Associate Director Construction Economic Growth (R&D MAP)

Associate Director

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Salary: 70752 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band G.
Contract Type: Open-ended.
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.


Closing Date:20/03/2026

About Us

TheR&D Missions Accelerator Programme is the Governments flagship new Mission-led R&D programme to transform peoples lives and drive economic growth.

The programme has a 500m budget to galvanise the private sector third sector and academia to develop new innovative solutions to the biggest problems facing society today. The programme will catalyse cutting-edge research technology service solutions and IP aligned to the UK Governments five National Missions and deliver the milestones in the Plan for Change.

The programme is currently developing its approaches across the Missions. Joining at this stage presents a real opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme and set the agenda for the UKs approach to 2030.

Mission Specific

Industrialising and Digitalising Construction Challenge Statement:

We will develop a new digital marketplace which will drive an industrialised and digitalised approach to construction increasing productivity and accelerating delivery of new homes and public infrastructure.

We will partner with the private and public sector to deliver a self-sustaining technology platform which is accessible to all UK construction stakeholdersand enables access to standardised digital designs components and processes for manufactured parts increasing operational efficiency andresulting ina 10% saving in construction costs and time for publicly procured infrastructure by 2030.

The I&D Construction challenge will put into practice Focus Area 3: Addressing the need forsocial infrastructure using aplatformapproach in the Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030 including a pilot in social housing. This will include working with industry leaders government and beyond to developa new digitalised and manufacturing-led operating model to deliver the next generation of British homes and public buildings. Bringing together aggregated demand from public-sector clients with advanced manufacturing solutions from industry the operating model and supporting digital tools will be co-developed with industry and delivered through a newly-formed commercial enterprise unlocking long-term transformation of the sector. You will be collaborating with Catapults construction digital and manufacturing companies trade and industry bodies and the public and private sectors shaping how construction becomes more efficient and sustainable while providing new opportunities for businesses to scale and grow.

This is your opportunity to drive economic growth support new jobs and position the UK as a global leader in Associate Director youll collaborate with national experts to drive strategic innovation foster stakeholder partnerships and tackle industry challenges head-on. Youll play a pivotal role in aligning research and commercial priorities while leading high-impact projects that support the UKs economic and environmental goals.

Purpose

As Associate Director you will bring energy high standards a desire to do things differently and an understanding of urgency and pace. You will join the Challenge senior leadership team helping to shape the strategic direction of the Challenge specific R&I in the UK while delivering this flagship programme.

This is a unique opportunity to lead in a significant cross-sector programme that creates real world impact through collaborative evidence-led innovation. The role combines programme delivery strategic leadership stakeholder engagement and senior-level management.

The role requires self-awareness excellent personal resilience as well as a high level of personal motivation to achieve widespread impact along with strong influencing skills and levels of personal resilience.

You will be expected to act in the absence of the Challenge Director and will deputise for the Challenge Director as required.

Main Outputs and Activities

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide strategic leadership for the design and delivery of Challenge specific R&I ensuring it is ambitious independent and trusted across research policy and public sectors and delivers real-world impact at pace.
• Shape and implement challenge-wide approaches to commissioning governance and innovation funding that reflect UKRIs values including excellence transparency and public benefit.
• With in-depth knowledge of industry use business acumen to engage widely to bring people together and problem solve.
• Lead horizon scanning and capability development to ensure the R&D MAP helps establish a sustainable high-quality and interdisciplinary innovation ecosystem.
• Represent R&D MAP and UKRI in national and international fora.
  

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation:

• Lead engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across business industry government third sector and policy communities to build trust manage risk and ensure the R&D MAP Challenges reflects diverse perspectives and public interest.
• Build commercial insights into the approach from the outset to ensure that we are maximising additionality and growing the UK innovator base.
• Represent R&D MAP and UKRI in cross-government and cross-sector fora related to the Missions embedding Government priorities at the heart of our approach.
• Act as a visible and credible ambassador for R&D MAP able to navigate contested policy spaces diplomatically and assert UKRIs commitment to independent high-quality research and innovation.
• Build constructive inclusive relationships with innovators and researchers ensuring open communication and a shared commitment to the long-term success and integrity of the programme.
  

Programme Design Delivery and Evaluation:

• Lead the design and delivery of a major interdisciplinary innovation programme with a multi-million-pound budget delivering at pace and scale with a strong focus on realising outcomes.
• Drive efficiency in streamlining internal processes to deliver at pace including managing Innovate UK funding mechanisms.
• Ensure delivery is effective timely and aligned with strategic objectives with robust evaluation and risk management processes to generate insights fast and course correct.
• Support the sustainable transition of investments from delivery through to completion and long-term impact.
• Embed a culture of learning evidence and continuous improvement across the programme.
  

People Leadership:

• Build high-performing inclusive teams through coaching development and effective communication.
• Act as a role model for collaborative transparent and values-led leadership.
• Promote staff engagement in planning delivery and organisational development through inclusive and agile management approaches.
• Line manage and oversee relevant programme staff.

Personal Specification

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

Essential:

• Knowledge and experience of managing projects across construction / infrastructure / manufacturing including housing modern methods of construction off-site manufacturing DfMA data-sharing infrastructure integration capability interoperability and digitalisation within the construction and data context modular construction creation of marketplaces. It is not expected that you have experience across them all but please call out in your CV and cover letter any that you do have. (S&I)
• Proven experience of strategic planning and delivery in complex organisational settings.(S&I)
• Excellent leadership credentials with experience in managing and developing senior staff.(S&I)
• In-depth understanding of the Innovate UK funding mechanisms and landscape and its broader societal impact.(S)
• Exceptional stakeholder management communication and influencing skills with a proven ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including Government.(S&I)
• Successful track record in leading major ideally multi-million pound -- interdisciplinary programmes.(S&I)
• Strong commercial and financial management skills including risk and evaluation oversight.(S&I)
  

Benefits

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:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online if you experience any issue applying please contact

We do sponsor - Please note if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK as part of your sponsorship application you and any dependants travelling with you will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information please visit or contact