STFC Transformation Programme Director
SALARY: £94,931 Per Annum
HOURS: Full Time or Part Time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term (12 Months with likelihood of renewal)
LOCATION: Swindon / Rutherford / Daresbury
GRADE: UKRI X
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1
CLOSING DATE: 23 August 2026
PROPOSED INTERVIEW DATE: 17 September 2026
UKRI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CLOSE OUR ADVERTS EARLY WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.
ABOUT US
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s national agency for research and innovation, bringing together seven research councils, Innovate UK and Research England to support discovery, innovation and the skills driving economic growth and societal progress.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) delivers some of the UK’s most ambitious scientific capabilities. From world-leading national laboratories and large-scale research facilities to space science, particle physics, astronomy and advanced computing, STFC enables researchers and innovators to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society.
STFC is a place where exceptional science meets real-world impact; creating knowledge, developing transformative technologies, supporting industry and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. We are seeking leaders who can help shape the future of UK science and technology and deliver impact at a global scale.
PURPOSE
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most significant organisational transformation programmes within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). As STFC Transformation Director, you will provide strategic leadership for STFC's transformation, shaping the future operating model of an organisation of approximately 3,000 people and ensuring it remains financially sustainable, operationally effective and fit for the future.
Working at executive level, you will lead a complex portfolio of change spanning people, culture, governance, processes and organisational design. You will build alignment across senior leaders and stakeholders, translating strategic ambition into deliverable outcomes and ensuring transformational benefits are realised at pace.
The role is critical to delivering sustainable financial, operational and cultural change, strengthening STFC's long-term resilience and enabling the continued delivery of world-class science, engineering and technology in support of UKRI and government priorities.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide executive leadership for STFC’s Transformation, acting as the senior accountable leader responsible for shaping, mobilising and delivering transformational change which enables STFC’s strategic ambitions, UKRI priorities and government objectives.
- Translate the strategic vision into an integrated transformation strategy and roadmap, defining the future operating model, required capabilities and sequencing of change across the organisation.
- Lead the development and implementation of STFC’s future operating model, ensuring alignment across strategy, governance, organisation design, culture, people, processes, technology, data and delivery capability.
- Establish and lead effective transformation governance as a complex portfolio of programmes, projects and activities. Ensuring alignment with the Government Functional Standards, including clear accountability, proportionate assurance, investment governance, risk management, dependency management and transparent reporting.
- Own the business case and benefits framework, ensuring investment decisions are evidence-based, affordable, deliver value for money and realise measurable organisational benefits.
- Provide executive oversight of major transformation initiatives, ensuring programmes and projects are appropriately designed, resourced, assured and delivered through effective portfolio management disciplines.
- Create the conditions for sustainable organisational change, embedding new capabilities, behaviours, processes and ways of working.
- Lead enterprise-wide engagement and communications, building understanding, confidence and commitment among colleagues, leaders, UKRI partners, government stakeholders and external communities.
- Build maturity and capability across STFC, developing the people, structures, tools and delivery practices required to successfully manage complex change at scale.
- Provide constructive challenge and strategic advice to Executive Board and governance forums, enabling informed decisions on priorities, investment choices, delivery confidence, risks and organisational readiness.
- Champion evidence-led continuous improvement, using insight, performance information and lessons learned to strengthen STFC’s effectiveness, resilience and ability to deliver world-leading science and technology.
- Ensure effective transition and embedding of change, transferring ownership into operational teams and ensuring new capabilities deliver sustained benefits beyond programme closure.
Represent STFC within UKRI-wide transformation activity, providing effective, collegiate interacting to ensure STFC’s Transformation actively contributes to and benefits from UKRI’s Shaping Our Future agenda whilst preserving the distinctive capabilities required to deliver national research infrastructure.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting
(I) – Assessed at interview
(S&I) – Assessed at shortlisting & interview
Strategic leadership capability, with the ability to shape transformation, influence senior stakeholders and translate strategic ambition into measurable organisational outcomes. (S&I)
Ability to lead through ambiguity and complexity, exercising sound judgement, balancing competing priorities and making effective decisions at senior leadership level. (S&I)
Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build alignment, secure commitment and provide constructive challenge with Executive Boards, government stakeholders, partners and wider communities. (S&I)
Collaborative and inclusive leadership approach, with the ability to build high-performing teams and create the culture required to deliver sustained change. (S&I)
Ability to lead an enterprise transformation portfolio comprising multiple interdependent programmes or projects, with effective governance, assurance, risk management, dependency management and benefits realisation. (S)
Strong understanding and application of transformation and project delivery disciplines, including operating model design, organisational change, business improvement and transition into business-as-usual. (I)
Strong commercial and financial capability, including developing business cases, prioritising investment and ensuring value for money from significant transformation activity. (S)
Experience of delivering enterprise-wide transformation in organisations of comparable scale and complexity, involving multiple functions, locations, stakeholder groups and workforce populations. (S)
Experience of leading transformation portfolios or major change initiatives with accountability for strategic outcomes, governance, assurance, investment decisions and benefits realisation. (S)
Experience of operating successfully in complex, multi-stakeholder environments such as the public sector, regulated sectors, national infrastructure, research, technology or equivalent. (S&I)
INCENTIVES
UKRI can offer the successful candidate:
- Flexible working
- 30 days annual leave + public holidays
- Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme
- Various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider
Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
APPLICATION GUIDANCE
How to evidence the criteria:
We encourage you to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in your cover letter to clearly demonstrate how your experience meets each of the ‘person specification’ criteria outlined in the job description. For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service’.
Please ensure your CV and cover letter are no longer than two A4 pages each, using a minimum font size of 11. Once submitted, your application cannot be edited via our careers website; however, if you encounter any issues or need to update your documents, please contact us at [email protected].
OTHER INFORMATION
If you'd like to have an informal chat about the role before applying, you're welcome to get in touch with us at [email protected]
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action
