Research Excellence Framework (REF) Programme Manager
Research England
Salary: £ 58,589 per annum | Fixed term until March 2030 | Full -time or part-time | Closing Date: 2nd August 2026
Location: Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SR (hybrid working available)
Are you looking for a new challenge? An opportunity to work on a major, high-profile, project in a close-knit team and a fast-paced environment? Do you want to use your knowledge and skills in an agile way across a broad range of focus areas, learning new things and innovating along the way? Do you want to work with some of the most highly respected people across the UK’s research community? Then this may be the opportunity for you!
About Us
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions, with the most recent exercise concluding in 2021. It is a peer review assessment process involving submissions from higher education institutions across the UK. The REF is delivered by Research England on behalf of the four UK higher education funding bodies (Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and the Department of the Economy (Northern Ireland)).
REF is a fast-moving exercise managing a wide range of policy areas, expert panel members that span all research disciplines and types of research outputs. Key to our success will be close team working and supporting each other through peak periods. Joining our team provides a great deal of opportunity to learn and develop.
Research England and the UK’s other funding bodies undertake periodic assessments of research quality to inform their funding allocations and to provide quality assurance as to how these funds are spent.
Overview of duties
Lead the effective management and co-ordination of the REF programme in a complex and fast-paced environment.
Project-manage some projects, while also being accountable for co-ordinating planning and processes across the whole programme.
Lead on governance, risk, procurement and budget within the REF team.
Work closely and collaboratively with heads of sub-teams and the REF Director, as well as with a variety of stakeholders across Research England and UKRI more widely.
Experienced project lead who is able to work with autonomy.
Main outputs and activities
Translate strategy and vision from the REF Director and REF governance structures into programme-level delivery objectives to co-ordinate planning, process mapping and programme management across all sub-teams within the programme.
Work closely and collaboratively with heads of teams to understand their goals, planning alignment between teams, and providing effective oversight of programme progress.
Lead on benefits realisation ensuring benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned, and monitoring longer-term benefits against the REF business case.
Proactively lead, manage and monitor progress of active projects.
Lead on setting and maintaining standards for project management and continuous improvement.
Oversee and manage effective REF 2029 governing structures, including managing relationships, preparing regular budget, risk, resource and progress reports for governance groups, management of colleagues providing secretariat functions, and close liaison with the REF Director.
Oversee the proactive identification and management of programme and project level risks, ensuring mitigations are in place and resolved through negotiated agreement.
Manage the REF operating budget, working closely with the REF Director, Heads of Teams and Research England’s Chief Operating Officer to monitor delivery of activity against budget and ensuring value for money at all times.
Lead procurement activity as required for e.g. REF library and audit functions.
Delegate, as appropriate, project management functions across governance, risk, budgets and project planning to colleagues at various levels of seniority within the team.
This role will have line and/or matrix management responsibilities.
Essential shortlisting criteria
(S) – Assessed at shortlisting, (I) – Assessed at interview, (S&I) – Assessed at both
Educated to degree level or relevant equivalent experience. (S)
Prince2, MSP, APM PMQ or another relevant Project Management Methodology qualification. (S)
Experience of leading the successful delivery of projects and/or programmes across multiple teams and stakeholders in both technical and non-technical environments in a complex organisation. (S/I)
Experience of effectively implementing processes, procedures and best practice principles within a project, programme or portfolio management office. (S/I)
Experience establishing productive and influential relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project. (S/I)
Proven experience in recognising, anticipating and effectively dealing with existing or potential conflicts at an individual, team and strategic level. (S/I)
Ability to work in an environment of uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and change, feeling comfortable providing advice and making decisions without having the full picture and re-focussing as details emerge by applying knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. (S/I)
Ability to inspire, motivate and support others by demonstrating and sharing your programme and/or project management skills. (S/I)
UKRI values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.
Please note: if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you (and any dependants travelling with you) will be required to pay costs directly to the UK Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee, and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [email protected] .
