Deputy Director of Investment Strategy

Open Ended, Full Time, however flexible working arrangements may be considered

Based at UKRI’s Swindon or London office, hybrid working available with regular travel to both locations

About UKRI:

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Role Overview:

The Deputy Director of Investment Strategy is a pivotal role within the UKRI Investment Planning and Strategy Group. This role provides an exciting opportunity to significantly contribute to UKRI and the wider research and innovation landscape in the UK. Reporting directly to the Chief of Investment Planning and Strategy, the Deputy Director will lead critical initiatives, oversee fiscal events like Spending Reviews, and advise on the allocation of UKRI’s £9bn annual budget. This role involves close collaboration with senior leadership across UKRI and key government departments to drive impactful investment strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire a team of senior strategy professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and adaptability. Ensure the team delivers high-quality, timely strategic functions.
• Formulate UKRI’s overall investment strategy, focusing on research and innovation as drivers of growth and prosperity across the UK. Develop and present new policy ideas to the Board, Ministers, and the external community.
• Lead UKRI’s approach to the Spending Review, including evidence collation and policy development. Maintain positive relationships with DSIT and HM Treasury.
• Provide strategic advice to the UKRI Board and senior committees on financial allocations and overall strategy, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation processes are in place.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across the research and innovation community, businesses, and government to build consensus for R&D investment.
• Act as the key interface between DSIT and UKRI on investment strategy issues, ensuring clear and regular communication.
• Lead the production and publication of UKRI strategy documents, working closely with communications to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness.
• Oversee policy development from conception to implementation, improving the effectiveness and sustainability of the research and innovation system.

About You:

Candidates will be assessed against the following essential skills and experience throughout the recruitment process:

• Outstanding forward thinker with the ability to challenge the status quo and develop novel, evidence-based solutions, backed up by robust evidence and arguments.
• Excellent leadership skills, creating and delivering for one UKRI through highly engaged, high-performing teams including connected colleagues across the organisation.
• Experienced team player, able to listen, contribute equally, and encourage a wide range of opinions and expertise of generating trusted relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, across organisational and sectoral boundaries.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, capable of explaining and generating buy-in from senior audiences in UKRI, government, and externally.
• Outstanding analytical skills, with a track record of developing evidence-based policy proposals.
• Ability to critically and positively challenge at all levels within the organisation and demonstrate credibility and earn respect within Whitehall up to Ministerial level.
• Ability to assimilate and draw strategy conclusions from wide ranging views and bodies of evidence and experience of driving strategy development and delivery in a complex organisational environment.
• Politically astute with excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence, build, and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including in high-pressure situations. Experience of detailed policy development is desirable.
• Experience in solving complex problems in policy-relevant environments, including financial planning and analysis and capable of working flexibly in a changing environment.
• Strong understanding of working with central government, especially on spending decisions, and experience in or a very strong understanding of the research and innovation sector.

Qualifications 

• Essential: Degree or relevant qualification, or equivalent experience
• Desirable: Relevant qualifications in science, research, or innovation

For the full role, responsibilities and requirements, please visit our Careers Portal.

Benefits:

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 to Apply:

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role against the full specification (via the ‘Apply’ button above). Please aim for no more than 2 pages per document. The closing date for applications is 6 September 2024. Interviews are expected to take place towards the end of September 2024.  Further information can be found on our Careers Portal.

UKRI is an inclusive employer that values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.