Head of Programme Operations - IS8 Life Sciences

Head of Programme Operations - IS8 Life Sciences

Medical Research Council

Salary: 58,589 per annum

Band: UKRI Band F

Contract Type: Open ended

Hours: Full-time (flexible working available)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: Wednesday 1st July 2026

To lead programme operations for the UKRI Life Sciences Industrial Strategy programme.

As Head of Programme Operations, you will work across UKRI to support the organisations mission to deliver strategic government and societal priorities through the Life Sciences programme.

You will be line managed by the Programme Director for the Life Sciences programme and will lead a small team. You will work closely with MRC teams and life sciences teams from across UKRI.

Each IS8 programme delivers a portfolio of investments and interventions through councils and Innovate UK teams. Your role will be the strategic and operational coordination across these delivery teams, to support the design, delivery and performance of the Life Sciences programme.

You will lead on programme governance, monitoring and evaluation, risk and assurance, finance, and secretariat functions. You will operate confidently across a complex, multi‑organisation environment, building and maintaining strong working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to support the development and delivery of a portfolio of high-profile projects that will address government and societal priorities in the life sciences.

Key Responsibilities

• Line management of delivery team members.
• Working with the programme director to establish and maintain portfolio governance structures.
• Support the strategic development and delivery of the Life Sciences programme across UKRI.
• Managing the secretariat for the Life Sciences Programme Boards/meetings and supporting the programme director and SRO with paperwork and briefings.
• Leading and/or supporting the development of business cases for the programme.
• Lead the successful design, management and delivery of the programme including:
  • Alignment of projects with objectives
  • Real time progress monitoring
  • Risk management
  • Reporting
  • Monitoring, evaluation and impact management
  • Benefits realisation
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key contacts across UKRIs other relevant priority programmes and external stakeholders from government departments, industry and medical research funders.
• Planning, scheduling and securing resources for delivery of the programme, working with Council and Innovate UK operations teams.
• Maintaining overall coherence of programme and governance frameworks to support projects and plan programme assurance activities.
• Matrix working with delivery teams across UKRI to ensure dependencies are actively managed, act as an arbiter to resolve issues across the programme.
• Ensuring delivery within budget and working with the finance business partner teams to hit spend profiles.

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

• Portfolio, programme and project management experience alongside relevant qualifications. (S/I)
• Experience in managing complex, multistakeholder life sciences R&D programmes and portfolios. (S/I)
• Strong understanding of programme governance, risk management, and benefits realisation. (S/I)
• Understanding of UK Government Green, Teal and Magenta Books. (I)
• The ability to build influential networks and experience in managing relationships across a broad range of stakeholders, and cross-functional teams. (I)
• The ability to foster collaboration and resolve conflicts. (I)
• Experience of leading teams and mentoring staff. (S/I)
• An understanding of financial management, including cost control, and financial forecasting and reporting. (S/I)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. (S/I)
• A degree or PhD in health and life sciences or equivalent experience working in life sciences research management (S/I).