Capability & Project Delivery Lead

UKRI International; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

30 days annual leave

Employee discounts and offers

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

UKRI is seeking a programme leader to drive capability and talent development across the Project Deliver and Improvements directorate at Polaris House, Swindon. You will shape career pathways, lead apprenticeships, and partner with HR to enhance capability maturity and organisational excellence.

You will also manage priority projects with governance, risk, and change management, while applying project management expertise to deliver benefits and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and managing others; coaching and developing skills.
• Experience engaging with and influencing a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience delivering medium-scale projects or major workstreams in public-sector environments and aligned with recognised project delivery standards.
• PM qualifications such as Agile PM Foundation, PRINCE2 Foundation, or APM PMQ, with proven embedding in projects.
• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to build productive relationships and influence decisions.
• Ability to create and present a compelling vision, set direction and adapt to ambiguity and change.
• Ability to recognise, anticipate and effectively deal with conflict.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

People management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

UKRI is seeking a programme leader to drive capability and talent development across the Project Deliver and Improvements directorate at Polaris House, Swindon. You will shape career pathways, lead apprenticeships, and partner with HR to enhance capability maturity and organisational excellence.

You will also manage priority projects with governance, risk, and change management, while applying project management expertise to deliver benefits and outcomes.