Senior Analyst

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

30 days annual leave

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working

Job summary

UKRI in Swindon is seeking a policy‑focused analyst to join the Strategic Analysis team. The role supports financial sustainability and resilience analysis across the UKRI system, working on options for policy levers and business cases.

The post requires a numerate degree, coding skills (Python/ R/ SQL) and experience in data analysis and project management. It offers hybrid working (minimum 2 days in the office) and a fixed‑term 12‑month contract.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree or equivalent work experience in a numerate subject such as physics, mathematics or engineering, or economics, statistics, data science, operational research, or social research (S).
• Proficiency in Python or R and/or SQL, or another coding language and willingness to learn Python, R and/or SQL (S).
• Proficiency in GitHub, or coding collaboratively and using version control (S).
• Ability to communicate analysis and evidence and its appropriate usage in informing policy (I).
• Experience in managing analytical projects: ensuring buy‑in from users, executing the project, and communicating implications (S&I).
• Experience in data science or analysis and familiarity with statistical methodologies (S&I).

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality and up-to-date evidence on key UKRI areas as a responsible investor in the R&I system.
• Provide analytical leadership on projects with policy levers and options development for UKRI.
• Form strong links with analysts across ONS, OfS, BIS, and other departments.

Skills

Numerate degree/experience

Python/SQL/R

GitHub/version control

Policy communication

Analytical project mgmt

Data science methods

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

UKRI
Salary: £46,743 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months).
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid working available (Minimum 2 days per week in office).

Closing Date: Tuesday 3rd November 2026.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a multi-disciplinary analytical team that works at the heart of the UK research and innovation (R&I) system. Our work plays a key role in delivering the government’s ambition to strengthen the UK’s position as a global science and technology superpower, and UKRI’s Strategy and Delivery Plan.

The role sits within the Strategic Analysis team which has a wide remit including Research & Innovation Systems analysis, Business Cases and Economic Appraisal, Data Science and Thematic Analysis, and analysis for Investment Strategy. The Strategic Analysis team works closely with analysts in other parts our division, with colleagues from the Investment Planning and Strategy directorate, as well as a range of colleagues across UKRI.

Ensuring that the UK’s research system is sustainable and resilient is critical for UKRI. as part of our Research and Innovation Resilience (IRIR) programme (Research financial sustainability). The remit of this team includes understanding the financial sustainability and resilience of the UK’s R&I system and UKRI’s role within this. The role holder will support the team leader (Lead Analyst), who looks after the wider remit of financial sustainability and resilience and the impact of UKRI in the wider R&I ecosystem.

As business needs evolve, the role holder will also need to be flexible on pivoting to new work areas, working on the organisation’s highest priorities, including the multi-year Spending Review, filling prioritised evidence gaps ahead of the next Spending Review, and supporting on business cases and economic appraisal.

Your responsibilities:

• Provide high quality and up-to-date evidence on key UKRI areas as a responsible investor in the R&I system.
• Provide analytical leadership on projects concerned with the development of options for policy levers that UKRI has at its disposal.
• Form close working relationships with our strategy counterparts and develop and maintain strong links with analysts working across ONS, Office for Students, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Personal Specification

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

Essential skills

• A relevant degree or equivalent work experience in a highly numerate subject such as physics, mathematics or engineering, or subjects including economics, statistics, data science, operational research, or social research (S).
• Proficiency in Python or R and/or SQL, or proficiency in another coding language and willingness to learn Python, R and/or SQL (S).
• Proficiency in GitHub, or coding collaboratively and using version control (S).
• Ability to communicate analysis and evidence and its appropriate usage in informing policy (I).
• Experience in managing analytical projects: ensuring buy-in from the anticipated users of the analysis, executing the project, and clearly communicating the implications of the analysis and any limitations (S&I).
• Experience in data science or analysis, quantitative research methods and familiarity with a range of statistical methodologies and techniques (S&I).

We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet all the requirements but possess the potential and passion to excel in this role.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI 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 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].

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.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 UKRI.

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, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. 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.

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.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.