Senior Portfolio Manager - Clean Energy R&D MAP

Senior Portfolio Manager – Clean Energy

Salary: £46,743 Per Annum

Hours:

Full Time or Part Time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)

Contract Type:
Open Ended

Location:

Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

Band: UKRI Band E

Positions Available: 1

Closing Date: 20/03/26

The R&D Missions Accelerator Programme represents an exceptional opportunity to create real world impact through R&D investment.

The programme will utilise a £500m budget to bring together the private sector, the third sectors and academia to collaboratively develop innovative solutions to public sector problems, resulting in new technologies, services, IP and more.

The programme has been designed to solve the key problems facing HMG’s five national Missions and enable delivery of the milestones in the Plan for Change.

The Government has identified the key problems faced by the UK, to which the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme has designed Research and Innovation (RI) Challenges to develop solutions. Importantly, these solutions will then be directly utilised in addressing public sector needs.

The programme is currently developing its approaches across the Missions, and therefore by joining at this stage there is a significant opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme.

The Clean Energy Mission is the UK’s world-leading response to climate change with its twin focus on Clean Power by 2030 and accelerating to Net Zero. We’re tackling two interconnected challenges that will shape the nation's energy independence, push peaking gas plant off the system and drive down energy bills. You’ll be looking at how new business models and approaches can unlock grid flexibility through AI and digital innovation, and developing new low‑cost ultralong‑duration energy storage solutions.

Working with experts in system change such as the Energy Systems and Digital Catapults, market shapers at NESO and Elexon and leading industry players, you’ll be investing in real‑world solutions and growing UK‑based innovators and skills, right at the forefront of building the flexible, resilient power grid that will deliver our clean energy superpower ambitions.

We are looking for people who are highly self‑motivated and who engage widely to find new solutions and ways of creating impact and bring real benefits to people’s lives and the economy.

These roles will be particularly suited to people with a background in energy and climate or a strong interest in the energy transition. Commercial acumen and technical skills in energy, innovation, AI/digital and/or finance are all highly desirable. Comms and media experience is also a definite advantage.

We are looking to appoint a dynamic, driven individual with an understanding of the innovation and research sector, and an enthusiasm for the vital role played by RI to address real world challenges.

You will scope new opportunities, drive innovation, commission research, and improve impact from the challenges’ research. This will be in partnership with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders; collaborative working is therefore crucial. Working with the wider stakeholder community, the post holder will ensure that relationships are built and maintained, thus enabling the challenges to inform national and international agendas, and to enable the RI to realise the widest possible economic and social benefits.

You will be a key member of the Clean Energy Mission team, taking ownership for coordinating the work of other team members and representing the team internally and externally.

• You will sit at the interface between strategic leadership and delivery with strong communication skills to develop and implement key priorities, policies, and strategies.
• You will lead the scoping and development, commissioning and management of high‑quality innovation and research investments through collaborative partnerships across private and third sector, Government organisations, academia and wider partners.
• You will be responsible for coordination and management of a portfolio of activities to maximise impact and knowledge exchange…