Competition Manager

On behalf of UKRI , we are looking for a Competition Manager x2 (Inside IR35) for a contract which runs to the end of March 2027 and is a hybrid role so requires 2 days a week in the Swindon office plus there may be additional travel to London which will be expensed

UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields – from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

As a Competition Manager , your main responsibilities will be

- Plan and deliver a portfolio of funding opportunities from launch through to project start-up, ensuring delivery to agreed timelines
- Work with Innovation Leads and other stakeholders to develop competition briefs, guidance and briefing presentations
- Ensure all processes are clear, fair, transparent and compliant with audit and governance requirements.
- Manage documentation, version control and change management to maintain high-quality outputs.
- Coordinate stakeholders throughout the competition lifecycle, communicating roles, responsibilities, milestones and key decisions .
- Set up and manage funding opportunities within the Innovation Funding Service, ensuring quality assurance prior to publication.
- Deliver applicant and assessor briefings, providing accurate guidance and responding to process related queries.
- Oversee assessment, moderation and funding decision processes, including analysing scores and managing panel activities.
- Lead competition lessons learned reviews, identify process improvements and contribute to wider business projects as required.
- Maintain excellent customer service and champion the values of UKRI and Innovate UK in all aspects of delivery.

Essential Skills

- Excellent communication skills across a busy hands on role
- Experience of managing projects or operational processes in a fast-paced environment. (S&I)
- Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and building effective working relationships across all levels. (S&I)
- Experience managing competing priorities, meeting deadlines and maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail. (S&I)
- Extensive administration support across a busy team and department
- Experience in presenting to stakeholders in a formal capacity
- Experience working within defined processes, governance or regulatory frameworks to ensure fair and transparent outcomes. (S&I)
- Experience communicating complex information clearly through written, verbal and presentation formats.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, UKRI encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

UKRI welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".