Portfolio Manager

Research Portfolio Manager
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Salary: £37,841 per annum Grade: UKRI D
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.6 FTE considered)
Contract type: 23 month fixed term contract, inline with project requirements
Hybrid working: Hybrid working is available in line with EPSRC/UKRI policy
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
Closing date: 4/11/2026, 23.55
Proposed interview date: Interviews will be held weeks commencing 30th November and 7th December. There will be no further stages of assessment.

About us:
Are you passionate about research? Are you keen to work with researchers, business and Government to help support excellent research that delivers real impact for the economy and society?

Portfolio managers assist with the development and delivery of ideas for future activities and establish links with partners within universities and industry, to ensure we fund research of the highest quality and implement new, innovative research programmes. Portfolio managers also play a key role in managing our funding opportunities.

The post is based in EPSRC’s talent and skills team. You would be responsible for managing a nuclear skills programme, being delivered by UKRI on behalf of the UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ministry of Defence. You will work with 7 doctoral focal awards already funded by the programme, the UK government and teams across EPSRC and UKRI, to ensure the programme is coordinated and on track to deliver the expected benefits. Further details are available here: £65.6 million Doctoral Focal Award to strengthen UK nuclear skills, energy security and sovereign defence capability - Nuclear Skills Plan. The post will also include opportunities to work more widely on EPSRC and UKRI talent and skills activities.

EPSRC is a team-based organisation, and no team or directorate works in silo. An important part of your role will be to coordinate with others to deliver results.

Purpose
As an EPSRC portfolio manager, you will work with the engineering and physical sciences research community to achieve our aim to put the UK at the forefront of international research.

You will be given responsibility for one of EPSRC’s portfolios, with the opportunity to manage your own projects and develop new activities. Your role will be varied: establishing links with universities and industry, managing our decision-making processes and policies to ensure we fund research and training of the highest quality, and planning and implementing community events to develop new, innovative, research programmes.

You will work closely across EPSRC and UKRI teams, as well as often working with UK government departments. Interaction with external stakeholders including universities and businesses is an important part of the role.

Main outputs and activities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Gathering, understanding and integrating internal and external information about the research and innovation landscape and the EPSRC portfolio
• Operation of peer review and other formal decision-making processes
• Managing strategic relationships with key stakeholders in universities, business and government, representing EPSRC and UKRI in external networks and meetings
• Working across teams within EPSRC and across UKRI to ensure cross portfolio understanding and joint initiatives as appropriate as well as implementing strategy and other programmes of work
• Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on activities and investments to feed into planning
• Supporting senior colleagues with development of projects and implementation of plans, coordinating and operating processes supporting delivery across EPSRC.
• We will consider high-calibre individuals who can demonstrate the potential to succeed. You may be from a research or research support background, or have equivalent education, training, or professional development. You will be a creative problem solver who works effectively independently and with colleagues, as well as an excellent communicator who can manage time effectively.

Criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Assessment of the following essential skills will be made via shortlisting, and an in-person interview which will include a presentation:

Essential

• Problem solving and analytical skills, including a focus on successful outcomes (S)
• Effective communication skills (verbal, presentational and written) (S&I)
• Ability to work as part of a team, supporting others through behaviour and empathy to deliver goals (S&I)
• Capability to demonstrate how activities contribute to the wider strategic objectives of an organisation and external stakeholders (S&I)
• Experience in leading delivery of activities to achieve wider goals, including appropriate planning, making effective decisions and influencing others (S&I)
• Creativity, adaptability and willingness to change. (I)

Online applications only are accepted for this role. Please submit a CV and “Application Statement”. Each document should be no more than three pages.

For further information please contact Joe Shearring (EPSRC Co-Chair Assessment Centre and Head of Regional Engagement) who is leading this recruitment joe.shearring@epsrc.ukri.org

Benefits

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.

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.