Heads of Social Research

Economic and Social Research Council
Salary: £58,589 per annum.
Grade: UKRI Band F.
Contract Type: 23 Months FTC.
Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE/job-share).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid Working Available.

Number of Posts: 1.
Closing date: 22 October 2026 23:59.

About the role

The Heads of Social Research will play a key leadership role in delivering ESRC’s applicant‑led mode strategy.

Working directly to the Associate Director for Advancing Knowledge in Social Science and working closely with the Executive Director of Research and the team’s Head of Economics, you and your co-lead will be responsible for the implementation, management and monitoring of ESRC’s refreshed applicant‑led mode schemes (Types of funding we offer – ESRC – UKRI).

You will be responsible for the development and oversight of an outstanding portfolio of social research within ESRC’s applicant‑led portfolio.

You and your co-lead will pro-actively build and sustain strong links with the research community across a wide range of fields including politics, criminology, geography, psychology, and sociology. catalysing new research ideas and driving a robust pipeline of proposals to ESRC’s applicant‑led mode schemes that deliver high-quality, breakthrough social science.

You will support the strategic allocation of applicant‑led mode funding by working across ESRC, including with Executive Board and the wider senior leadership team, the Situational Awareness Function, and the research portfolio teams to develop intelligence on emerging areas of research, the health of disciplines, and where ESRC funding can deliver the greatest value.

The Heads of Social Research will be leaders within ESRC’s Advancing Knowledge in Social Science team. Each will supervise a small team responsible for implementing, managing, monitoring, and evaluating ESRC’s applicant‑led mode schemes. These schemes align with ESRC’s strategy for research driven by curiosity.  

Working with other ESRC teams, you will also ensure strong connectivity with relevant UKRI priority programmes and other parts of ESRC’s investment portfolio. You will be expected to drive innovation, embrace experimentation, and apply robust evidence to improve funding delivery within ALM schemes.

We are particularly interested in how you work, not just what you have done. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate curiosity, creativity and a strong innovation perspective and who apply what they know in a way that fully aligns with UKRI values.  

About the Team

• Advancing Knowledge is a new team in ESRC which will actively shape and deliver our applicant-led portfolio. Initial goals for the team include:
• Lead ESRC’s refreshed applicant-led mode (ALM) strategy and oversee the transition to new schemes.
• Actively shape ESRC's ALM portfolio:
• Build a strong pipeline of innovative proposals through proactive engagement with the research community.
• Shape the strategic allocation of funding to ensure ESRC delivers maximum value and impact.
• Manage and improve the ALM portfolio:
• Actively manage the ALM portfolio, including supervising performance and supporting grant holders to enhance the impact of their projects.
• Drive continuous improvement in funding practices, embracing experimentation and the use of emerging evidence on improved ways of delivering research and innovation.
• Drive integration across ESRC and UKRI:
• Gather and share insight on fields, methods, and partner relationships.

Ensure strong collaboration with existing teams to ensure ESRC’s ALM schemes support the delivery of the organisation’s wider vision and objectives.

Your Responsibilities

• To provide leadership and oversight of the delivery of ESRC’s applicant led mode activities. Working effectively with the Grants Delivery Team, Executive Board and the wider senior leadership team, other ESRC teams, the expert review system and wider research partners, you will support the development, delivery and management of an outstanding curiosity-driven research portfolio.  
• To provide strategic input into the development of broader ESRC and UKRI objectives and key results, delivery plans, regular reporting, and risk management relevant to curiosity driven research investments.  
• To provide oversight and leadership for ESRC’s strategy for engagement with its ALM applicants and review community.
• To co-lead (with the Head of Economics) ESRC’s strategic and operational engagement with relevant cross-UKRI programmes of change as they relate to funding delivery and business improvement, including Simpler, Better Funding, the UKRI Funding Service, and reducing bureaucracy activities.
• Provide inclusive and effective line management of Grade Es, developing individuals to reach their full potential, while proactively addressing any sophisticated people and performance issues, and supporting people through change while modelling UKRI People Standards and Values.
• To deputise for the Associate Director of Advancing Knowledge in Social Sciences as needed.

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

• Experience in leadership and delivery of sophisticated research and innovation programmes or portfolios, with a strong track record of translating strategic ambition into effective, joined-up delivery (S&I).
• Strong understanding of social research, including the UK and international research landscape and the pathways to research impact (S&I).
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to proactively build trusted, productive relationships across academia and other relevant sectors (S&I).
• Demonstrable people management experience, including resource planning, performance management, coaching, and conflict resolution, to lead and develop high-performing teams, including matrixed teams where relevant (I).
• Experience of commissioning, managing, and evaluating research and innovation investments, including familiarity with peer review processes (S).
• Strong strategic judgement and analytical capability, with the ability to assess the health of disciplines, identify emerging research areas, and advise the prioritisation and allocation of funding to maximise impact and value (S&I).
• Willingness to lead innovation in ESRC funding processes, including designing and participating in controlled experiments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ESRC’s investment in curiosity driven research; with a genuine desire to learn, explore new insights, and question existing approaches (S&I).
• Strong ability to see the bigger picture and deliver against organisational strategy, aligning activity and funding decisions with ESRC’s priorities rather than personal or disciplinary preferences (S&I).

About hybrid working

We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home and on-site in the office and at other UK locations. From the 1 October 2026, you can expect to spend 40 - 60% of your time on-site, including travel for stakeholder engagement. At times, this may involve overnight stays and/or occasional work outside of standard office hours.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. 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 [email protected]

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 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected].