/or occasional work outside of standard office hours.

About the role

ESRC is a major funder of the creation, collection and sharing of high-quality data that researchers, policymakers and practitioners use to address social challenges, increase public benefit and advance the UK’s reputation as a world leader in social science.

An ESRC Portfolio Officer plays a crucial role in the delivery of their team’s objectives, particularly in relation to the management and development of key programmes, investments and partnerships.

As this role will involve interaction with grant holders and partners, as well as attendance at events and conferences, the role may involve travel, including overnight stays.

Data Strategy and Infrastructure Team

The Data Strategy and Infrastructure team carries out the development, commissioning, and investment management for our data collections (such as Understanding Society and the birth cohort studies) and data services (including the UK Data Service). We provide strategic direction for investments and facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange through engagement with the investment teams and other partners. We are also responsible for the monitoring and assurance of the investments to ensure that the data collections are of high quality and meet the needs of the social science research community, and to ensure that the data services and facilities enable safe and ethical use of data in research and innovation.

Smart Data Research UK

Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) is the UK’s national programme for smart data research, with a mission to unlock the power of data to improve lives

www.sdruk.ukri.org. At the heart of the programme are six data services - teams of experts from research institutes across the country. The data services build partnerships with data owners and provide secure access to data for researchers. Coordination and leadership are provided by a Strategic Hub team, based at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Your responsibilities:

• Play an active role in team activities to support the delivery of the ESRC’s vision for social science and data infrastructure.
• Operate effectively within a matrix management environment on one or more assignments with the flexibility and resilience to respond to the changing demands of a fast-paced environment.
• Support programmes of work with attention to detail in the creation and maintenance of a range of programme documentation.
• Meeting servicing and support to organise and administer a range of meetings, workshops and events.
• Meeting management including creation, collation and distribution of agendas and papers, attending meetings, taking notes/minutes and recording actions.
• Assist with the development of information and promotional materials, both online and in print, for audience groups.
• Support the organisation of a series of online and offline events to build awareness about our work, services, and impact.
• Coordinate and support a range of administrative functions including the team mailbox, team days, workshops, events, and other operational activities.

Person specification

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Planning and organisational skills, including the ability to effectively prioritise and manage complex activities. (S&I)
• Good communication skills, including the ability to use appropriate styles and methods to maximise impact and understanding. (S&I)
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently to achieve progress in objective delivery, escalating where necessary. (S&I)
• Analytical skills with the ability to evaluate, report, and act on complex information of various forms, including numerical data. (S&I)
• Experience of meeting support, such as creating agendas, minute taking, and sending invitations. (S&I)
• Good general PC skills including a good working knowledge of MS Office packages and document management systems such as MS Teams. (S)
• A degree or equivalent experience or experience of working in an equivalent environment or role.(S)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,895, UK Research and Innovation contributes £8,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. 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 by submitting a CV and Cover Letter to the UKRI careers page.

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 : recruitment@ukri.org
• Email : recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukri.org