Portfolio Manager - Clean Energy R&D MAP

Portfolio Manager – Clean Energy

Salary: £37,841 per annum.
Grade: UKRI Band

D.
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time. (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire. (Hybrid Working)

Closing Date: 20/03/2026

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

The programme will utilise a £500m budget to galvanise 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 (R&I) 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’s 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 develop 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. Communications and media experience is also a definite advantage.

The R&D MAP is seeking a Portfolio Manager to support the Clean Energy Mission as part of the broader R&D MAP within UKRI.

• Running the commissioning of new investments.
• Working across your team to aid the delivery of challenge priorities.
• Working with senior challenge staff to establish effective relationships with key strategic partners in your team’s area of work.
• Investment management of key investments within assigned challenge, ensuring that outputs, outcomes, and impact reach their full potential by engaging with key collaborators.
• Working with the innovation leads and key collaborators to support, develop and prioritise new ideas.
• Working closely across wider UKRI teams, ensuring high quality and timely project management of commissioning and governance activities.
• Involvement in the team’s corporate responsibilities.
• This is not a comprehensive list, and we may require you to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post.

This is not a comprehensive list, and we may require you to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post.

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

• A degree/equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area or demonstrable equivalent level of knowledge, skills, and experience. (S)
• Planning and organisational skills, including: an awareness of project management methods, the ability to…