Senior International Funds Manager

Job summary

UKRI International
Salary: £46,743.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Open ended.
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (Minimum 0.8 FTE) (Flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon. Hybrid working available. This role may include occasional travel for business need.

Closing Date: Sunday 29th March 2026.

Job description

About the role

The Senior International Funds Manager will play a leading role in the delivery and implementation of UKRI’s International Funds, reporting to the Head of International Funds Development. The role includes lead responsibility for management of the cross-council portfolio of current International programmes, working with representatives from across the Councils and other UKRI International teams. The post holder will help shape new international Funds, such as the second round of funding to the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), creating a portfolio that meets both budget and strategic requirements.

Your Responsibilities

• Work with the Heads of Funds to support the International Science Partnerships Fund bringing programmes from the initial prioritisation stages to delivery, working as appropriate with other UKRI International teams, DSIT colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Lead on the development of Fund specific policies, practices and communications, to ensure coherent delivery across UKRI Councils, and consistent experience for external stakeholders, in line with UKRI and DSIT/HMG requirements
• Oversight of international funds distributed to Councils, including project portfolio information and reporting (with International Analysis, Data, Evidence and Reporting team) and finance monitoring (with International Finance Business Partners)
• Responsible for the planning, development, commissioning, delivery and post-award management of specific International initiatives and portfolios. This can include both legacy programmes and new activities from new funds such as the ISPF. Ensure effective collaborative working across UKRI to develop and deliver these, including with other UKRI International teams, UKRI Councils, DSIT and external stakeholders as appropriate.
• Contribute to fund-level governance and cross-Council groups. Promote learning and good practice in Fund(s) delivery across UKRI. Embed knowledge of International Fund policies, processes and good practices within the team and promote across UKRI.
• Responsible for Fund specific external engagement. Contribute to stakeholder mapping, to support Fund communications, active engagement and evaluation. Ensure coherence through coordination within UKRI International, across UKRI and with HMG. Work with the Partnerships team to develop or take forward collaborative opportunities.
• Prepare briefings and provide information and advice on Funds to senior management, UKRI Councils, other delivery partners, the R&I community (both UK and international), and UK Government departments.
• Develop the competence and confidence of the International Funds team through learning, skills development and staff support, to ensure UKRI has capability to deliver International Funds. Utilise the expertise of UKRI International staff in planning, developing and implementing research programmes. This role may include line management responsibilities going forward.
• As senior manager within the International Funds Team, ensure overall objectives are met and that the team is able to respond with agility to changes in requirements, working flexibly across development and delivery activities. To exemplify and promote the values of UKRI International.
  

This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the job. This is not an exhaustive list and the post-holder might be expected to undertake any other duties, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the necessary experience and/or training.

Person specification

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

Essential

• Educated to at least first degree or equivalent (S).
• Significant experience in research and innovation management or policy development in a government, higher education, or research-based organisation
• within the research and innovation sector, with demonstrable knowledge of how UKRI operates (S&I).
• Sound project management skills, including the ability to work flexibly and to plan, manage and deliver a portfolio of projects and activities with different timescales, priorities, and delivery mechanisms, working individually and in teams (S&I).
• Ability to think creatively, offer new insights and generate new ideas with practical application. Able to investigate and analyse problems systematically and then develop reasoned proposals for action (S&I).
• Ability to see the big picture, adapting strategies and actions to support organisational priorities and add value (S&I).
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to interpret and present information to a wide range of audiences; to draft crisp, concise and accurate briefing material, papers and presentations (S&I).
• A demonstrable ability to influence and persuade others, negotiate diplomatically, work with people of all levels and to build good relationships and effective partnerships with them (S&I).
• Good people management skills and the ability to lead, manage and motivate cross-organisational teams (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.

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)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

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

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

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