We are seeking an inspirational individual with international standing and a proven track record to lead UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as its Executive Chair and to contribute to the senior leadership of UKRI.
This is a unique opportunity to lead the UK’s primary public funder of engineering and physical sciences research; champion, train and support the current and future UK science workforce; and help shape the UK’s research and innovation system.
EPSRC funds research, infrastructure, training, and partnerships over a wide field covering chemistry, engineering, information and communication technologies, advanced materials, mathematical sciences and physics. EPSRC also plays a leading role in the delivery of the cross-UKRI technology programmes.
As the Executive Chair of EPSRC you will have responsibility for annual budgets of approximately £800m and lead a dedicated team of circa 230 staff based in Swindon and remotely, shaping strategy for UK engineering and physical sciences.
The Executive Chair, advised and challenged by EPSRC’s Council, is responsible for setting and implementing the strategic vision for EPSRC. As a visible and credible leader of both EPSRC and the wider engineering and physical sciences research community, you will provide direction ensuring delivery of world-class research, innovation, skills development and infrastructure investment.
You will be a core member of the UKRI Executive Committee, providing leadership across UKRI to develop and deliver on its vision, mission and strategy.
EPSRC is one of nine councils that make up UKRI. The Executive Chairs of the nine councils have two overarching responsibilities.
First, they have a responsibility to ensure the health and vibrancy of their domain. To achieve this, Executive Chairs have delegated responsibility for a budget awarded by the Secretary of State. The budget is set through recommendations to the Secretary of State from the UKRI Board, which is in turn advised by the UKRI Executive Committee. Executive Chairs have freedom to operate to deliver this budget through their council, including through collaborative programmes with other councils, with advice from their council’s Council and aligned with the UKRI Strategy.
Second, as members of the UKRI Executive Committee, Executive Chairs have a responsibility for the health and vibrancy of the entire UK research and innovation system, recommending strategy to the UKRI Board. This includes making recommendations about and holding responsibility for the UKRI Strategy, for collective UKRI budgets, and for the leadership and delivery of collective UKRI programmes.
These two responsibilities overlap. Often, they will be fully aligned and synergistic, with collective working delivering clear domain-specific benefits. But occasionally, there will be trade-offs to be made. Executive Chairs must work to ensure domain-specific impacts are understood, while ensuring maximum benefit for the UK Research and Innovation system as a whole.
The following responsibilities are key to the role:
Leadership:
• Lead and manage the EPSRC and its staff in the successful delivery of its objectives, providing the inclusive leadership and vision to develop the quality, outputs and impacts of its research, skills and capital investment portfolio
• Lead and develop the capacity and capability of the EPSRC Executive team
• Work closely with the rest of the UKRI senior executive team and Board to provide overall leadership and direction to UKRI, modelling the culture and behaviours required to bring to life UKRI's values
• Act to ensure UK Research and Innovation provides a strong, unified voice for science, research and innovation in the UK and globally, both in facilitating the dialogue with government and partners on the world stage
Programme Delivery:
• Work with the Senior Independent Member (SIM) of EPSRC and other Council members to lead and develop EPSRC’s strategic approach to supporting its area of expertise. This will include directed and responsive-mode programmes; the funding of postgraduate and skills training; investment in major longer term infrastructure projects; building collaborative arrangements with industry and others; and ensuring that the UK retains and develops its world-leading position in the engineering and physical sciences
• As a core member of the UKRI Executive Committee, working to deliver the best value from the overall research and innovation funding system and actively contribute to delivery of the mission of UKRI
• Chair the Programme Board of the National Quantum Technologies Programme
• Act as SRO of the Technology Missions Fund
• Chair the cross-UKRI AI programme
• Work collaboratively across UKRI to foster interdisciplinary work and build on collective capabilities, providing support and challenge when required
Stakeholder Engagement:
• Actively engage and consult with the academic community, charities, government and industry to develop and catalyse new ideas and communicate the strategic outputs. This will involve close engagement with stakeholders in the full range of industries interested in engineering and the physical sciences, including the chemical and pharmaceuticals industries, information technology, communication and electronics industries, construction and process industries, and others.
Finance, Planning and Analysis:
• Maximise efficiency and ensure value for money from public investment
• Work closely with the UKRI CFO to ensure robust budget planning and financial control
• Work closely with the UKRI Executive Directors for Strategy to ensure robust analysis underpins decisions and evidences outcomes; and ensue synergy
between EPSRC’s objectives and overall UKRI strategy
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website