Programme Manager

Job summary

UKRI Corporate Hub
Salary: £58,589 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band F.
Contract Type: 2 x Fixed Term. (23 months & 10 months)
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.

Closing Date:Monday 1st June 2026

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

About the role

The key purpose of this role is effective management, delivery, and co-ordination of change programmes and complex projects across the organisation.

The post holder's overarching role is:

• The successful design, management and delivery of capabilities that make up the relevant programmes.
• Coordination and delivery of the relevant programme’s various projects, its dependencies (internal and external), key turning points and critical path, risks, governance, financial management, benefits planning, implementation of delivery and handover to operations for the benefits to be realised across the programmes.
• Provide coaching, help, advice, guidance to partners and facilitate workshops to help achieve successful delivery outcomes in line with UKRI priorities.

The post may line manage project managers within the PD&I team.

Matrix management and oversight of the relevant Programme and project teams.

Job description

Your responsibilities:

• Leadership vision & objectives – Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Lead the programme/project to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
• Delivery – Create and lead the programme/project to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.
• Programme / Project Management – Day to day management and leadership of the programme/project and the project team. Set project controls. Design the project structure appropriate to stage. Select and apply appropriate delivery methodologies.
• Coordinate development of the Business Case.
• Budget – Track delivery within budget.
• Resources – Schedule / manage resources to deliver the project.
• Risks & Issues – Oversee risk and issue management. Ensure mitigations are in place and resolved through negotiated agreement.
• Benefits Realisation – Ensure benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned. Ensure appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place and monitor longer term delivery of benefits against the Business Case.
• Identify key partners and develop strong relationships.

Person specification

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

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience. (S)
• Prince2, MSP, APM PMQ or another relevant Project Management Methodology qualification. (S)
• Demonstrative experience of leading the successful delivery of Projects and/or Programmes across multiple departments/stakeholders in both technical and non-technical environments in a complex organisation. (S&I)
• Experience of effectively implementing processes, procedures and best practice principles within a project, programme or portfolio management office. (S&I)
• The ability to establish and develop productive influential relationships with internal and external partners, bringing people together to benefit the project. (S&I)
• The ability to recognise, anticipate and effectively deal with existing or potential conflicts at an individual, team or strategic level. (S&I)
• The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. (S&I)
• The ability to inspire, motivate and support others by demonstrating and sharing your programme/project management skills. To act as a role model and inspire and empower others. (S&I)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,589, UK Research and Innovation contributes £16,973 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. UKRI 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

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