Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Manager - Capability and Innovation

Salary: 37,841 per annum

Hours: Full time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)

Contract Type: 2 x Fixed Term (12 Months)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire (hybrid)

Grade: UKRI Band D

Closing Date: Sunday 12th July 2026

Proposed Interview Dates: 27th / 28th July 2026

About the Role

BBSRC are recruiting two Portfolio Managers to join the Business Interaction Unit within the Capability and Innovation Domain.

You will help shape and deliver strategic investments that drive the social and economic impact of UK bioscience, aligned with BBSRCs Forward Look, the Industrial Strategy, and wider government priorities.

These are dynamic roles involving collaboration across BBSRC, UKRI, and external partners, including businesses and policymakers. You will gain valuable insight into innovative bioscience, innovation, and policy, while contributing to high-impact programmes.

Your Responsibilities:

You will help shape and deliver BBSRCs strategic portfolio of academic-industry research investments, supporting high-impact bioscience innovation across the UK.

The role focuses on developing and managing collaborative funding opportunities that connect researchers with businesses across a range of themes and challenge areas. You will engage with partners to inform strategy, support delivery of investment programmes, and monitor impact to guide future priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering interprofessional research investments
• Engaging with academia, industry, government, and policy partners
• Participate in BBSRC strategy and identifying emerging opportunities
• Monitoring portfolio performance and evidencing impact

We are looking for strategic, adaptable individuals with an interest in bioscience and its impact. Knowledge of the UK research and innovation landscape is desirable, but you will be supported to develop your expertise. We encourage applicants with relevant experience across industry, research, or policy.

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

Please ensure your application addresses the shortlisting criteria with evidenced examples of prior experience.

Essential:

• A degree in a biological or related subject, and/or equivalent relevant professional experience. (S).
• An understanding of how and why BBSRC and UKRI support bioscience commercialisation approaches and an appreciation of the different types of benefits and impact that arise from working with businesses and wider users of bioscience research (S&I).
• An ability to proactively plan and prioritise your work and manage multiple complex activities in order to meet deadlines (S&I).
• An ability to work with ambiguity and deal with difficult situations by showing initiative and judgement in a constantly evolving environment (S&I).
• Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to interpret, summarise and present complex information for different audiences (S&I).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships (S&I).
• Ability to work flexibly both independently and as part of a team to deliver shared objectives. (S&I).
• Awareness or experience of research and innovation strategy or policy development (S&I).