Senior Impact and Evaluation Manager

Job summary

Senior Impact and Evaluation Manager , AHRC
Salary: £46,743 per annum.
Grade: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Fixed Term 23 months.
Hours: Full Time (flexible/part-time working considered).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon.
Closing date: 6th September 2026.
Interview date: W/C 28th September 2026.

Job description

About the role

As Senior Evaluation and Impact Manager for the Research Programme on Gambling (RPG) you will be responsible for the design and delivery of a monitoring and evaluation framework and impact strategy for the newly established Programme, a multidisciplinary initiative funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This fixed term appointment offers a unique opportunity to deliver a significant cross-sector programme that addresses gambling-related harms through collaborative, evidence-led research.

The role combines monitoring, evaluation and reporting with identifying and capturing outcomes and impacts in order to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the Gambling Levy and research programme.

Within the first year, the post-holder will have worked with the Head of RPG to establish a cross-programme M&E plan, supported flagship investments in project-specific M&E and reporting needs, and positioned the RPG as a credible, trusted programme across government and the research community.

Your work will include:

• Design and delivery of a robust MEL strategy for the programme
• Supporting regular reporting to DCMS
• Engaging with the programme’s portfolio of investments to monitor progress against objectives and identify outcomes and impacts
• You will be part of a small team and work across UKRI councils and corporate functions to enable delivery.
• You will report to Head of Research Programme on Gambling.

Main Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing and applying logic models, theories of change, SMART objectives, baselines and metrics, in line with agreed standards and guidance.
• Support development of programme-level KPIs to agree shared expectations across stakeholders.
• Work with the RPG team to develop reporting requirements, implement systems, and manage regular reporting cycles.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data and contribute to producing clear, evidence-based insights for decision-making and reporting.
• Support commissioning and management of external evaluations and contribute to analysis for internal and DCMS reporting.
• Build relationships internally and externally to support collection of data, case studies and impact evidence.

Person specification

The following criteria will be assessed at shortlisting (S), at interview (I) or both (S/I).

Essential:

• Understanding of the UK research funding landscape and its broader societal impact (S/I).
• Experience of supporting monitoring and evaluation, analysis, programme delivery, or similar functions, including applying frameworks such as metrics or performance measures (S/I).
• Analytical skills with the ability to analyse, interpret and synthesise quantitative and qualitative data to generate clear, evidence-based insights (S/I).
• Experience of contributing to reporting processes and producing high-quality written outputs (S/I).
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, internal and external (S&I).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly (S/I).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,743, UK Research and Innovation contributes £13,541 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, 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 basic (or equivalent) 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

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukri.org