Director of Research - Research England

Director of Research – Research England
Base Location: Bristol – Hybrid Working.
Grade: UKRI-Band H – Reports to: Executive Chair, Research England.
Salary: £86,731 per annum.
Contract: Open-Ended.
Hours: Full Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants).
Closing Date: 23:55 Sunday 6th September 2026.

Role Purpose

The Director of Research provides strategic, intellectual and delivery leadership for Research England’s research funding and research policy responsibilities.

The role ensures that strategic institutional research funding delivers excellence, sustainability and national capability, and that Research England acts as an authoritative and influential system leader within the UK and internationally.

As a member of the Research England Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Research contributes to collective organisational leadership while holding clear accountability for research policy and funding, acting as a voice for academic research.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Research Funding and Policy Leadership:

Hold executive accountability for Strategic Institutional Research Funding (c. £2bn per year), including policy design, allocation frameworks, governance, risk management, and outcomes as well as key drivers of excellence such as integrity, culture, impact, and open research.

Lead the strategic development and evolution of Research England’s research funding approach, ensuring alignment with government priorities, UKRI strategy and the long-term sustainability and dynamism of the university research base.

Coordinate the design, review and delivery of institutional research funding streams, to balance excellence, resilience, capability development and public value.

Interventions to drive the system forward where change is needed to support the sector to perform at the highest level while supporting stability in areas of particular risk.

Provide authoritative advice to the Executive Chair, Research England Council, UKRI senior leadership and for Government on research policy, funding strategy and system risk.

Research Excellence and Assessment

Provide senior leadership for Research England’s approach to research excellence in research assessment, working in close partnership with REF Senior Leadership. 

Evidence, Insight and Thought Leadership

Lead the research evidence and data agenda underpinning strategic institutional research funding, ensuring it is robust, future-oriented and fit for executive and ministerial decision-making.

Ensure strong data and evidence demonstrating outcomes and making the case for future investment.

Apply high-level strategic judgement to complex evidence, combining quantitative analysis with contextual understanding of the research and higher education system.

Act as a recognised authority in national and international research policy debates, providing intellectual leadership on research excellence, sustainability and system performance.
   
Collective Leadership and Organisational Contribution

Act as a full member of the Research England Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy, priority-setting, risk management and performance.

Work collaboratively with fellow Directors to ensure coherent policy development, funding design, evidence use and external engagement.

Lead through influence, professional authority and shared purpose, modelling inclusive, values-led leadership at senior level.
   
Executive Chair Support and UKRI System Leadership

Act as a principal adviser to the Executive Chair on research policy, funding strategy and the health and sustainability of the university research system.

Represent Research England, where delegated, in senior UKRI, government and sector forums, exercising judgement and authority on complex system issues, building positive relationships with stakeholders.

Exercise leadership across UKRI, contributing to UKRI-wide priorities, senior leadership groups and cross-organisational initiatives, and shaping collective approaches to research system challenges.

The essential criteria below will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I):

• Proven ability to lead high performing teams with significant senior-level experience of developing and leading national or international research policy and/or research funding programmes working collaboratively across organisational and system boundaries (S&I).
• Demonstrable experience providing strategic advice on complex research and innovation policy issues, with the credibility, influencing and communication skills to engage effectively with ministers, senior executives and governing boards (S&I).
• Authoritative understanding of the UK and international research and innovation system, including university research funding, sustainability and performance (S&I).
• Experience of leading large-scale funding programmes and operating effectively within complex governance environments (S&I).
• Outstanding strategic judgement with the ability to navigate complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity at system level (I).
• Strong analytical capability, including the effective use of data and evidence to inform executive and policy decisions (S&I).
• Demonstrates visible, values-led and inclusive leadership, leading through influence, credibility and shared purpose while inspiring confidence, resilience and integrity in complex and politically sensitive environments (I).
• Acts as a system leader, taking ownership of outcomes beyond organisational boundaries and fostering collaboration to deliver public value and organisational excellence (I).

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 our benefits below:  

• An outstanding defined salary 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.

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 [email protected]   

Interviews will be held in person in our London Offices during the first week of October 2026.
 

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 world’s 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, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. 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.

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.

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 rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.