Head of UKRI Food Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation; Swindon; On-site; GBP 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization is seeking a Head of Food Research and Innovation in Swindon. This role involves driving strategic initiatives, coordinating food security efforts, and engaging stakeholders across various sectors. Candidates should have a Master's or PhD in a relevant field, experience in managing research programs, and knowledge of food security funding. Benefits include a defined benefit pension scheme and flexible working options. This position offers a competitive salary of £58,589 per annum.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days' annual leave

Flexible working options

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable understanding of food research and innovation.
• Experience of developing and delivering strategy and research programmes.
• Knowledge of the food security funding landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of UKRI's strategic action plan on food research.
• Coordinate food research and innovation efforts across UKRI.
• Engage with government departments and the food industry.

Skills

Strategic development

Stakeholder engagement

Knowledge of food systems

Line management

Agile working

Communication

Education

Master's Degree or PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Head of UKRI Food Research and Innovation

Grade: UKRI Band F

Department: Research Strategy and Programmes

Salary: £58,589 per annum

Contract Type: Open-ended

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

Closing Date: 7th December 2025

Interview Date: 7th & 8th January 2025

About us

UK Research and Innovation brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world‑leading position. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Working within UK Research and Innovation, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests approx. £500M in world‑class bioscience, people and research infrastructure per annum. BBSRC leads UKRI's Global Food Security (GFS) Programme which brings together UKRI councils to coordinate and collaborate on food research and innovation.

UKRI funds research and innovation across the whole food system at both a domestic and international level, supporting talent and skilled people, and collaborating with policymakers, industry and civil society organisations. Collectively we spend over £300M per year on food‑related research.

The UK government's Food Strategy highlights that investing in British food is investing in Britain. We have a rich food culture, a dynamic and innovative industry, and a global reputation for quality and integrity. The food and drink industry is the UK's biggest manufacturing sector, larger than automotive and aerospace combined. It contributes £153.2Bn to UK GVA, £24.5Bn in UK exports, £300Bn in UK consumer spending, and employs over 4.2 million people across every region and nation.

There are also significant challenges with our food system. For example, two thirds of UK citizens are living with overweight or obesity, 1 in 5 children reside in food‑insecure households, and around 70,000 premature deaths occur annually due to diet‑related illnesses. The annual economic cost of obesity and overweight is estimated to be £98 billion, equivalent to 4% of our GDP.

Following a UKRI Food Deep Dive, a UKRI GFS Food Research & Innovation Strategy Group has been established bringing together senior‑level representatives from across councils, and this is chaired by the UKRI Food Champion. As a key part of UKRI's Global Food Security Programme, this group aims to support high quality research and innovation so the UK can become a world leader in sustainable, healthy and resilient food systems, driving economic growth and ensuring all citizens have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for an active and healthy life.

Job Purpose

As the Head of UKRI Food Research and Innovation you will drive forward coordination and collaboration across UKRI, leading the UKRI GFS Food Research and Innovation Group, and working closely 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 investments to deliver impact and positive outcomes for food security.

Main Responsibilities

• To 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 relevant government strategies.
• To 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.
• To 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.
• To set up and lead ad‑hoc stakeholder advisory groups to help UKRI deliver the Food Deep Dive recommendations.
• To ensure effective development and delivery of strategic activities and programmes across the whole food system, alongside management of budgets and risks.
• To develop and maintain knowledge and understanding of food systems and their future direction, and to share and use this expertise within UKRI and more widely, to inform strategy development and long‑term planning.
• To 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.
• To 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

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Master's 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. (S)
• Experience of developing and delivering strategy and research programmes. (S / I)
• 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. (S / I)
• Experience of managing individuals to work effectively to deliver their own tasks and to contribute to goals, including through effective line management. (S / I)
• 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. (I)
• Be comfortable working at pace and in agile manner, often in response to short notice requests, and dealing with uncertainty. (I)
• 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 our communities. (S / I)
• Ability to communicate effectively using different media and to interpret and report complex information succinctly. (S / I)
• Ability to listen, engage, influence and negotiate with a variety of senior‑level collaborators. (I)

Desirable

• An understanding of UKRI's strategy and its mechanisms for funding research and innovation. (S / I)
• Experience of programme or project management including budget and risk management. (S / I)
• Ability and willingness to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others and support organisational flexibility and responsiveness. (S / I)

For further information please contact :

Dr Riaz Bhunnoo, Associate Director, BBSRC [e-mail]

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below :

• 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!

For further information on our benefits please see :

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [e-mail]