Description
Salary: £45,272
Hours: Full Time / Part Time (Min 30hrs per week)
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (12 Months)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid Working)
Grade: E
Closing Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025
** Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place. **
Job Overview:
Senior International Policy and Stakeholder Managers play a key role in delivering the priorities of the UKRI International Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team within UKRI International, reporting to either the Head of International Strategy and Policy or the Head of International Policy and Stakeholder Engagement (the former for this particular role).
This post will therefore support – and where appropriate, lead – on the development and implementation of a number of our international policies and approaches, as well as our strategic engagement with a range of key stakeholders within UKRI, the wider UK R&I sector, as well as internationally. The role will also contribute to the broader design and delivery of UKRI International’s strategy, as well as influence and help shape broader strategies across UKRI and wider government to ensure UKRI International priorities are appropriately reflected.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead on the strategic development and practical implementation of UKRI’s Equitable Partnerships policy within our international activities, working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure it is effective and aligns with best practice and operational needs.
- Lead on the management of UKRI’s policies and compliance for Official Development Assistance (ODA) requirements across our international portfolio.
- Management of UKRI International’s relationship with UK Collaboration for Development Research (UKCDR) to provide closer alignment and drive UKRI and other partners’ objectives and needs across the international development landscape.
- Supporting senior UKRI leadership in their engagement with HMG oversight and governance of ODA R&I.
- Work with UKRI’s Funding Policy team to co-develop and support their management of UKRI’s safeguarding policies, particularly in relation to policies and cases relating to international collaboration.
- Provide ad hoc support to the implementation of UKRI’s Geopolitical Response Plan in times of high workload.
- Contribute to the strategic aims and approach of the International Strategy and Policy sub-team within UKRI International by co-developing team objectives and planning.
- Provide line management to 1 Band D within the team.
Person Specification:
(S) – Shortlisting Criteria (I) – Interview Criteria (S & I) - Shortlisting Criteria & Interview Criteria
Essential
- Strong organisational 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. (S)
- Experience of working with external stakeholders and developing senior level partnerships, ideally in an international or governmental/political setting or with international partners and stakeholders. (S)
- Strong people management skills and the ability to contribute effectively to and – where appropriate – manage and motivate cross-organisational teams. (S)
- Evidence of working collaboratively with and influencing senior leadership within UKRI. (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. (I)
- An ability to influence and persuade others, negotiate diplomatically, build networks, work with people of all levels and to build good relationships and effective partnerships with them. (I)
- Experience of strategic thinking and development of policy, preferably in a research and innovation funding context. (S & I)
- Demonstrable experience of working on/ and awareness of key issues concerning international research and innovation policy and funding, particularly in international development research context. (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 and papers. (S & I)
- Flexibility to travel overseas if required. (I)
Application Guidance:
How to evidence the criteria:
You are encouraged to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in the cover letter to evidence your ability to meet the ‘person specification’ criteria in the job description. Cover letters should be no more than two sides of A4 (minimum font size 11). For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service’.
Qualifications
About UKRI International
UKRI International enables and delivers cross-cutting international activity on behalf of all of UKRI, working in partnership with all 9 councils and corporate areas of UKRI, UK Government, and partners in the UK and across the world.
We lead UKRI’s long-standing relationships with North America, India, China, and the European Commission through our offices in Washington DC, Ottawa, New Delhi, Beijing. We design & deliver centrally managed international funds, develop strong international partnerships where we do not have offices, provide a robust evidence base for UKRI’s international work through analysis and evaluation, create and implement a strategic approach to UKRI’s international policy and stakeholders, and ensure our international operations are carried out to high standards of governance and effectiveness.
UKRI’s approach to internal collaboration is set out in the UKRI International Strategic Framework (UKRI international strategic framework – UKRI) which describes how our international work directly contributes to each of UKRI’s 6 strategic objectives.
UKRI International is comprised of 10 teams:
International Data, Evaluation, Analysis and Reporting
Horizon Europe Guarantee and TCP
UK Research Office
International Funds
International Governance & Operations
International Partnerships
International Policy & Stakeholder Engagement
UKRI China – Beijing
UKRI India – New Delhi
UKRI North America – Washington & Ottawa
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'.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
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.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the experience section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Find out more about our benefits - Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
