Senior Content Manager x2

UKRI; Swindon; On-site; GBP 46,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Research and Innovation is seeking a communications professional to enhance engagement and trust through compelling storytelling. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, content development, and leadership responsibilities, offering a competitive salary and benefits in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Excellent holiday entitlement

Employee shopping/travel discounts

Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Good experience of utilizing multiple and integrated channels.
• Demonstrable ability to work across a range of subject areas.
• Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate.

Responsibilities

• Develop a network of contacts to source and develop material.
• Work with external partners to identify story leads.
• Deliver content for communications and engagement activities.

Skills

Writing skills

Multi-channel communication

Emotional intelligence

Resilience

Strategic thinking

Job description

UK Research and Innovation

Salary: £45,272
Hours:Full time or Part time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location:Polaris House, Swindon

Close date: Sunday 15th June 2025

Job Overview

To build understanding of, engagement with, and trust in UK Research and Innovation and its activities and interests, both externally and with all employees, through telling UKRI’s research and innovation stories compellingly and in a way which works for its audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership/Team work/ Collaboration

• Develop a network of contacts within UKRI to source and develop material.
• Work with a range of external partners and stakeholders, including researchers, innovators and policymakers, to identify story leads, content and material.
• Deliver content as part of multi-disciplinary campaign teams to support communications and engagement activities, including events, social media projects and media campaigns.
• Work with digital and web colleagues to ensure that site content adheres to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) principles, style and tone of voice guidelines.
• Where line management responsibility is included, accountable for effectively leading, building capability, and motivating team members. Delegates effectively.
• Key relationships:

- In UKRI: Councils, cross-cutting areas

- Elsewhere: Press, partners, key investments, BEIS

Delivery/Programmes/ Projects/Process

• Understand new ideas quickly and convert them into professionally created content, editorial, imagery, video, digital, graphics and print work, both independently and collaboratively.
• Develop and edit content across the multiple platforms at UKRI.
• Write and copywrite text and digital copy.
• Collate and edit content contributions from across UKRI to deliver strategic communications objectives.
• Ensure content is user-focussed and consistently meets publishing standards and is factually correct.
• Transform business solutions in simple layouts of design and content.

Other

• Commission external suppliers and develop briefs for delivery.
• Focus of roles: Councils; Themes .
• Local structure job titles: Content Lead + focus

Essential skills, qualifications and experience

(S) - Assessed at Shortlisting

(I) - Assessed at Interview

(S&I) - Assessed at Shortlisting and Interview

• Good experience of utilising multiple and integrated channels, and an understanding of multi-channel communication approaches and the place of content development within this (S)
• Excellent writing skills – demonstrable ability to work across a range of subject areas ( S&I)
• Demonstrates credibility with relevant communities, usually based on experience from government, industry, education or the third sector. (S&I)
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, councils and communities (S)
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty. (I)
• Resilience, multi-tasking and ability to work to deadlines. (S&I)
• Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriate to the audience. (S&I)
• Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate. (I)
• Strategic thinking. (S&I)
• Flexibility to adapt to change. (I)

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found atwww.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.