Science and Technology Facilities Council
Service Performance & Improvement Specialist
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UKRI Funding Services Salary: £30,895 per annum. Band: UKRI Band C. Contract Type: Fixed Term (23 months). Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available). Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available (minimum 2 days per week in the office).
Closing Date: Sunday 20th September 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 vision for the Funding Service is to create a simpler, better funding service by adopting harmonised, simplified and consistent processes and policies for the administration and delivery of UKRI funding opportunities, enabling greater collaboration across UKRI and delivering a more consistent experience for our communities.
As part of the Service Performance & Improvement Team in UKRI Funding Services, the Service Performance & Improvement Specialist role is key to delivering this vision for both Funding Services and UKRI’s research councils. The role supports the operational implementation of new Funding Service functionality and policy, the development and maintenance of central training, guidance and operating procedures, continuous improvement initiatives, and management information reporting.
You will provide professional expertise in operational and systems-based grant management processes and act as a subject matter expert (SME). Working closely with colleagues across Funding Services, UKRI’s research councils, and the wider organisation, to understand challenges and opportunities, identify areas for improvement, and apply specialist knowledge and insight to drive service performance, consistency and continuous improvement.
Your responsibilities
- Providing support for small to medium sized projects, using their expertise and knowledge of the end-to-end Grant’s process to continually improve processes.
- Ensuring appropriate and up to date documentation (Operating Procedures, Business Rules, process maps, training documents) are in place to support and communicate process improvements to the user community.
- Assisting with the facilitation of workshops and training.
- Providing proactive administration support for senior meetings including minute writing.
- Providing support for financial issues arising from the Grants Pay Run, working closely with UKSBS to create and update the Grants Pay Run Calendar on the Grants Finance System (GFS).
- Supporting the provision of accurate reports on scheduled dates, by liaising with UKRI Funding Service Senior Managers and the wider Management Team, and developing/delivering ad hoc reports within agreed timescales.
- Using data to identify cross functional issues and opportunities to improve UKRI performance, by producing management information which contributes towards continuous improvements in processes, procedures, and controls, delivering efficiencies and service enhancements.
- Acting as an escalation point for internal process queries relating to the Grants environment.
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Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential
- GCSE level or above/relevant experience (S).
- Good understanding of the end-to-end Grants process (S).
- Proven technical skills across a range of systems including Microsoft software packages and grants processing systems (S).
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills, including being able to extract data from a wide range of systems and provide data analysis (S&I).
- Experience of stakeholder engagement at all levels and maintaining strong relationships (S&I).
- Effective written and oral communications skills, including the ability to interpret and present information to a wide range of audiences, with clear and concise messaging (S&I).
- Good knowledge of delivering a customer focused service operation (S&I).
- Experience of providing project management support for small to medium projects (S&I).
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/]
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
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 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.
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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 [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.
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.
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