Salary : £45,272 Per Annum
Hours : Full Time (Condensed Hours / Flexible Working)
Contract Type : Fixed Term Contract (Until Mid Sep Secondments Considered)
Location : Polaris House, Swindon or Caxton House, London (Hybrid Working)
Grade : E
Closing Date: Wednesday 1 October 2025
Job Overview:
The purpose of this role is to support UKRI's ambitions for open research, by supporting and leading strategy and policy development, and implementation, across UKRI and with external stakeholders. The role is responsible for implementation and strategic progress of the UKRI open access policy for monographs, book chapters, and edited collections, and wider aspects of the open access publications portfolio, including related responsible research assessment change.
UKRI champions open research and innovation through bold and ambitious policy, practice and technological innovations to achieve transparent, collaborative and diverse research that operates globally. The role will help build the evidence base to understand the trends in open research, in particular open access. This includes developing and implementing UKRI's own strategies, policies, and processes, and progressing how we effectively partner across the research and innovation sector to deliver UKRI's strategy and vision.
The role is part of the Open Research Strategy team which is part of the wider Research, Innovation, Culture and Environment group that covers research integrity, global mobility, equality and inclusion and research culture.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead the implementation and strategic progress of the UKRI open access policy for monographs, book chapters, and edited collections.
This includes oversight and coordinating delivery of a dedicated funding programme, working across UKRI, as well as advising and reporting to the Open Access Strategy Lead and Head of Open Research on budget and forecasting for the fund. You will take responsibility for interventions to support policy aims, including scoping, planning, steering and setting direction of strategic projects and activities.
* Develop options and advice to inform key decision making, sometimes to rapid timescales.
This will support the development and implementation of policies, strategies, programmes, and interventions to enable ongoing improvement in open research by working with colleagues across the organisation and sector. This includes but is not limited to the UKRI open access policy and San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment,
* Lead and support strategic stakeholder communication and engagement
This would be across a spectrum of stakeholders in the research and innovation sector, private sector, and charity sector on UKRI's ambition and activities in open research. This includes communicating clearly and effectively in reactive situations, anticipating stakeholder reactions and needs, addressing questions and concerns, and managing complex discussions even when details are not clear, or recommendations are unpopular. This also includes serving as Secretariat for strategic external and internal groups and committees, including setting agenda, drafting papers, taking minutes, presenting issues for decisions or discussion, and subsequently coordinating actions across stakeholders
* Contribute to the work of the Open Research team and wider UKRI.
This includes supporting the Head of team, working collaboratively across UKRI, and with a wide range of stakeholders including policy leads in government, and international partners. Activities may include developing, sharing, and facilitating good practice at a national and international level. You will support planning and project management within the team, taking responsibility for management and delivery of specific projects, and coordinating the benefits realisation of tools, products and interventions resulting from projects. In addition, you will engage with cross-UKRI activities related to organisational change and contributing to the UKRI working environment.
The role reports to a Strategy Lead in the Open Research team.
All members of the team:
* Develop relationships across the R&I community to help UKRI better understand our role as steward of the sector and what that means.
* Support the development of a suite of communication tools to help UKRI to message successfully to the community our ambition and activity in this area
* Support colleagues across UKRI and the wider Executive team on matters relating to the team's topic area
* Contribute to the broader working of UKRI
* Within the flexible work style of this organisation, individual responsibilities may evolve and change to manage the broader range of work priorities.
Person Specification:
(S) – Shortlisting Criteria (I) – Interview Criteria (S & I) - Shortlisting Criteria & Interview Criteria
Essential
* Strong understanding and knowledge of scholarly communication and open access, both within the UK context and more widely (S & I)
* Balance competing priorities and work to deadlines in a fast-paced policy environment, responding positively and often independently to shifting priorities (S & I)
* Strong organisational skills and attention to detail and the ability to project / programme plan (S & I)
* Building strong collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders (S & I)
* Able to address strategic questions based on evidence and information from analysis, and support the development of policy / intervention options creatively (S & I)
* Communicate clearly and effectively, providing high-quality written and verbal advice to CEO level (S & I)
* Experience delivering and influencing through others, including through engagement with senior staff internally and externally (S & I)
* Strong teamwork and the ability and willingness to support others to meet organisational and strategic objectives (S & I)
Application Guidance:
We encourage you to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in your cover letter to demonstrate how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. To be considered for interview, your cover letter must provide clear evidence against all of the listed criteria.
You may choose to structure your letter according to the criteria for clarity. Please ensure your cover letter is no longer than two sides of A4, using a minimum font size of 11. For guidance and examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service '.
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 We offer:
* 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 Further information can be found below:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Important Information:
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer. Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact
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 or contact .
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the vacancy may close before the advertised deadline.