Senior REF Policy and Engagement Advisor

Senior Research Excellence Framework (REF) Policy and Engagement Advisor
Research England
Salary: £46,743 per annum | UKRI Band E | Closing date: 14 July 2026
Hours: Full time (0.8 FTE minimum)
Contract Type: Two years fixed-term
Location: Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SR

At Research England, we invest in world-class research and knowledge exchange to strengthen England's universities, drive economic growth, and deliver lasting benefits for society. Our work supports discovery, collaboration and innovation, helping to address global challenges and build opportunities for future generations. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact through public service, we'd love to hear from you.

The post holder will join the strategic projects programme in Research England, UKRI. This programme is driving forward how Research England enables collaboration across the university sector in line with the ambitions of the Post-16 education and skills white paper. The programme will work with colleagues in Research England and across UKRI, as well as with universities, government and other collaborators. The post holder will develop and deliver policy, deliver funding opportunities and contribute to providing thought leadership in this area.

UKRI supports internal secondments across UKRI.

Purpose

This is a key role for Research England – you will develop a strong understanding of how policies are built concerning universities and advance sector-wide transformation. You will enable roadmap-based activities, manage funding for new opportunities, and bring together stakeholders.

You will engage fully in detailed and sensitive discussions across senior leaders, to problem-solve, understand and drive forward change. You are encouraged to contribute to policy development and funding delivery in a rapidly evolving landscape.

You will need to be comfortable working in ambiguity and driving clarity in complex and interwoven landscapes.

You will be part of a small, highly motivated and dynamic programme team. As such you will work closely across the team, including with the Associate Director, as one of two senior programme managers within the programme.

This role is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team that are working at the forefront of new policy development to deliver meaningful change.

Main outputs and activities

• Develop and maintain detailed knowledge of opportunities for joint efforts throughout the university sector. Act as an authoritative source of advice on these opportunities. Distil key points of complex work programmes to different audiences.
• Contribute and lead different aspects of policy development in a constantly evolving and complex landscape. This will include the creation of roadmap-based forward planning.
• Provide funding opportunities that align to said policy development, including developing and leading driven funding calls.
• Bring together a wide range of views from a breadth of collaborators to advise the programme’s development, including providing briefing to senior stakeholders and decision makers.
• Become comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity, and part of highly motivated team.
• Represent the programme, and be able to distil complex activities, for various groups. This involves briefings, governance papers, and external discussions.

Essential Shortlisting Criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

• Proven knowledge and understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape, and the role that universities play within that landscape. (S&I)
• Ability to quickly develop a commanding knowledge on a new subject area. (S&I)
• Evidence of being at ease operating in rapidly changing and uncertain landscapes. This includes an ability to work flexibly and to adjust activity in response to a changing landscape. (S&I)
• Experience of leading a range of collaborators and developing a cohesive and coherent activity by bringing together multiple different views. (S&I)
• A strong communicator with experience of communicating to diverse groups. (S&I)
• Strong organisational and project management skills. (S&I)
• Evidence of contributing fully to a team in order to deliver complex outcomes. (S&I)

Benefits

UKRI values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, outstanding average salary pension scheme, employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities and employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.

For further information on our benefits please see the Benefits of Working at UKRI page on our website.

Should you be ready to make a meaningful contribution to the future of research and innovation in England, we'd love to hear from you. Join a collaborative, inclusive organisation where your expertise will help shape policy, influence investment, and support world-leading research that benefits people, places and the economy. Apply today and be part of a team making a real difference.

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 UK 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 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

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.