Funding Competitions Lead (Flexible/Hybrid)

UK Research and Innovation; Swindon; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 30 days

Public/Privilege days 10.5

Flexible working hours

Defined benefit pension

Job summary

UK Research and Innovation (Innovate UK) is seeking a Competition Manager to join the fast-paced Pre Award team in Swindon. You will plan and deliver funding opportunities from inception through to project start-up, managing multiple priorities while delivering excellent customer service and maintaining high standards of accuracy.

The role reports to the Competition Lead and requires strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and governance awareness.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills.
• Experience managing projects or operational processes in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and building effective working relationships across all levels.
• Experience managing competing priorities, meeting deadlines and maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience working within defined processes, governance or regulatory frameworks to ensure fair and transparent outcomes.
• Experience communicating complex information clearly through written, verbal and presentation formats.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver a portfolio of funding opportunities from launch through to project start-up, ensuring delivery to agreed timelines.
• Work with Innovation Leads and other stakeholders to develop competition briefs, guidance and briefing presentations.
• Ensure all processes are clear, fair, transparent and compliant with audit and governance requirements.
• Manage documentation, version control and change management to maintain high-quality outputs.
• Coordinate stakeholders throughout the competition lifecycle, communicating roles, responsibilities, milestones and key decisions.
• Set up and manage funding opportunities within the Innovation Funding Service, ensuring quality assurance prior to publication.
• Deliver applicant and assessor briefings, providing accurate guidance and responding to process related queries.
• Oversee assessment, moderation and funding decision processes, including analysing scores and managing panel activities.
• Lead competition lessons learned reviews, identify process improvements and contribute to wider business projects as required.
• Maintain excellent customer service and champion the values of UKRI and Innovate UK in all aspects of delivery.

Skills

Strong communication

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Prioritisation

Governance/compliance

Clear communication formats

Job description

UK Research and Innovation (Innovate UK) is seeking a Competition Manager to join the fast-paced Pre Award team in Swindon. You will plan and deliver funding opportunities from inception through to project start-up, managing multiple priorities while delivering excellent customer service and maintaining high standards of accuracy.

The role reports to the Competition Lead and requires strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and governance awareness.