Senior Science Portfolio Manager: Infrastructure

Job summary

Senior Science Portfolio Manager: Infrastructure

Council: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Salary: £46,743 per annum
Band: UKRI Band E
Team: Infrastructure Team
Contract Type: Open ended
Hours: Full-time
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: Sunday 15th March 2026

Job description

Senior Science Portfolio Managers provide essential project management to infrastructure projects across the entirety of the Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit, supporting delivery of a growing Infrastructure Fund portfolio at the MRC. In overseeing the development of green book business cases, Senior Science Portfolio Managers also work extensively across UKRI, with central government and other research funders, and across the UK research and innovation community.

Reporting to the Head of Programme for Infrastructure, this role will suit an experienced project manager with an interest in science, or scientifically trained individuals with project management experience. You will get the opportunity to manage several high-profile projects and will lead the development of proposals for groundbreaking new infrastructure investments that support the medical sciences. You will be involved in overseeing the effective peer review of applications, gathering strategic advice from a range of partners, and providing advice to internal and external collaborators.

Your responsibilities

• Lead on the project management of at least one large infrastructure project within MRC’s portfolio, organising regular project board meetings and ensuring effective project delivery.
• Reporting to UKRI and other stakeholders on projects, including management of risks on clew (formally CGR) and working with FBPs on financial management of projects.
• Maintaining strong working relationships with external project teams and colleagues across MRC/UKRI, proactively managing communications, project updates and announcements.
• Management of the business case process for infrastructure projects where appropriate and contribution to scoping of new projects for funding.
• Assisting senior colleagues in the review of research fields and the development and implementation of scientific initiatives and policy.
• Assisting senior colleagues with the preparation of briefing documents and other materials for committees, responses to parliamentary questions and/or other external queries.
• Development and management of funding schemes, including management of MRC’s Equip panel and delivery of funding via UKRI’s The Funding Service (TFS) platform.
• Contribute to ongoing MRC Infrastructure Team shared activities, such as responding to remit queries, management of shared mailboxes and leading team initiatives when required.

Person specification

• Relevant degree or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Experience of planning, managing, and delivering projects or programmes.
• Understand the importance of managing and mitigating risks and issues and escalating where required.
• Ability to effectively negotiate with and influence partners at all levels.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to independently plan, prioritise and progress multiple workstreams.
• Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of handling budgets.
• Effective collaborator and team member.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,743, Medical Research Council 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.

• 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.

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

How to apply:

For full details, please visit our careers site. Please submit an application including your CV and a Cover Letter that showcases how your skills and experience align to the requirements of the role.

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