Economic and Social Research Council -Portfolio Officer x 2
(Smart Data Research UK Strategic Hub Team / Data Strategy and Infrastructure Team)
Job title: Portfolio Officer
Salary: £30,895 per annum
Band: UKRI Band C
Hours: Full-time or 0.8 FTE role.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (until March 2029 x1 / February 2027 x1)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available
Closing Date: 13th July 2026
If Fixed Term: Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.
Responsible to:
Post 1: Head of Programme and Investment Management
Post 2: Senior Portfolio Manager
Contract Type:
Post 1: Fixed Term until March 2029.
Post 2: Fixed Term until February 2027.
ESRC is a major funder of the creation, collection and sharing of high-quality data that researchers, policymakers and practitioners use to address social challenges, increase public benefit and advance the UK’s reputation as a world leader in social science.
An ESRC Portfolio Officer plays a crucial role in the delivery of their team’s objectives, particularly in relation to the management and development of key programmes, investments and partnerships
As this role will involve interaction with grant holders and partners, as well as attendance at events and conferences, the role may involve travel, including overnight stays.
Data Strategy and Infrastructure Team
The Data Strategy and Infrastructure team carries out the development, commissioning, and investment management for our data collections (such as Understanding Society and the birth cohort studies) and data services (including the UK Data Service). We provide strategic direction for investments and facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange through engagement with the investment teams and other partners. We are also responsible for the monitoring and assurance of the investments to ensure that the data collections are of high quality and meet the needs of the social science research community, and to ensure that the data services and facilities enable safe and ethical use of data in research and innovation.
Smart Data Research UK
Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) is the UK’s national programme for smart data research, with a mission to unlock the power of data to improve lives
www.sdruk.ukri.org At the heart of the programme are six data services - teams of experts from research institutes across the country. The data services build partnerships with data owners and provide secure access to data for researchers. Coordination and leadership are provided by a Strategic Hub team, based at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Play an active role in team activities to support the delivery of the ESRC’s vision for social science and data infrastructure
Operate effectively within a matrix management environment on one or more assignments with the flexibility and resilience to respond to the changing demands of a fast-paced environment.
Support programmes of work with attention to detail in the creation and maintenance of a range of programme documentation.
Meeting servicing and support to organise and administer a range of meetings, workshops and events.
Meeting management including creation, collation and distribution of agendas and papers, attending meetings, taking notes/minutes and recording actions.
Assist with the development of information and promotional materials, both online and in print, for audience groups.
Support the organisation of a series of online and offline events to build awareness about our work, services, and impact.
Coordinate and support a range of administrative functions including the team mailbox, team days, workshops, events, and other operational activities.
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential
Planning and organisational skills, including the ability to effectively prioritise and manage complex activities. (S&I).
Good communication skills, including the ability to use appropriate styles and methods to maximise impact and understanding. (S&I).
Ability to work both collaboratively and independently to achieve progress in objective delivery, escalating where necessary. (S&I).
Analytical skills with the ability to evaluate, report, and act on complex information of various forms, including numerical data. (S&I).
Experience of meeting support, such as creating agendas, minute taking, and sending invitations. (S&I).
Good general PC skills including a good working knowledge of MS Office packages and document management systems such as MS Teams. (S).
A degree or equivalent experience or experience of working in an equivalent environment or role (S).
To apply you must attach your CV (2 pages max.) and a covering letter (2 pages max.), ensuring that your cover letter addresses the essential shortlisting and interview criteria.
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. Committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:
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)
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
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.
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.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the public sector organisation that invests £8 billion annually to support the entire research and innovation system. We strive for a society powered and empowered by research and innovation, with economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for all.
We invest in people, places, ideas, innovation and impacts, empowering researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to turn the many challenges we all face into opportunities, driving up prosperity and wellbeing across the UK and globally.
The impacts of our work are felt right across society. We enrich lives by increasing our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, supporting innovative businesses and public services, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK.
