About us

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EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing over £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects from mathematics to manufacturing, from AI to advanced materials, and information and communications technology (ICT) to structural engineering.

EPSRCs vision is to deliver the world-leading engineering and physical sciences (EPS) research and skills base needed for a sustainable and prosperous UK. We create insights, transformative technologies and impactful outcomes for the economy, environment, and society delivering against national and global priorities, and securing industry co-investment to boost R&D spend beyond 2.4% of GDP.

About you:

As an EPSRC Portfolio Manager, you will work with the Engineering and Physical Sciences research community to achieve EPSRCs aim to put the UK at the forefront of international research.

Your role will be varied, building relationships with universities and industry, managing our decision-making processes and policy development activities to ensure we fund research of the highest quality, and planning and implementing community events to foster new, innovative, research programmes.

You will help to develop and structure ideas for future activities in a strongly team-based organisation as well as working with other Government Departments and other Councils within UKRI.

This role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own projects and activities. Travel in the UK will be required in most roles.

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
  • Working with external stakeholders to manage strategic relationships with key influencers in universities and business through representing EPSRC in external networks and meetings
  • Working across teams to ensure cross portfolio understanding and joint initiatives as appropriate
  • 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 graduates and postgraduates with a research background (or those with equivalent education, training, or professional development) who can demonstrate the potential to succeed. You will be a creative thinker who can work effectively independently and with colleagues, be an excellent communicator and manage your time effectively.

    What we offer:

    You will be given responsibility for one of EPSRCs portfolios and will help develop ideas for future activities in a strongly team-based organisation as well as working with other Government Departments and Councils within UKRI. This role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own projects and activities. Interaction with stakeholders especially in universities is important part of the role.

    The roles being advertised are initial roles and we actively encourage interaction across teams and portfolio managers are encouraged to take on new opportunities within EPSRC to broaden their knowledge and experience.

    We recognise and value employees as individuals and aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance and a number of other benefits.

    Shortlisting (S) & Interview (I) Criteria:

    Assessment of the following essential skills will be made via shortlisting, networking with a senior leader within EPSRC and an interview which will include a presentation:

  • Graduate or postgraduate (or equivalent) who can demonstrate the potential to succeed (S)
  • Effective communication skills (verbal, presentational and written) (S, I)
  • Problem solving and analytical skills (S)
  • Ability to work as part of a team (S, I)
  • A focus on achievement (S, I)
  • Leadership skills, including facilitation skills and an ability to influence others through behaviour and empathy (S, I)
  • Strategic awareness (S, I)
  • Planning and organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise and manage complex activities (S, I)
  • Creativity, adaptability and openness to change. (S, I)

    • Contact:

    For further information please contact Katie Blaney (EPSRC Head of Mathematical Sciences) who is leading this recruitment .

    How to Apply:

  • Only online applications will be accepted for this role. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact the UKRI Recruitment team via recruitment@ukri.org. 
  • As part of the application, please submit your CV (maximum of 2 pages) and a Cover Letter (maximum of 3 pages). In the Cover Letter, provide evidenced examples clearly explaining how your abilities, experiences and skills demonstrate each of the criteria for the Research Portfolio Manager role. You are advised to familiarise yourself with the STAR methodology (see: Mindtools), which is a useful framework for providing these examples.
  • Please ensure your name is included in the filename description of each document uploaded.

    • Further Information About the Process:

  • If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to an in-person assessment centre that will take place at Polaris House in Swindon.
  • This will include the following: competency-based interview where you will be asked to give examples that demonstrate that you are able to cover the interview criteria presentation – you will be provided with instructions to complete and prepare a short presentation that you would give, and that would be the subject of a discussion based on the assessment criteria group exercise with other participants at the assessment centre networking session to meet and have a discussion with a senior member of staff at EPSRC.
  • You are applying for a Research Portfolio Manager position in EPSRC and are likely to be placed in either our Cross Council or Research Base directorate. Through expressing your preference, you will help us to decide which post might be most suitable for you, should you be successful. We may also consider you for another Research Portfolio Manager position and the vacant posts may be subject to change.
  • Your application and performance through this recruitment process may be used for other Research Portfolio Manager (Grade D) opportunities that arise within an appropriate timeframe.
  • If you are successful in your application and take up a position as a Research Portfolio Manager in EPSRC, you may be required to move to another of our posts at the same grade or could be asked to comprise elements from one or more of our themes, strategies, or projects.

    • About the Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC)

    The Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) is a partner organisation within UKRI, providing essential research and skills for all sectors of the economy, and through this aims to enhance long-term societal well-being and prosperity. 

    EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding this research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. They invest over £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects from mathematics to materials science and from information technology to structural engineering. 

    Please see the following links for further details: 

    Organisation – https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/organisationofepsrc/ 

    Facts about EPSRC – https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/facts/ 

    About EPSRC – https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/ 

    About UK Research Innovation (UKRI) 

    UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. 

    Supporting some of the worlds most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation. 

    More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

    Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

    How we support EDI in the workforce 

    At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit How we support EDI in the workforce. 

    Disability Confident Employer

    As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.