UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 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.
Director of Security and Resilience, UKRI
- Closing date
- 8 February 2026
- Salary
- £94,931 to £117,800
- Contract type
- Open ended
- Hours
- Full or part time
- Grade
- X
- Interview date
- Week commencing 9 March 2026
Working at the centre of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), you will set the strategic direction for embedding security and resilience across all councils and major programmes. You will bring clear, authoritative insight in a complex and evolving risk environment, enabling informed decision-making across UKRI.
You will anticipate emerging challenges and strengthen organisational preparedness, helping UKRI prevent, withstand, and respond effectively to incidents. Through this, you will safeguard the continuity and credibility of the UK’s research and innovation mission.
Read the Director of Security and Resilience candidate pack.
Director of UK Trusted and Connected & Data Analytics Research Environments (DARE-UK), UKRI
- Closing date
- To be confirmed
- Salary
- To be confirmed
- Hours
- Full time
- Contract type
- Concludes 31 March 2027
- Outcomes communicated
- To be confirmed
We are seeking an exceptional individual to lead, in this instance, the second phase of the DARE-UK programme. The Programme Director will lead a core team and report to the DARE-UK Programme Board.
They will be supported in their role by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK), including respective partner organisations. This will enable access to wider expertise that can inform sustainability planning for continued investment and progress in this critical national research infrastructure domain. The role holder will be employed by HDR UK and seconded into the Medical Research Council for 0.9 FTE.
Read the Director of UK Trusted and Connected & Data Analytics Research Environments candidate pack.
Apply for the Director of UK Trusted and Connected and Data Analytics Research Environments role on the UKRI careers website.
Executive Director for Data Infrastructure and Skills, ESRC
- Closing date
- 15 February
- Salary
- £94,931 to £110,000
- Hours
- Full time or part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
- Contract type
- Open-ended, secondments welcome
- Grade
- X
We are seeking a dynamic, creative social science research leader with standing in the profession who thrives on making a difference in the science community, turning complex challenges into opportunities. It’s your chance to influence how new and existing social science data infrastructure are positioned as core national infrastructures to support the delivery of government priorities, including the industrial strategy.
Read the Executive Director for Data Infrastructure and Skills candidate pack.
Apply for the Executive Director role on the UKRI careers website.
Chief of Strategy, Research England
- Closing date
- 22 February 2026
- Salary
- £94,931- £117,800 per annum
- Hours
- Full time
- Contract type
- Open ended (permanent)
- Grade
- X
- Interview date
- Week commencing 16 March 2026
This is a newly created senior executive leadership role. The role is designed to enhance the strategic capacity of Research England and position the organisation for the future.
The role supports a number of high-priority projects and programmes responding to challenges facing higher education institutions in England. The successful applicant will lead organisational change within the wider context of the UK Research and Innovation strategy and direction. This includes the integration of additional responsibilities and functions into Research England’s governance and operating models.
Apply for the Chief of Strategy role on the UKRI careers website.
Director for Quantum, Innovate UK
- Closing date
- 8 March 2026
- Salary
- £94,931 to £117,800 each year
- Hours
- Full time
- Contract type
- Open-ended
- Grade
- X
- Interview date
- Week commencing 16 March 2026
Quantum technology is recognised a key growth opportunity by the UK government and one in which the UK has the opportunity to be world leading. After a number of years of technological development, we are now transitioning into the commercialisation period.
We are seeking an exceptional leader who can define and create the new approaches required to ensure that the UK’s rapidly developing quantum technology companies grow, scale and remain in the UK.
This will require vision, influence, the ability to manage a complex stakeholder network and the programme leadership competence to deliver a £600 million plus portfolio of activities.
Read the Director of Quantum applicant pack.
Last updated: 11 February 2026