MRC Head of Programme: Infrastructure and Project Management
The Medical Research Council (MRC)
Salary: £56,745 per annum
Band: UKRI F
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 30 hours per week)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
Closing Date: 03/02/25
Role purpose:
We are looking for a skilled and effective Head of Programme to support delivery of MRC’s strategy and pipeline for infrastructure and capital funding and drive excellence in project management and business case development within the infrastructure programme. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to support the development and implementation of a portfolio of high-profile projects that will deliver real-world impact in the medical sciences.
About the role
The Head of Programme for Infrastructure and Project Management will:
Support the strategic development and delivery of MRC’s strategy and pipeline for infrastructure and capital funding
Support MRC’s infrastructure and technology horizon scanning and input into wider strategic projects of relevance to the role, including working with UKRI and government on input into roadmaps and reviews, and their subsequent delivery
Lead on ensuring a consistent approach to project management within the infrastructure programme and its constituent parts, driving excellence in project management across MRC
Lead the development and submission of compelling business cases, and the planning and delivery of associated Gateway Reviews
Lead a consistent approach to risk and financial management relevant to the portfolio area of responsibility
Act as MRC representative, liaison or observer as appropriate (e.g. for UKRI and wider committees, working parties, external scientific committees, patient groups, etc) and maintain awareness and relationships with key MRC/UKRI infrastructural investments
Provide briefing for the MRC Executive Chair, MRC Senior Executive Team, UKRI, BEIS, DHSC and other Govt departments, and preparing responses to external consultations or enquiries as required
Contribute to MRC documents (e.g. Annual Report, Strategic Delivery Plan) in relation to areas within portfolio remit
Contribute to MRC-wide activities and any other duties as required.
Person Specification
The below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)
Essential:
PhD relevant to the work of MRC (S)
Significant experience working in health research management (S)
Experience of leading strategy or project development and delivery within a multi-stakeholder environment (S/I)
Ability to form strong working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders at all levels, whilst being able to challenge, negotiate, influence and persuade where necessary (S/I)
Experience of managing and mitigating risks and issues and understanding of the importance of escalating where required (I)
Ability to handle, analyse and present complex information (scientific, financial, policy, ethical) (S/I)
Ability to manage staff (including through matrix management) (S/I)
Ability to plan and prioritise workload, adapting flexibly and quickly to different tasks and challenges and handling several tasks and projects simultaneously (I)
Excellent written communication skills, able to tailor style to a range of scientific, executive, and lay audiences (S/I)
Desirable:
Experience of financial management and planning (S/I)
Experience of Treasury Green Book Business case development (S/I)
How to apply
Online applications only for this role. Please submit a CV and a covering letter which clearly describes how you fulfil the key job criteria specified, along with your motivation for the role and working for the MRC. Your CV and covering letter should not exceed 3 pages each.
Note that failure to address the above criteria in your covering letter, or failure to submit 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.
Please ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded.
Working relationships:
Reports to: Associate Director of Infrastructure
In addition to close working relationships with staff in the challenge-led directorate, the role involves developing and maintaining a broad range of working relationships within MRC and externally, including:
Other directorates/teams within MRC Head Office, notably those within the areas of the investigator-led directorate, strategy development, international, evaluation and finance.
Members of MRC Science Strategy Board, Council and Oversight Groups.
Members of the scientific community, and senior university staff in HEIs with significant MRC infrastructure investments.
Scientific initiatives and consortia of relevance (UK and international), other Research Councils across UKRI, research charities, NIHR and other public funding bodies, and commercial organisations with a biomedical R&D interest.
Other key information
The post holder will be based in the Swindon Office but will be required to travel to London on occasion and to attend meetings/workshops in other UK and/or overseas locations.
The post holder will need to work early and/or late when required – especially around key meetings and events.
The MRC operates flexible working between office locations and home, in line with business needs and maintaining a strong office presence.
About the Medical Research Council (MRC)
Within UKRI, the MRC seeks to improve human health through world-class research. With an annual budget of over £800 m, MRC provides support both to individuals, through fellowships and grants, and to institutions, such as the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology and the Francis Crick Institute. The outcomes of our research span discovery science, improvements in public health and the development of new treatments for common diseases.
For more information about MRC, please visit
https://mrc.ukri.org 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 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 at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . 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. 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.
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https://mrc.ukri.org 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 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 at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . 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. 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.
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