Senior and public appointments

We recruit for both senior and public appointments. These include members of the UKRI Board, Executive Chairs, part-time office holders and all other senior roles across UKRI at Band X and Y (equivalent to Senior Civil Service).

We employ a strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring recruitment that is diverse, fair and open, creating equal opportunity at all times. Public appointments are ultimately made by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Executive Director for Portfolios, Partnerships and Engagement

Closing date: 5 October 2025
Salary: £91,943 to £99,000 each year
Contract type: Open-ended
Hours: Full-time
Grade: Band X
Interview date: 30 or 31 October 2025
Outcomes communicated: To be confirmed

This Executive Director role at the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) involves leading strategic partnerships and engagement, while overseeing major portfolios.

As part of the Executive Leadership Team, the post-holder will:

shape AHRC’s research direction
act as Senior Responsible Owner for flagship initiatives
manage relationships across a wide range of sector stakeholders and UKRI partners

Read the Executive Director for Portfolios, Partnerships and Engagement candidate pack.

Apply for Executive Director for Portfolios, Partnerships and Engagement.

Director of Research and Innovation, Natural Environment Research Council

Closing date: 2 November 2025
Salary: £94,931 to £117,800 each year
Contract type: Flexible options based around the successful candidates’ preferences and current professional commitments, including fixed-term, secondment, and permanent contract as well as hybrid working arrangements.; The minimum commitment duration is 36 months.
Hours: Minimum hours required is 0.8 FTE (Full FTE 37 hours) per week.
Grade: Band X
Interview date: 26 November 2025

Are you a visionary leader, ready to inspire change in the environmental community?

We are seeking a dynamic, creative environmental science research leader with standing in the profession who thrives on making a difference in the science community and turning complex challenges into opportunities.

This isn’t just another role, it’s your chance to place cutting edge environmental science at the very heart of green growth and government priorities.

Apply for Director of Research and Innovation, NERC.

Last updated: 9 October 2025