Job Description

Salary

: 36,350 Per Annum

Hours

: Full Time

Contract Type

: Open Ended

Location

: Polaris House, Swindon

Grade

: UKRI Band D

Closing Date:

Sunday 12 October 2025

Job Overview:

Project Delivery & Improvement provides programme, project, change management and Continuous Improvement together with business analysis support, leading the design, implementation and embedding of change across UKRI to deliver its vision and realise its strategic objectives. We are a team of around 60 working on a range of assignments, some of our projects support research initiatives and activities, but the primary focus of our work is to lead and deliver business change, including the implementation of new corporate systems, operating environment and organisational structures and the development of strategies and processes.


The Organisational Change Portfolio has been put in place as the main delivery engine that will deliver change and efficiencies across UKRI.


The Portfolio Analyst will be responsible for the oversight of a collection of programmes or projects that contribute to the delivery of departmental or business area objectives. They will focus primarily on providing insight, information and support that strengthens portfolio governance and enables prioritisation decisions and effective allocation of resources across the portfolio. Ultimately, analysts help ensure optimal delivery of departmental/business strategic objectives in line with government priorities through the analysis of a range of information sources and engagement with programme and project stakeholders and converting this into informed insights using appropriate reporting and visualisation methods.

Key Responsibilities:

This will include but not limited to;


Governance & Reporting - Co-ordinate reporting from projects and provide analysis of performance. Provide secretariat for governance boards. People & Leadership - Support the Portfolio Manager to communicate and build commitment to a shared vision and sense of purpose. Planning, Scheduling & Resourcing - Maintain portfolio delivery map and critical path to monitor project progress. Recognise and track interdependencies across change projects. Secretariat Support and Meeting Coordination - effective coordination and communication across a range of meetings at all business levels, to include scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, accurately capturing and producing minutes including actions and decisions and supporting stakeholder engagement through structured follow-up and action tracking. Risk & Opportunity Management - Identify and monitor portfolio risks (threats and opportunities) and escalate as appropriate. Stakeholder Management - Manage and engage with a wide range of stakeholders. Draft and sign-off correspondence. Benefits Management - Help develop mechanisms for measuring benefits.
Key Information:


This role will be a full-time allocation to the Organisational Change Portfolio and reporting to the Senior Portfolio Analyst. The above responsibilities will be associated to programmes within the portfolio.

Person Specification:

(S) - Shortlisting Criteria (I) - Interview Criteria (S & I) - Shortlisting Criteria & Interview Criteria

Essential


Excellent written communication and documentation skills - Ability to produce reports, minutes and correspondence with clarity and accuracy and have a good working knowledge of MS Office packages for reporting and analysis (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) (S)*
Scheduling - Experience of arranging meetings, taking and producing notes, minutes, tracking actions and decisions, with the ability to accurately capture and distil key points, including technical discussions. (S)*
Governance - Ability to understand roles, responsibilities and accountabilities including controls and approval routes appropriate to each stage of a project to be able to report on portfolio progress and compliance. (S)*
Experience in project or programme support - A prior role in a project or programme management office with experience of planning, governance, and risk. (S)*
Relevant qualification or equivalent experience - PRINCE2 Foundation Level/APM PFQ, or relevant experience in project environments. (S)*
Collaboration - Work towards establishing and developing productive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the portfolio. (I)*
Stakeholder Engagement - Ability to systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests. (I)*
Resilience - The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. (I)*

Application Guidance:

How to evidence the criteria:


You are encouraged to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in the cover letter to evidence your ability to meet the 'person specification' criteria in the job description. Cover letters should be no more than two sides of A4 (minimum font size 11). For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service '.

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)

Other Important Information:

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer. Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

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 Recruitment@ukri.org .