Senior Science Portfolio Manager: Infrastructure

Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

• Job Category Project Management and Delivery
• Apply Before 03/15/2026, 11:55 PM
• Job Identification 2027
• Posting Date 02/23/2026, 02:35 PM
• Job Shift Day
• Hours Full Time/ Part Time

Council:
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Salary:£46,743 per annum
Band: UKRI Band E
Team:
Infrastructure Team
Contract Type:
Open ended
Hours:
Full-time
Location:
Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available

Closing Date:
Sunday 15th March 2026

About the role

Senior Science Portfolio Managers provide essential project management to infrastructure projects across the entirety of the Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit, supporting delivery of a growing Infrastructure Fund portfolio at the MRC. In overseeing the development of green book business cases, Senior Science Portfolio Managers also work extensively across UKRI, with central government and other research funders, and across the UK research and innovation community.

All team members work on site at least one day per week and attend additional face-to-face meetings as required, which may be in UKRI’s London office, or with external stakeholders.

Reporting to the Head of Programme for Infrastructure, this role will suit an experienced project manager with an interest in science, or scientifically trained individuals with project management experience. You will get the opportunity to manage several high-profile projects and will lead the development of proposals for groundbreaking new infrastructure investments that support the medical sciences. You will be involved in overseeing the effective peer review of applications, gathering strategic advice from a range of partners, and providing advice to internal and external collaborators.

Your responsibilities

• Lead on the project management of at least one large infrastructure project within MRC’s portfolio, organising regular project board meetings and ensuring effective project delivery.
• Reporting to UKRI and other stakeholders on projects, including management of risks on clew (formally CGR) and working with FBPs on financial management of projects.
• Maintaining strong working relationships with external project teams and colleagues across MRC/UKRI, proactively managing communications, project updates and announcements.
• Management of the business case process for infrastructure projects where appropriate and contribution to scoping of new projects for funding.
• Assisting senior colleagues in the review of research fields and the development and implementation of scientific initiatives and policy.
• Assisting senior colleagues with the preparation of briefing documents and other materials for committees, responses to parliamentary questions and/or other external queries.
• Development and management of funding schemes, including management of MRC’s Equip panel and delivery of funding via UKRI’s The Funding Service (TFS) platform.

Contribute to ongoing MRC Infrastructure Team shared activities, such as responding to remit queries, management of shared mailboxes and leading team initiatives when required.

Personal Specification

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

• Experience of planning, managing, and delivering projects or programmes. (S&I)
• Understand the importance of managing and mitigating risks and issues and escalating where required. (I)
• Ability to effectively negotiate with and influence partners at all levels. (I)
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to independently plan, prioritise and progress multiple work streams. (S&I)
• Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of handling budgets. (S)
• Effective collaborator and team member. (I)
• Experience of preparing business cases in line with HMG green book requirements. (S)
• Experience managing funding panels and delivery of funding opportunities via TFS. (S&I)

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and…