UKRIs nine Executive Chairs have two overarching responsibilities. Firstly, they are responsible for the outcomes delivered within their domain. To achieve this, Executive Chairs have delegated responsibility and accountability for a budget set through recommendations to the Secretary of State from the UKRI Board, which is in turn advised by the UKRI Executive Committee.
They have freedom to operate to deliver this budget through their council, including through collaborative programmes with other councils, aligned with the UKRI Strategy. Executive Chairs will harness strategic insight they gain from their Councils Council and by sustaining senior relationships across the research and innovation system.
At the same time, 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 collective responsibility and accountability for UKRI Strategy and budgets, and for the leadership and delivery of collective UKRI activities. The Research England executive chair will be accountable for multiple cross-UKRI functions, currently including commercialisation, financial sustainability and system health, and open research.
The following responsibilities will be key to ensuring delivery of Research England and UKRIs objectives:
Leadership:
Lead and manage Research England and its staff in the successful delivery of its objectives, providing the inspirational, inclusive leadership and vision to maintain and develop the quality, outputs and impacts from its investment portfolio;
Be a core member of the UKRI Executive Team to deliver best value from the overall research and innovation funding and policy system and actively contribute to the development and implementation of the strategy for UK Research and Innovation;
Work collaboratively across UKRIs Councils to foster interdisciplinary work and a whole system approach, providing support and challenge when required.
Work with the Executive Committee, the Senior Independent Member of Research England and other Council members to lead and develop the organisations strategic approach to research and innovation in England.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Work with the SIM and other Council members on the strategic approach to knowledge exchange and commercialisation in universities within England to enhance their contribution to economic growth and social capital
Fulfil Research Englands remit to create and sustain the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and knowledge exchange system in the higher education sector
Oversee Quality Related funding and maintain the excellence of research infrastructure in English higher education providers (HEPs). Stimulate research collaborations across the UK between HEPs, businesses and charities that help support economic growth and build local collaborations
Represent and develop positive relationships between Research England and the devolved administrations and their Higher Education funding bodies
Work closely with the Office for Students to support Higher Education more generally, delivering the Higher Education Innovation Funding programme, and other areas of joint responsibility
Finance, Planning & Analysis:
Maximise efficiency and ensure value for money from public investment;
Ensure robust budget planning and financial control;
Ensure robust analysis underpins decisions, evidences outcomes and maximises synergy between Research Englands objectives and the overall UKRI strategy
