AMS PSR

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Head of Campaigns & Marketing (Inside IR35) for a 6 months contract based 2-3 days per week  on site in Swindon with occasional ad-hoc UK travel (remainder WFH)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.

UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields – from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

As a Head of Campaigns & Marketing your main responsibilities will be to:

• Lead the strategic direction and delivery of UKRI's campaigns and marketing function during a period of organisational change.
• Develop and embed a sustainable campaigns and marketing capability across the External Affairs & Communications directorate.
• Lead a portfolio of integrated, audience-focused campaigns across paid, owned and earned channels.
• Oversee campaign prioritisation, resource allocation and budget management to maximise impact and value for money.
• Establish consistent campaign planning, governance and delivery frameworks to improve organisational effectiveness.
• Drive integrated working across communications, marketing, digital and insight teams to deliver coordinated campaigns.
• Provide visible leadership, coaching and direction to teams, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across UKRI, ensuring campaign activity aligns with organisational priorities.
• Work collaboratively with government departments, partners and external agencies to support wider strategic objectives.
• Champion audience insight, data and evaluation to ensure campaigns are evidence-based and outcome-focused.
• Embed robust performance measurement and reporting to demonstrate campaign effectiveness and return on investment.
• Promote best practice in campaign planning, marketing and communications, aligned with Government Communications Service standards.
• Develop practical tools, templates and guidance to improve consistency and capability across the organisation.
• Strengthen partnerships across industry, research and innovation networks to enhance campaign reach and impact.
• Ensure campaign activity supports UKRI's reputation, strategic objectives and wider government priorities.

Essential:

• Significant senior leadership experience within campaigns, marketing or strategic communications.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale integrated marketing and communications campaigns across multiple channels.
• Demonstrable success leading teams through organisational change within complex, matrix environments.
• Experience establishing or improving campaign governance, planning processes and delivery frameworks.
• Strong understanding of paid, owned and earned media, with the ability to develop integrated campaign strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing and collaborating at executive level.
• Strong commercial and operational management skills, including budget and resource prioritisation.
• Experience using audience insight, data and evaluation to improve campaign performance and demonstrate impact.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people management skills with the ability to build high-performing teams.

Desirable:

• Experience working within the public sector, research, innovation or economic growth environments.
• Knowledge of Government Communications Service (GCS) standards and best practice.
• Experience building or developing marketing capability within a communications function.
• Experience managing external agencies and strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience engaging industry, research, investor or partnership audiences.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant / Commitment

UKRI guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".