Programme Director for Clean Energy and Growth COUNCIL: NERC REPORTS TO: Professor Louise Heathwaite (Senior Responsible Owner) BASE LOCATION: Swindon with travel to other locations SALARY: £94,931- £117,800 Per Annum CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended (Permanent) HOURS: Full or Part Time(Min 0.8 FTE) TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Travel to other locations in the UK will be required CLOSING DATE: 29 March 2026 (We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications) ABOUT UKRI UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is an independent, non-departmental public body, which invests £8bn per annum in research and innovation. We bring together nine executive council partners (the seven Research Councils, plus Innovate UK, and Research England) with a shared vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. UKRI also provides coordinated strategic advice to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the balance of funding between research disciplines. We employ 8,000 staff who support 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 and work collaboratively with industry, academia, and government in exciting partnerships. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through blue skies research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research and business-led innovation. ABOUT THE ROLE As Programme Director, Clean Energy and Growth, your systems view will shape UKRI's contribution to the Governments Clean Energy sector plan and the UK's broader net-zero ambitions. You will provide clear and authoritative insight into this complex and competitive field, enabling informed research and innovation investments that attract industry leverage and maximise the economic and societal benefits of the clean energy transition. Reporting to the Senior Responsible Owner for the Clean Energy and Growth, you will: provide strategic leadership of this programme area across UKRI, ensuring coherent and high ‑ impact investments that advance national research and innovation priorities work in close partnership with other Programme Directors across Industrial Strategy sectors, shaping cross ‑ cutting initiatives where environmental and engineering sciences intersect with digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and national security build and maintain trusted, high ‑ level relationships across government, academia, and industry, navigating diverse and competing perspectives to deliver authoritative, evidence ‑ based decisions. ABOUT YOU You will already be an accomplished leader with the credibility to operate at senior levels across research, innovation, and public-sector organisations. To succeed in this role, you will bring substantial senior leadership experience in delivering major, multi ‑ disciplinary programmes or portfolios with clear accountability for outcomes at a Programme Director or similar level You will be confident in shaping programme strategy and securing approval from the highest levels of stakeholder governance. You will have a track record of designing delivery approaches for multi-faceted programmes, and of operationalising systems-wide approaches that recognise and manage their interdependencies. You will have demonstrable experience in hands-on programme management, including designing and leading delivery models, risk management, benefits realisation, and governance - demonstrating ownership and providing active leadership to ensure objectives, outputs and outcomes are achieved within agreed time and cost parameters. You will excel at building relationships and working collaboratively with senior stakeholders across academia, government, and industry. A key part of the role is facilitating effective, inclusive partnerships and navigating multiple or conflicting stakeholder views - confidently defending your position where necessary, while working constructively toward defendable outcomes. You will bring a proven record of leading high ‑ performing teams, including matrixed or cross ‑ organisational teams, with the ability to inspire, motivate and guide colleagues. You will have a collaborative, inclusive and transparent leadership style, uniting colleagues around a shared understanding, common purpose, and a clear commitment to delivering robust programme outcomes at pace and scale. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the development and effective implementation of the Clean Energy and Growth Programme strategy, with the SRO. Design and launch the Programme operating model, and appropriate governance arrangements including risk and benefits realisation. Be accountable for the successful delivery of the Programme as per the scope, outcomes and benefits agreed with the SRO. Lead external stakeholder engagement, facilitating support and partnerships for programme activities, including with government, domain experts, and industry in the net zero research and innovation landscape. Manage the programme budget of £202m over the spending review period 26/27-29/30 including operational expenditure budget, ensuring compliance with UKRI policies and processes. Relationship management between the Programme, UKRI Councils, UKRI Executive Committee and UKRI Board. Broker effective collaboration across UKRI councils and with external partners to strengthen the UK environmental science and engineering ecosystem and accelerate societal impact and the contribution of the sector to growth. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Extensive leadership experience delivering multi ‑ faceted programmes at scale, including cross-organisational initiatives, with a proven ability to drive coherence, alignment, and impact across organisational boundaries. Strong credibility with the R&I community: a PhD qualification or equivalent research and innovation experience, and recognised expertise that commands senior stakeholder confidence. Strategic thinker able to shape long-term opportunities, translate government net zero priorities into actionable system-wide plans at pace, and deliver measurable results that advance national objectives. Demonstrable capability in designing and implementing robust governance, assurance, and performance frameworks, including programme evaluation, risk management, and the stewardship of significant public budgets. Evidence of extensive, high-level stakeholder networks and the ability to influence across complex and diverse environments, including effective engagement with senior government bodies and industry leaders. Deep understanding across the environmental and engineering sciences innovation pipeline including the scientific, technological, and commercial challenges accelerating the transition to net zero and translating research into real world impact. INCENTIVES UKRI can offer the successful candidate: - Flexible Working - 30 days annual leave Public Holidays - Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme - Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) APPLICATION GUIDANCE How to evidence the criteria: We encourage you to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in your cover letter to clearly demonstrate how your experience meets each of the 'person specification' criteria outlined in the job description. For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service'. Please ensure your CV and cover letter are no longer than two A4 pages each, using a minimum font size of 11. Once submitted, your application cannot be edited via our careers website; however, if you encounter any issues or need to update your documents, please contact us at seniorrecruitment@ukri.org OTHER INFORMATION If you'd like to have an informal chat about the role before applying, you're welcome to get in touch with us at seniorrecruitment@ukri.orgJob Title: Programme Director for Clean Energy and Growth | Council: NERC | Base location: Swindon with travel to other locations | Salary: £94,931 - £117,000 Per Annum | Contract and Duration: Open ended | Hours: full time & part time (min 0.8 FTE) | Travel Requirements: Travel to other locations in the UK