UK Research & Innovation

Salary: £30,895 per annum

Band: UKRI Band C

Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months) (Maternity Cover)

Hours: Full-time (flexible working available)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available (1-2 days per week in the office)

Closing Date: 8th February 2026

About the role

As the Learning Support Manager, you will play a pivotal role in offering guidance and operational support across UKRI.

The UKRI Learning & Leadership Team is committed to cultivating a culture of continuous learning and development. We offer expert guidance and support to both management and employees, helping them excel through dynamic communities of practice.

 Our mission is to drive ongoing improvement, adapt to evolving organisational needs, and collaborate with colleagues to deliver innovative Learning & Development and Organisational Design solutions.

Your responsibilities:

•         Provide professional, quality advice and guidance on L&L/OD matters.

•         Support the design and delivery of L&D/OD initiatives to optimize career progression, leadership capabilities and professional development.

•         Adherence to L&L principles.

•         Facilitate/ training delivery of meetings, working groups, briefings etc.

•         Evaluate and compile accurate management information reports.

•         Undertake research and CPD to keep knowledge current and apply best practice.

Personal Specification 

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

Essential

•         5 GCSE grade C/5 or above or equivalent L&D/OD qualification or relevant experience (S)

•         Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (S&I)

•         Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible (I)

•         Ability to work under own initiative and work proactively with minimum supervision (I)

•         Ability to overcome obstacles, handle a varied workload and deal with conflicting demands (I)

•         Microsoft Office suite literacy and ability to manipulate and extract complex data (S&I)

•         Excellent organisational skills (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 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) 

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected].

Although this role could be eligible for sponsorship unfortunately the proposed salary precludes sponsorship unless the individual currently receives sponsorship for another role/sponsor issued under a certificate of sponsorship dated prior to 5 April 2024, and who continues to meet the New Entrant criteria (see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/when-you-can-be-paid-less).

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. 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.

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.