Public Partnership Support Manager

UKRI; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent research organization is seeking a Public Partnerships Support Manager to facilitate strategies for effective public engagement in research. The role includes managing advisory groups, supporting community practices, and ensuring successful evaluations of public partnerships. Ideal candidates will have project management experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders. This full-time position offers a hybrid working arrangement with a salary of £37,841 per annum and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days' annual leave

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Understanding of public partnerships in the UK research landscape.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and project management.
• Strong communication abilities in various formats.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning and set up of an MRC public advisory group.
• Develop and implement an evaluation framework for the strategy.
• Provide secretariat support and manage events.

Skills

Understanding of public partnerships

Experience of working with stakeholders

Project management

Clear communication skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Administrative skills

Event management experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Teams

Zoom

Job description

Public Partnerships Support Manager

Salary: £37,841 Per Annum
Band: UKRI Band D
Hours: Full time (part-time at 0.8FTE also considered)
Contract Type: Fixed term for two years (24 months)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - hybrid working available.

Closing Date: Monday 5th January 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 20th January 2026

We are seeking a Public Partnerships Support Manager to support a programmes of activities related to implementation of the MRC Public Partnerships Strategy. The Strategy outlines MRC’s ambition and actions for effective collaboration and genuine partnerships between researchers, MRC staff, public involvement and engagement professionals, individuals and communities.

By public partnerships we mean all the different ways that people and the research community can come together to shape and share scientific research. Public partnerships cover the whole spectrum of public engagement, which includes involvement and community engagement.

Public partners encompass a diverse range of communities and people of all ages and backgrounds, who bring different life experiences, knowledge and perspectives. This includes members of the public, patients and voluntary and community groups, both in the UK and internationally.

You will help to deliver the key objectives of the strategy and will have the opportunity to help shape the future of public partnerships at MRC.

Responsibilities

The role will involve:

• Supporting the planning and set up of an MRC public advisory group to guide ways of working and ensure effective public partnerships throughout the MRC research community. Responsibilities will include recruitment, onboarding, meeting support and managing events.
• Supporting the planning and set up of an MRC community of practice network for public partnerships in non-clinical research. Responsibilities will include secretariat support for the network and managing events or meetings.
• Supporting the development and ongoing implementation of an evaluation framework for the Public Partnerships Strategy.
• Providing secretariat support to the MRC Public Partnerships Oversight Group which is responsible for strategic planning, oversight and governance of MRC’s public partnerships activities.
• Responsibility for updating and maintaining project management tool (training provided).
• Processing invoices and payments related to the Public Partnerships team budget on the online finance system (training provided).
• Some ad hoc public partnerships project support, subject to programme priorities.

You will work closely with members of the MRC Public Partnerships team, and other colleagues within the MRC Strategy and Partnerships team and wider MRC. The role requires strong collaboration with, and coordination of, external stakeholders including public partners, public involvement and engagement professionals and other research funders.

Personal Specification

Essential

• Understanding of public partnerships (or public involvement and engagement), in the context of the UK research landscape. (S&I)
• Experience of working directly with a wide range of stakeholders. (S&I)
• Project management experience. (S&I)
• Ability to communicate clearly – both orally and in writing, across a range of issues. (S&I)
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with diverse groups. (S&I)
• Highly organised, with good time management skills and a collaborative approach, able to juggle priorities. (I)
• Strong administrative skills and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and online meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom. (S)
• Experience of setting up and managing meetings and events of various sizes online and face-to-face. (S&I)

Desirable

• Understanding of the biomedical research landscape. (S&I)
• Experience of working with public partners in a professional setting. (S&I)
• Experience of managing a professional network. (S&I)
• Experience of planning and implementing strategic evaluation of projects. (S&I)
• Experience of using software for relationship management and project or workflow management. (S&I)
• Experience of processing invoices and using in house finance systems. (S)

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!

• 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 note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [e-mail].

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