Investment Manager – Creative Industries Clusters
Salary : £36,650 per annum
Hours : Full time or part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Contract : Open Ended
Location : Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available)
Grade : UKRI Band D
Closing : 15 th July 2026 23:59
About AHRC & the Creative Industries Team
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, supports world ‑ leading research into human culture and creativity. The Creative Industries (CI) team delivers a portfolio of programmes across the creative sector, including the Creative Industries Clusters, Immersive Arts, AHTV and TV PhD with the Edinburgh TV Foundation and the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre. We work closely with colleagues across AHRC including Infrastructure, International Partnerships and Engagement and Design, Commercialisation and Innovation.
The Creative Industries Clusters bring together universities, businesses and regional partners to drive innovation and R&D-led economic growth. Following significant investment in both the first and second rounds of Clusters, AHRC is now expanding delivery and support of the growing portfolio.
About the Role
The Investment Manager will provide programme ‑ wide operational, coordination, and delivery support across the Creative Industries Clusters portfolio. Working closely with a team of Senior Investment Managers (SIMs) who hold strategic responsibility and lead partner relationships, the postholder will take ownership of a range of tasks and processes essential to the smooth running of the programme.
This role will lead on specific operational workstreams such as event coordination, administration, communications support, procurement processes, MEL data coordination, reporting, and risk tracking. The postholder will be a key member of the CI Clusters delivery team, ensuring consistent, high ‑ quality programme management across a complex and expanding portfolio.
Reports to: Senior Investment Manager (Band E), Creative Industries Clusters.
Main Responsibilities
The postholder will:
1. Provide programme ‑ wide operational support
Support the effective delivery of the Clusters portfolio by coordinating day ‑ to ‑ day processes, documentation, workflow and team operations.
Maintain trackers, logs, schedules, and programme information to support oversight by SIMs.
2. Lead delivery ‑ focused workstreams
Take forward a defined set of workstreams that underpin smooth delivery across the portfolio, including:
Event management – planning, logistics, materials, coordination and follow ‑ up.
Administration – meeting organisation, inbox management, minutes, scheduling and document handling.
Communications support – drafting updates, collating content and supporting internal and external communication workflows.
Procurement and commissioning support – coordinating procurement activity in line with UKRI processes.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) – coordinating data collection and evidence returns; maintaining MEL materials.
Risk management support – updating risk logs, tracking issues, and raising concerns to SIMs.
Reporting – gathering portfolio information and preparing summaries for SIM review.
3. Support SIM ‑ led investment and relationship management
Coordinate operational communication with award teams in support of SIMs who lead senior relationships.
Prepare briefing materials, meeting notes, and information summaries to support SIM ‑ level engagement.
Ensure follow ‑ up actions from Cluster ‑ related meetings are tracked and delivered.
4. Contribute to wider team activity
Support cross ‑ AHRC and cross ‑ UKRI coordination, including information gathering, meeting preparation, and participating in programme ‑ wide initiatives.
Collaborate effectively across AHRC directorates and with external collaborators as required.
Provide flexible delivery support as the Clusters portfolio evolves.
About You
The ideal candidate will have an enthusiasm for the creative industries and a demonstrable understanding of the research funding landscape. You will be a solution-oriented and proactive teammate, with experience delivering and managing funding activities in the research and innovation sector, or in a commercial or policy setting (e.g. Government or Civil Service).
Person Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential:
Experience supporting programmes, projects, or portfolios in a complex environment. (S&I)
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.(I)
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to draft clear documentation and coordinate information. (S&I)
Ability to gather, organise and analyse information to support reporting, risk tracking, and MEL activities.(S&I)
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collectively across teams and with diverse partners. (S&I)
High attention to detail and a commitment to delivering a high ‑ quality service. (S&I)
In return, you’ll gain:
In-depth knowledge of the UK and international arts and humanities research landscape, and an understanding of the AHRC’s contribution to it.
Opportunities to work with colleagues across UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and other research funding organisations and external organisations.
Experience in research administration and an understanding of the UK higher education sector, working with the academic community.
Opportunities to work within particular subject disciplines, and thematic areas of the research that AHRC funds.
An understanding of the work of the AHRC community and expertise in our thematic research portfolio and priority funding areas.
How to Apply
Only online applications will be accepted and should be submitted in the form of an up-to-date CV and covering letter each of no more than two sides of A4. The covering letter must clearly outline why you are applying for this post and address in turn how you meet each of the shortlisting and interview criteria described in this advertisement (ideally using each criterion as a sub-heading). Please ensure that the vacancy reference is included in the file name description of each document uploaded. Any applications submitted without a covering letter, or that fail to address the shortlisting criteria points will not be considered further.
Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 01793 867000. Please quote the appropriate reference number when calling.
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.
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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]
