Head of UKRI Food Research and Innovation

BBSRC; City Of London; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization is seeking a Head of Food Research and Innovation to lead strategic initiatives and collaboration efforts within UKRI. The successful candidate will manage a diverse portfolio while ensuring effective engagement with key stakeholders and addressing food security. Applicants are expected to possess a Masters or PhD relevant to food systems and demonstrate strong leadership, strategic development, and communication skills. This position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days’ annual leave

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Demonstrable understanding of food research across the food system.
• Experience in strategy and research programme delivery.
• Ability to manage individuals effectively to achieve goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of UKRI’s strategic action plan on food research.
• Ensure collaborative approach supporting food research and innovation.
• Develop knowledge of food systems and share expertise.

Skills

Food research and innovation

Strategic development

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership and line management

Effective communication

Education

Masters Degree or PhD in relevant subject

Job description

Head of UKRI Food Research and Innovation

Grade: UKRI Band F

Salary: £58,589 per annum

Contract Type: Open-ended

Hours: Full Time / Part Time (0.8 FTE Minimum)

Closing Date: 7th December 2025

As the Head of UKRI Food Research and Innovation you will forward coordination and collaboration across UKRI, leading the UKRI GFS Food Research and Innovation Group, and working closely with the UKRI Food Champion and teams across UKRI. The role will include horizon‑scanning, strategy development, engagement with key collaborators, and development and delivery of a broad range of strategic activities.

You will take a systemic and interdisciplinary approach to emerging priorities and new programmes, ensuring coordination and collaboration across UKRI councils and with external partners. You will help drive knowledge into policy and practice enabling UKRI to deliver impact and positive outcomes for food security.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of UKRI’s strategic action plan on food research and innovation, working within the framework of the UKRI strategy and ensuring alignment with government strategies.
• Drive forward a coordinated and collaborative approach to supporting food research and innovation through the Spending Review period, working directly with the UKRI Food Champion.
• Lead the secretariat for the UKRI GFS Food Research and Innovation Strategy Group, ensuring collective and collaborative working with Senior Leaders across UKRI to help deliver the UKRI Food Deep Dive recommendations.
• Set up and lead ad‑hoc stakeholder advisory groups to help UKRI deliver the Food Deep Dive recommendations.
• Ensure effective development and delivery of strategic activities and programmes across the whole food system, alongside management of budgets and risks.
• Develop and maintain knowledge and understanding of food systems and their future direction, and share and use this expertise within UKRI and more widely, to inform strategy development and long‑term planning.
• Engage with relevant government departments, the research and innovation community, the food industry and civil society organisations to raise the profile of UKRI food research and innovation and to address stakeholder needs.
• Find opportunities for enabling the impact of UKRI food investments, overseeing the existing portfolio, and developing evidence to underpin the case for future investment in food systems.
• Leadership and line management of staff.

Personal Specification

• Masters Degree or PhD in a subject relevant to food systems and/or previous relevant experience, and a demonstrable understanding of food research and innovation across the food system.
• Experience of developing and delivering strategy and research programmes.
• Knowledge of the food security funding landscape and a strong understanding of how UKRI’s activities relate to the delivery of economic and social impacts of research.
• Experience of managing individuals to work effectively to deliver their own tasks and to contribute to goals, including through effective line management.
• Ability to independently plan and effectively prioritise delivery of a diverse portfolio of activities within agreed timescales and budgets, responding effectively to pressures exerted by conflicting priorities and resource limitations.
• Comfortable working at pace and in an agile manner, often in response to short‑notice requests, and a capacity to deal with uncertainty.
• Ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external partners, including senior‑level colleagues, to secure the best outcomes for UKRI, acting as an ambassador for UKRI and its communities.
• Ability to communicate effectively using different media and to interpret and report complex information succinctly.
• Ability to listen, engage, influence and negotiate with a variety of senior‑level collaborators.

Benefits

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 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!

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

How to apply

For full details, please visit our careers site. Please submit an application including your CV and a Cover Letter that showcases how your skills and experience align to the requirements of the role.

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