Business Manager

NERC: Natural Environment Research Council; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave (plus 10.5 public

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

NERC invites applications for a Business Manager based in Polaris House, Swindon. The role focuses on advising on funding opportunities and supporting UKRI/NERC investments within a broad portfolio of research and innovation.

You will work with colleagues across UKRI, maintain deadlines, develop training, and promote efficient working practices. Travel within the UK may be required; hybrid working is supported.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualifications required.
• Experience and understanding of the UK research/innovation landscape is desirable.
• Ability to interpret complex information and tailor messaging to different audiences.
• Strong planning, organisational and deadline-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and in teams while building relationships.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Advise on funding opportunities and support NERC in portfolio analysis.
• Engage with the academic community to assist applications for research funding.
• Develop and deliver investments aligned with NERC Forward Look.
• Coordinate with UKRI and other councils to foster partnerships.
• Manage processes and timelines, ensuring on-time communications and fair funding decisions.
• Travel within the UK may be required.

Skills

Organisational skills

Teamworking

Time management

Attention to detail

Self-motivated

Fast learner

Adaptable

Communication skills

Influencing

Negotiation

Education

Degree or equivalent qualifications

Job description

Hours: Full time or Part time (at least 0.8 FTE)

Contract Type: 12 months fixed term

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Closing Date: Tuesday 1st September 2026

About you

As a Business Manager, you will advise on the delivery of Opportunities for funding and support NERC in the analysis and management of our portfolio of research. You will engage with the academic community, to support their applications for research and innovation funding, providing advice and updating guidance as appropriate. Your work will help maintain the UK's position at the forefront of research and innovation both nationally and internationally. You will be involved in developing and delivering NERC and UKRI investments aligned with the objectives in NERC's Forward Look (NERC Forward Look - UKRI). You will work with colleagues in other councils across UKRI to facilitate strong partnerships and consistency in our approaches.

You will have strong organisational, team-working and time-management skills, and excellent attention to detail. You will be self-motivated, quick to learn and flexible enough to manage a diverse and rapidly changing portfolio of activities. You will be expected to follow complex processes to deadlines whilst advocating for and promoting good practices and efficient ways of working.

It is essential that you have a demonstrable ability to resolve issues and work independently, whilst showing strong communication skills essential to working as part of a broader team. You will bring good influencing and negotiation skills with an ability to build effective working relationships with representatives within and external to NERC, and across different levels of seniority. Suitable candidates most likely include those who have just completed their first degree, and who have a keen interest in beginning their career at UKRI.

What we offer

In return, this varied role will broaden your skills by giving you the opportunity to manage your own workload, projects and activities. You will play a key role in managing NERC funding operations and liaising across UKRI to structure workflows, set policy, develop training and share ideas in a strongly team-based organisation.

Your role will require you to build trusted relationships across UKRI, with universities, government partners and industry; managing and delivering NERC processes to foster new, innovative, research and innovation programmes. You will be expected to continuously improve activities you are involved in and as part of the Funding Operations team, will liaise with programmes right across NERC head office to promote and advise on consistency. You may report to more than one activity manager for different aspects of the role.

Travel within the UK may be required at times.

Key activities may include but are not limited to

• Supporting the development, design and management of funding Opportunities and activities within NERC's priorities.
• Taking active responsibility for the operational delivery of funding within UKRI, by: advising on use of college, facilitating the design of assessment processes, managing expert reviewers and panels members, providing secretariat support for panel meetings, ensuring relevant and timely communications with those involved, promoting good decision making through equality, diversity and fairness in funding opportunities.
• Contributing to the coordination of team activities, providing leadership and support to individuals to help achieve NERC's delivery goals.
• Supporting the end-to-end process from launching Opportunities to making awards, liaising with programme leads and aligning with UKRI reporting requirements for outcomes.
• Building strong relationships both within UKRI, and with relevant external communities and stakeholders in the UK. Act as an interface with researchers (universities, other environmental agencies, and research centres) and research users (business, government and policy makers) responding to queries and advising applicants on policy relevant to our funding Opportunities.
• Identifying and implementing Continuous Improvement ideas to improve the quality and efficiency of all aspects of the role.
• Contributing to effective delivery of NERC projects and cross-council collaborative research agendas.
• You may also be involved in managing projects and budgets.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)

• Degree, or an equivalent level of relevant qualifications or expertise. (S)
• Knowledge or experience of the research and/or innovation landscape in the UK and the science areas and/or communities supported by NERC. (S&I)
• Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information in language appropriate to the audience. (S&I)
• Planning and organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise and manage complex activities whilst maintaining attention to detail. (S&I)
• Ability to work flexibly on own initiative, as well as contribute well to team working. (S)
• Confidence in influencing effectively (both verbal and written media) across teams, wider organisation and external stakeholder communities. (S&I)
• Effective analytical skills with the ability to learn new tools, analyse data and derive meaningful information accurately and responsibly. (S)

About hybrid working

We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and occasionally at other UK locations.

NERC HO staff will be assigned to Tier 2 meaning a standard expectation of 40-60% onsite attendance (pro-rated against working time) including those hosted by NERC HO. This will come into effect on 1st October 2026.

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 [e-mail].

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

A list of benefits below

• 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)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.