Capability and Project Manager

UK Research and Innovation; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Defined benefit pension

30 days annual leave

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

UKRI in Swindon is seeking a capability management professional to lead the development of project delivery, change and continuous improvement capability within the PD&I directorate. You will play a key role in delivering capability and career development initiatives that support attraction, development and retention of a skilled workforce, ensuring PD&I continues to provide high-quality service.

We offer flexible working, strong commitment to professional development and an opportunity to move

Qualifications

• Experience delivering medium scale projects or major workstreams in research or public-sector environments.
• Project Management Qualification such as Agile PM Foundation, PRINCE2 Foundation, APM PMQ, or equivalent and demonstrable embedding experience.
• Ability to create and present a compelling vision and lead others through change.

Responsibilities

• Leading the PD&I capability and talent development programme, including managing apprenticeships (10%).
• Developing professional pathways, learning interventions and succession planning activities (20%).
• Building strategic relationships with stakeholders and external partners (15%).
• Delivering projects to agreed time, cost, quality and benefit objectives (30%).
• Managing project governance, risks, resources and change (10%).
• Promoting a culture of professional excellence and continuous improvement (15%).

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Change management

Education

PRINCE2 Foundation

APM PMQ

AgilePM Foundation

Job description

Based at Polaris House, Swindon. Hybrid working (Min 2 days per week in the office).

About the Role:

This role is primarily focused on Capability Management, leading the development and embedding of project delivery, change and continuous improvement capability across the Project Deliver and Improvements directorate. You will play a key role in delivering capability and career development initiatives that support the attraction, development and retention of a skilled and diverse workforce, ensuring Project Delivery and Improvement (PD&I) continues to provide a high-quality service to UKRI.

We offer flexible working arrangements, strong commitment to professional development, and an exciting chance for a project professional to move into a capability space and broaden their horizons with a new challenge.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the PD&I capability and talent development programme. Including managing apprenticeships (10%).
• Developing professional pathways, learning interventions and succession planning activities (20%).
• Building strategic relationships with stakeholders, HR and external partners (15%).
• Delivering projects to agreed time, cost, quality and benefit objectives (30%).
• Managing project governance, risks, resources and change (10%).
• Promoting a culture of professional excellence, continuous improvement and high performance (15%).

What we offer

Our benefits include a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), defined benefit pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

As one of Europe's largest research organisations, this is a place where there's always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself.

You will need:

• Experience delivering medium scale projects or major workstreams in research or public-sector environments and in line with recognised project delivery standards such as the PDCF of the Civil Service (S&I).
• Project Management Qualification such as Agile PM Foundation, PRINCE2 Foundation, APM PMQ, or equivalent and demonstrable experience of embedding these methods within projects and or programmes (S&I).
• Ability to create and present a compelling vision, set direction and adapt to ambiguity and change (I).
• Experience of leading and managing others, motivating coaching and developing skills and capability. Demonstrates ability to act as role model (S&I).

Join us at UKRI to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth!

Closing Date for applications is 27th September 2026.