Programme Coordinator PA Support (R&D MAP)

Programme and PA Support Officer

Salary:30895 Per Annum.
Grade:UKRI Band C.
Contract Type:Open Ended.
Hours:Full Time or Part Time. (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
Location: Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire.

Positions Available:2

2 FTE split role across:

• Safer Streets
• Opportunities
• Clean Energy
• Health
  

This is a combined recruitment your cover letter please indicate which role/s you are interested in.

Closing Date: 20/03/2026

About Us

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 HMGs 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 theres a significant opportunity to establish and drive the strategic and operational direction of the programme.

Mission Specific

Safer Streets

The Safer Streets Mission is tackling some of the most difficult enduring and systemic problems in our society. The ambition is to reduce serious harm and increase public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system with a challenging target of halving both knife crime and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) within a decade. You will work across multiple government departments and a wide range of stakeholders seeking solutions which are truly innovative and world leading whilst juggling the need for outcomes to be affordable scalable and trusted by the public. You will play a key role in building and evaluating local neighbourhood partnerships to deliver well targeted evidence based and innovative prevention and intervention programmes. You will combine a range of approaches including innovation in technology and data capability behavioural science focused on prevention and interventions and capability building. You will actively drive collaborative working and investment from industry and key partners.

Opportunities

The Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission seeks to ensure every child and young person can succeed regardless of background. It aims to give children the best start in life through high quality early education childcare and accessible family support services. The mission will help every child thrive at school by improving teaching standards tackling absence and supporting those with special educational needs. It will also build skills for opportunity and growth so that every young person can follow the pathway that is right for them. This is an opportunity to work with government departments and a wide range of stakeholders to find innovative solutions to pressing challenges faced by children and young people.

These roles will be particularly suited to people with a background or interest in education social mobility and equality.

Clean Energy

The Clean Energy Mission is the UKs world-leading response to climate change with its twin focus on Clean Power by 2030 and accelerating to Net Zero. Were tackling three interconnected challenges that will shape the nations energy independence push peaking gas plant off the system and drive down energy bills. Youll be looking at how new business models and approaches can unlock grid flexibility through AI and digital innovation; developing new long-duration energy storage solutions; and advancing low-carbon dispatchable power. Working with experts in system change such as the Energy Systems and Digital Catapults market shapers at NESO and Elexon and leading industry players youll 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 peoples lives and the economy.

These roles will be particularly suited to people with a background or interest in energy and climate or a strong interest in the energy transition.

Health

The Health Mission is transforming care by reducing pressure on hospitals and improving patient outcomes across key areas. Working closely with DHSC and across the four nations were partnering with industry and academia to develop innovations that ensure dementia patients receive earlier diagnosis. Well also be funding early intervention solutions for children and young peoples mental health in community and home settings and developing innovations to help patients with cardiometabolic conditions like diabetes and heart disease manage their care outside hospitals. Through these challenges youll work alongside leading organisations including the UK Dementia Research Institute and major research charities like Alzheimers Society to oversee innovations that will be adopted across the NHS and wider social care settings.

Purpose

R&D MAP are seeking 2 Programme Officer and Personal Assistants to support across the this role you will manage the diaries of up to two Challenge Directors leading the individual mission challenges enabling them to carry out their roles effectively while also fulfilling other administrative duties essential to the programmes success.

Main Outputs and Activities

To achieve this you will be responsible for performing activities in the following areas.

Diary management:

You will proactively and effectively manage complex diaries to make the best use of the Challenge Directors time and resources. You will act as a gatekeeper who advises others of diary priorities and provides advice on availability and logistics as required. You will plan meetings visits and events ensuring all details are confirmed and correct and flagging any which are atypical. To achieve all of this you will maintain regular contact across the Challenge teams and will be required to book travel and accommodation (and catering where required).

Meeting preparation:

Ahead of meetings you will ensure briefing and diary papers are obtained and presented to the Director in a timely fashion allowing enough time for reading and preparation. You will anticipate the Directors requirements in advance and prepare daily papers and briefing notes for them clarifying any details with the meeting/event organisers as necessary. If required you will also translate the Directors initial document drafts into high-quality meeting materials (such as PowerPoint presentations) in accordance with the house style.

Administrative support:

You will provide effective and flexible administrative support to members of the wider Challenge Teams. This may include management of inboxes and responding to email enquiries taking accurate meeting notes and minutes and supporting the organisation of events (including team meetings). This is not a comprehensive list and we may require that you adapt to and undertake other duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post (especially while the Challenges are under development).

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

Personal Specification

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

Essential

• Proven professional experience of providing high-quality support as a Personal Assistant. (S&I)
• Strong communication skills with the ability to write clear and accurate correspondence which is tailored to the audience. (S&I)
• Confidence working effectively and building relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders (both remotely and face-to-face) in an approachable manner. (S&I)
• Strong organisational skills with high attention to detail and the ability to manage workloads resolve competing demands and cope flexibly and proactively with changing priorities. (S&I)
• Ability to show initiative manage ambiguity think and adapt quickly maintain confidentiality and discretion and work independently when required. (S&I)
• Excellent team-working skills and experience of supporting other team members in an administrative capacity. (S&I)
• High level of ICT skills proficient in MS Outlook Word Excel and PowerPoint.(S)

Desirable

• Educated to at least A level standard or equivalent. (S)
• Creative flexible and positive approach to problem-solving with the ability to collaborate to achieve results.(S)

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