Do you have an interest in the biological sciences, have experience in broad strategic thinking, and understand the impact that commercialisation of scientific discoveries can have? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join BBSRC’s Business Interaction Unit as a Senior Portfolio Manager.

BBSRC’s Business Interaction Unit plays a key role in driving and accelerating innovation in order to deliver societal benefit and economic impact. This is achieved through designing collaborative research and development opportunities that enable academia and business to work together on global challenges, focussing on bioscience solutions.

As a Senior Portfolio Manager you will develop, implement, and manage our current and future investments within the collaborative research and development portfolio. You will also engage across BBSRC, UK Research and Innovation, and with external stakeholders such as businesses, researchers, policy makers, and innovators in order to be well informed, knowledgeable, and increase your awareness on key scientific areas and challenges facing industry sectors.  

Depending on your specific interests, in crop production and processing or health and wellbeing, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of strategic innovation programmes, engaging with associated stakeholders, and working with the wider team to communicate any outcomes arising from your portfolio. As an example, and depending on the role applied for, you will be responsible for supporting the delivery and onward development of the following:

• Protected and Controlled Environment Horticulture
• National Biofilms Innovation Centre
• Alternative Proteins Innovation and Knowledge Centre

Responsibilities

• Design, deliver, and manage strategic innovation programmes and activities which enhance collaborative research and development within the biosciences.
• Build and maintain partnerships with a range of stakeholders including industry, academia, other UKRI Councils, and Innovate UK to help facilitate the development and implementation of strategic innovation investments in the biosciences.
• Ensure BBSRC investments in innovation are effective through monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating their progress and outputs.
• Contribute to team-working and adapting to the needs of the wider team.
• Line management of a Portfolio Manager. 

Shortlisting and Interview Criteria

• Experience in building, maintaining, and influencing a strategic network of stakeholders to seek the best possible outcomes
• Evidence of planning and prioritising own work area and the work of others whilst trusting and empowering others to take ownership and work independently
• Proven ability to interpret and analyse complex information including large datasets and synthesise well-structured, clearly articulated complex documents to provide strategic insight
• Able to prioritise and deal with difficult situations, responding flexibly, whilst also dealing with ambiguity to deliver successful outcomes
• Experience in communicating effectively to a mixture of audiences through written and presentation formats

Additional information

Developing talent:

We are committed to developing employees in their roles throughout their career. Learning and development plans enable employees to continue their professional development through training and development opportunities such as e-learning, classroom training and on-the-job experiences. We encourage our employees to share their learning across teams and organisations.

Benefits:

UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

- Flexible Working  

- 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays  

- Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme  

- Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

For more information and to apply, please visit our Careers Pages.