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.
Arts and Humanities Research Council Executive Chair
- Closing date
- TBC
- Salary
- £160,000-£170,000
- Contract type
- Open ended, permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Grade
- Y
- Interview date
- TBC
- Outcomes communicated
- TBC
The AHRC is the UK’s largest investor in research and innovation and advanced skills development across the range of arts and humanities.
The Executive Chair of AHRC will be an innovative, distinguished research and/or innovation leader with international standing who can drive forward world-class independent research and innovation across the full range of disciplines in which we invest.
Read the Arts and Humanities Research Council Executive Chair candidate pack.
Apply for the Arts and Humanities Research Council Executive Chair role on the UKRI careers website.
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.
UKRI Non-Executive Board member
- Closing date
- 15 February 2026, 11:55pm UK time
- Salary
- £9,180 each year based on a day rate of £459
- Contract type
- An initial period of up to four years
- Hours
- 20 days each year
- Interview date
- Week commencing 9 March 2026
We are seeking to appoint a new Non-Executive Board member with strong financial credentials and experience.
You will play a vital role in strengthening the Board’s financial expertise both directly in Board meetings and through representation on, and eventual leadership of, the Board’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.
As UKRI continues to work to stimulate enterprise growth and foster new ventures across the UK, we are especially keen to attract leaders with diverse and distinguished backgrounds from every region of the UK and beyond.
The richness of experience and diversity within our Board is fundamental to UKRI’s success and its ability to deliver lasting impact.
Read the UKRI Non-Executive Board member candidate pack.
Apply for the UKRI Non-Executive Board member the GOV.UK website.
Executive Director for Data Infrastructure and Skills, ESRC
- Closing date
- 15 February
- Salary
- £94,931 to £117,800
- 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 (PDF).
Apply for the Executive Director role on the UKRI careers website.
Last updated: 28 January 2026