Horizon Europe Guarantee Programme Manager

UKRI Salary: £37,841 per annum. Band: UKRI Band D. Contract Type: Fixed Term (31st March 2028). Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available). Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.

Closing Date: Sunday 31st May 2026.

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 [https://www.ukri.org/publications/uk-research-and-innovation-recruitment-policy/ukri-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.  

About the role

The Horizon Europe Guarantee team manages and coordinates the delivery of the UK Governments Horizon Europe Guarantee on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).

A key part of the team’s role is to ensure that the UK Research and Innovation (R&I) sector remains supported via underwrite funding for Horizon Europe calls not covered by the Horizon Europe association deal announced by the UK government on September 7th 2023. This is a live programme with an expansive and diverse portfolio that requires high levels of attention to detail, a proactive nature, and an ability to build collaborative relationships across the organisation.

The team:

• Engages widely to ensure that the Guarantee is understood and trusted by the R&I community, working across UKRI, DSIT, and with partners to deliver proactive communications, including success stories and detailed briefings.
• Coordinates delivery of the Guarantee across UKRI to a high standard, ensuring grant processing times are short and remain so, and that grant holder enquiries are answered in a timely manner.
• Resolves policy questions around the guarantee in agreement with DSIT and in accordance with the overall goals of the Guarantee.
• Supports UKRI and DSIT engagement and planning for ongoing and future engagement in Europe’s R&I Framework Programmes.

 

Exact portfolios will be allocated based on team requirements and the skills and experience of team members.

Reporting to a Senior Programme Manager, you will support delivery of the Horizon Europe Guarantee. This will include identifying process improvements, policy gaps and areas for policy improvement, undertaking options appraisal and making the case for change; providing timely advice and information to colleagues, across UKRI, and key collaborators; engaging with the UK research community; leading/supporting project sprints; and supporting the wider team to ensure overall effective delivery of the Horizon Europe Guarantee.

You will collaborate within the Guarantee team and across UKRI to deliver flexibly and at pace. The role requires a proactive approach as well as excellent planning, engagement, and communication skills. The role holder will need to build positive relationships and work effectively across UKRI and with external partners, including internationally.

You will be expected to work collaboratively across the International directorate and UKRI to support efforts to boost the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe and planning for the next European Framework Programme (FP10).

Your Responsibilities

• Developing policy and process recommendations for the Horizon Europe Guarantee across the team remit.
• Support the implementation of new policies across UKRI, drafting briefing documents and guidance as required.
• Develop resources and guidance material for areas within your portfolio that
  1. help enable the UK research community to understand Horizon Europe and the Guarantee fund, and 2) support UKRI colleagues in their role delivering the Guarantee and European focused activities.
• To work collaboratively with teams across UKRI to understand emerging issues, conduct an option's appraisal, and present recommendations.
• Working with the team to triage and raise any complex queries and issues as required.
• Manage grant change requests and support grant holders with post-award grant management.
• Supporting UKRI engagement with the UK research and innovation community via the team mailbox, and in-person and virtual meetings.
• Supporting activities to ensure awareness of the Horizon Europe Guarantee, internally and externally.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with key collaborators, internally and externally.
• Contribute to ongoing fund management activities (e.g., working with colleagues in the International and UKRI central Evaluation teams).
• Leading/supporting on project sprints as team workload and priorities dictate.  
• Contribute to committees and working parties across UKRI, including preparing for and participating in meetings, and proactively identifying opportunities for communicating with colleagues across UKRI.
• Support the wider activities of UKRI International, taking on ad hoc activities as need to deliver the objectives of the wider team.
• Exemplify and promote the values of UKRI International.
• Deputising for Senior Managers as required.

 

Please note, these are not exhaustive lists and you might be expected to undertake any other duties, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of the role, for which you have the necessary experience and/or training.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience (S).
• Sound project management and organisational skills, with experience in delivering accurate, high-quality pieces of work at pace and to short deadlines (S&I).
• Ability to investigate and analyse problems systematically and develop reasoned proposals for action (S&I).
• The ability to multi-task, work flexibly and to plan, prioritise and manage delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects and activities with different timescales priorities and delivery mechanisms, working individually and as part of a team (S&I).
• Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to tailor information to a wide range of audiences, including senior decision-makers (S&I).
• Ability to influence and persuade others and negotiate diplomatically, with experience of establishing effective working relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders (S&I).
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships and networks with people at all levels, both internally with colleagues across an organisation and externally with key stakeholders (S&I).

Desirable

• Knowledge of Horizon Europe and international research policy (S).
• Knowledge of UKRI funding policy or research and innovation environment (S).

 

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• 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!

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)  [https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/benefits-of-working-for-ukri/]

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

 

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 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs [https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs] or 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 [http://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 [https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/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’. [https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/edi-in-the-workforce/#contents-list]

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.